The BMW X2 is now in its second generation, and for the first time the model gets an all-electric variant, the BMW iX2. It also serves as a sportier, more rakish alternative to the BMW iX1 electric SUV, for those willing to trade some practicality for a more dynamic appearance.
Launched in 2024, it will also be a little while until you can find real savings on the used market, and it’s not a car without compromise, with cramped rear quarters, a firm ride, and a range that still lags behind some rivals. But it’s distinctive and good to drive, so it is sure to find fans.
For more practicality the BMW iX1 is an option, while more coupe-style rivals include the Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron, Volvo EC40, and the Ford Mustang Mach-E - the latter being a little larger, but offering a wide range of models and similarly sporty handling to the BMW.
If you’ve been considering a BMW iX1 but don’t mind trading some practicality for more dramatic styling, then that’s the job the iX2 has been designed to fill. To most intents and purposes it’s the same car, with the same powertrains, similar performance and similar range, and from behind the wheel you’d struggle to tell them apart - but for certain customers, the iX2’s sloping roof and more aggressive styling will seal the deal.
At a glance, you don’t even lose much practicality - thanks to being a longer car, the iX2’s 525-litre boot is actually 35 litres larger than that of the iX1. But there’s less ultimate space when you drop the rear seats, rear-seat passengers get less headroom, and if you have a dog, it’ll probably disown you for making it duck down and stare out of the letterbox rear screen.
Things are better for the driver, with a smart cabin layout, a good driving position (sporty, but also slightly raised as per the SUV norm), and BMW’s infotainment is still easier to use than most - though physical knobs and switches are few and far between.
The iX2 has a sporty drive too, as you’d hope for. The relatively firm suspension probably won’t bother buyers looking for a sportier model like this and it’s pretty agile for a car that weighs more than two tonnes. BMW’s braking regeneration feels natural too, so it’s possible to ‘one pedal drive’ the iX2.
The obvious alternative to the iX2 is the more spacious iX1, but presuming you’re only looking for coupe-style SUVs, and electric ones at that, the Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron is closest in concept, and the Volvo EC40 has a similar take on the theme. The slightly larger Ford Mustang Mach-E is also worth a look. Electric versions of the new MINI Countryman should also be on your shortlist - it’s based on the same platform, and is very stylish in its own right.
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As is often the case with EVs the most affordable model happens to be the one with the greatest range, since it’s also the one with the least power and therefore the least energy being drawn from the battery pack. In the iX2’s case that’s the eDrive20. It’s certainly not as quick as the xDrive30 (which matches the petrol-powered M35i version of the X2 for pace) and loses its all-wheel drive, but the single trim level means you lose nothing in terms of styling or equipment.
The iX2 has so far only been offered in M Sport trim, the best fit for its status as the sporty spin-off from the more practical iX1. It gets a high level of equipment as standard, to which new buyers can apply various options, such as larger 20-inch wheels, full Veganza or full leather trim, technology packs and more, so keep an eye out for used versions with some of these options fitted.
The BMW iX2’s dimensions are:
The BMW iX2’s boot size is:
Like all electric vehicles the BMW iX2 is currently free to tax each year. This is set to change in 2025, though VED costs should still be minimal compared to combustion versions of the X2.
The BMW iX2 range covers insurance groups 31-38, which is in the same ballpark as the mechanically similar BMW iX1 and the Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron, but lower than the less sporty Mercedes-Benz EQA.
Read our full BMW iX2 review