2024 BMW X2 M35i SUVOTY Review: It’s Back, It’s Good—But Is It Great?
The BMW X2 returns with a new look and plenty more as it aims for the top of SUV mountain.
Pros
- Sporty driving experience
- Decent second-row passenger space
- Good interior design and materials
Cons
- Questionable looks
- Stop/start function is rough
- Transmission is awkward at low speeds
SUVs are designed as multipurpose vehicles, but it’s rare when one single machine can fill several roles and perform all of them exceptionally well. Consumers nonetheless still tend to look for that “do-it-all” solution, and the 2024 BMW X2 M35i is the latest in a long line of attempts to be that “everything” SUV. It’s attractive, sporty, luxurious, comfortable, and practical, but—spoiler alert—it doesn’t do all those things perfectly. It does get respectfully close.
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Now in its second generation, the 2024 BMW X2 has a whole new look, more power, and more features than its predecessor. The xDrive28i trim now makes 241 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, up from 228 hp and 258 lb-ft in the previous generation. The X2 M35i model makes 312 hp and 295 lb-ft from its 2.0-liter turbo-four, 11 more horsepower than before but 36 lb-ft less torque. All X2s also feature all-wheel drive and a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.
The all new sportback design is the first thing you notice, but the new look was hit and miss with our judges. “I’m not really a fan of what BMW did with the styling here,” features editor Scott Evans said. “The old X2 was quirky, interesting, and stylish. This one is ‘honey, I shrunk the X6.’” Senior features editor Jonny Lieberman swung the other way: “It’s like a funkier X4. I like it.”
On the other hand, most judges were quite pleased with the X2’s interior styling and use of materials even though BMW effectively copied and pasted the same interior from its other model lines into the X2. It looks good, but it doesn’t do much to make the new X2 feel like a unique experience. Basically, if you’ve seen one interior from BMW’s present lineup, you’ve seen them all.
Despite not being a full-fledged M car, the X2 M35i provides a sporty driving experience with sharp and responsive steering. It wants to be driven with spirit, something enthusiasts will appreciate. What we don’t appreciate is the hesitation from the dual-clutch transmission at low speeds and the clunky stop/start function. We’re cool with the X2 wanting to be sporty, but it’s more important for it to remain good at daily-driving duties. This do-it-all SUV could use some extra polishing in that area.
As for pricing, the 2024 BMW X2 M35i sits at $61,625 as tested. It’s worth noting you can get a similarly equipped X1 M35i with the same power for nearly $2,000 less. Of course, you can shave back some of the X2’s options and save even more money, with the base price coming in at $53,025. Overall, the 2024 BMW X2 is a great sporty, luxury SUV, but it doesn't represent the best bang for your buck.
This review was conducted as part of our 2025 SUV of the Year (SUVOTY) testing, where each vehicle is evaluated on our six key criteria: efficiency, design, safety, engineering excellence, value, and performance of intended function. Eligible vehicles must be all-new or significantly revised.
Andrew Beckford’s passion for cars started as a middle schooler when his friend Richie explained how an internal combustion engine works. He was bitten by the bug and the rest, as they say, is history. He dug deep into the tuner scene and eventually wrote for Turbo Magazine, Import Tuner, Super Street. He covered car shows, feature builds, and reviewed racing games for those magazines in addition to covering motorsports including Formula Drift, Indy Car, and F1 for his personal blog. Eventually Beckford joined MotorTrend to cover the daily automotive news beat. Besides being a gearhead, Beckford has been a gamer since the ’80s and is a huge fan of the arcade racing games of the ’90s like Daytona USA, SEGA Rally, and Ridge Racer. Beckford’s a movie buff as well, especially comic book films from DC and Marvel. When car culture crosses over with gaming and entertainment, rest assured Beckford is aware of it. In addition to serving as a consultant on a “triple A” racing titles, he’s reviewed major racing games such as Forza Motorsport, Need for Speed, Gran Turismo, F1, and more. He’s also interviewed blockbuster directors including Steven Caple Jr. (Transformers: Rise of the Beasts) and Neill Blomkamp (Gran Turismo). His biggest profile to date was with Robert Downey Jr. on his love affair with cars and his show Downey’s Dream Cars on MAX. Beckford’s profile of Downey Jr. was the first print cover story written by an African American in MotorTrend’s history. Along with KJ Jones, Andrew Beckford also heads up MotorTrend’s celebration of Black History Month by spotlighting diverse voices in the automotive industry and motorsports. Beckford’s first car was a 1982 Nissan Stanza affectionately named “Stanley” by his late mother.
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