BMW X2 review (2017-2023) - Interior & comfort

When choosing an X2 you’ll need to choose between either sportiness or comfort. The big 19-inch wheels of the M Sport models bring extra grip for enthusiastic driving, but they amplify road surface imperfections that would be soaked up by smaller wheels with thicker tyres. The Sport model has a less aggressive wheel and suspension combination, but the SE delivers the smoothest ride. You’ll need to hunt out a used model now, though, because SE has been discontinued.

Things settle down at motorways speeds, and a fast cruise is quite comfortable, although the biggest wheels do kick up a lot of tyre noise, too, which can be tiresome on long journeys. You won't be disappointed by the interior comfort of any X2, though – it shares many parts with the BMW X1, including its smart, well designed dashboard and comfortably shaped seats. There's no shortage of standard equipment, either.

BMW X2 dashboard

In typical BMW style, the dashboard layout puts the driver at the centre of the action, with a clear view of the major controls and everything else within easy reach. Its three-spoke steering wheel has a sporty design, too.

It's not exactly an imaginative design, though. It follows the same principles as BMW dashboards have for years, and any previous BMW driver will feel immediately at home behind the wheel of the X2. It's arguable that the last thing you want in a compact family car is a dashboard with a novel layout just for the sake of it. Nevertheless, the DS 4 and Mercedes GLA interiors have a little more visual appeal and ‘wow’ factor. The BMW’s chunky gear selector is starting to look dated compared to sleeker rotary dials or rocker switches, too.

The free-standing infotainment display screen looks like a bit of an afterthought, but it's at least positioned in the driver's line of sight, at the same height as the instrument panel, so you need not take your eyes from the road for long to read it. It has clear, crisp graphics that are modern and easy to understand.

There isn't much wrong with the standard of build, either. The materials are either soft-touch or have a weighty, substantial feel to them, and there aren't many sharp edges to be found by roaming fingers.

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Equipment

The range opens with the Sport, but far from having an entry-level feel, its level of equipment is very generous indeed. Sat-nav is standard, part of an 8.8-inch 'touch control' display which is intended to echo the operating principles of a smartphone, with selectable 'tiles' for commonly used features.

Dual-zone climate control, DAB radio, cruise control and rear parking sensors are all standard, as are 18-inch alloy wheels on the Sport. Additional equipment includes LED ambient interior lighting, LED headlamps and foglamps, sports front seats and a gloss-black finish to the exterior trim.

The M Sport looks far more aggressive, with an aerodynamic body-coloured styling kit inspired by BMW's high-performance M division. It sits on slightly lower sports suspension and big 19-inch alloy wheels. M logos brighten the door sill finishers as well as the remote key, while special upholstery includes the use of Dakota leather and yellow or blue highlighting, with a contrasting black headlining. The front seats are heated and M Sport buyers get a different multifunction steering wheel.

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Until early 2022, BMW also offered the X2 in M Sport X and M Mesh Edition guises, which added more rugged styling tweaks to the M Sport. Both felt a little confused and short of purpose; most buyers will be best off with the regular M Sport, or a BMW X1 in xLine trim. The M35i also appears to offer precious few extras over the M Sport trim given its price tag.

Every BMW driver can make use of the BMW Connected app. It enables you to communicate with your car to activate certain features remotely – you can check the fuel level, for instance, and operate the central locking. It also provides location services and walking directions from your parking space to your destination. Apple CarPlay is included, but Android phone users will have to use the BMW system instead.

Options

X2 buyers can choose between a number of optional packs and we particularly recommend the Technology Pack, which adds adaptive LED headlights, enhanced Bluetooth with a wireless charging pad and a rear-view camera. There's also a Technology Pack 2, adding Navigation Plus and a head-up display - features quite a few owners probably won't need.

BMW, like Audi, still offers a raft of individual options to allow owners to create an individual car, spanning from metallic paint to leather upholstery and wood interior trim. Intriguingly the size of the X2's fuel tank can also be increased to 59 litres for £40, which could be handy if you spend a lot of time on the motorway.