Is the X2 as fun to drive as the 2 Series? And yet, we unanimously voted it the most fun to drive. For all that, the 2.0-litre turbocharged engine, eight-speed transmission and all-wheel drive is pretty much identical to the X1, with a zero-to-100 km/h time of 6.5 seconds. That engine is paired with the same Aisin-sourced eight-speed automatic gearbox and Haldex all-wheel drive system (front-wheel drive is standard). The boosted 2.0-liter is the de facto engine choice in this and many other segments. And the X2’s turbo 2.0-liter engine feels most satisfyingly like a larger, naturally aspirated powerplant. The T5 version of the XC40 brings a 248-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four and standard all-wheel drive. However, this version does not have a raked roofline and it sports lots of features of its own. It looks great stuck back there, behind the X2’s version of the Hofmeister kink. For storage space, it’s a little tricky - there isn’t as much room back there as in other vehicles on sale for similar pricing, but it’s bigger than, say, a luxury car.
Each of our drivers independently used the term “playful” to describe the E-Pace’s dynamic character, proving either that the E-Pace is, in fact, playful or that we’re spending too much time together. That is, or should be, the goal of any turbocharged engine. The BMW is, in a way, the polar opposite of the Volvo. Now, BMW has no less than three cars built on that platform (excluding MINIs) and it’s already working on a fourth, with the upcoming 1 Series. Of course not. But it’s not as far off as you’d think and its combination of fun and practicality is hard to beat in the segment. That's a shame, because this is a genuinely fun car. Our car had the optional Dynamic Handling Package equipped, which gave it what BMW calls “M Sports Steering”. BMW has been drawing the ire of enthusiasts these past few years, mostly for supposedly diluting its own brand heritage and DNA.
Well, once we exited the expressway for twisty, turny roads, we found a few things. But hop off the expressway and the X2 comes alive. Think of it as a more "spirited" X1, with its own unique styling that comes across as more hot hatch than crossover. The 2019 BMW X2 SUV comes with front wheel drive, and all wheel drive. We recently had the opportunity to drive the new BMW X2 in Palm Springs, California, both on and outside the brand’s Performance Driving School at the Thermal Club. But we could not stay out in our retreat alone, simply driving quickly over wooded two-lanes and enjoying the quiet pace. Many purists are furious about the X2, as they feel it’s only adding to the eventual ruin of BMW’s “Ultimate Driving Machine” ethos. It’s tied with the Volvo for offering the most features and amenities, but to access many of them, you must crawl into the tortured psyche of the laggy, confused infotainment system’s creator. Where the Jag is plastered with F-type cues and the X2 appears almost ashamed of its SUVness, the Volvo is simply modern and handsome and honest, even when it’s done up in pastel paint with a white roof, a look known around these parts as “the full Easter egg.” Our $45,935 unit was all grayscale except for the funky (and optional) orange carpeting that creeps up from the floor to cover the XC40’s lower door panels.
But that’s not how you should look at the X2 because that’s not how it feels. If you’re like me, and you like to sit as low as possible while still being able to see outward, this feels weird, as all of the controls are sort of aimed upward slightly. The steering system, which feels fine at high speeds, is massively overboosted at slower ones. And the view is fine. Instead, it emits a series of whooshing noises and horse farts. Pawling, NY customers know that we are one of the leading BMW dealerships in the Poughkeepsie, NY area and serve the Poughkeepsie market. Galena, OH customers know that we are one of the leading BMW dealerships in the Columbus, OH area and serve the Columbus market. With only 228 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque on tap, the BMW X2 doesn’t have the most potent of powerplants. The XC40’s front end just gives up in a way that the Jag’s doesn’t. But where better to park your Volvo XC40 than in front of a hipster taco emporium or a place that treats sliders as haute cuisine? Had we stayed in the confines of one or another of the hipster enclaves we encountered on our journey, the charming Volvo XC40 might have won this comparison test.
Its engine is the only one in the test that actually makes an appealing sound. Unlike the previous comparison test of this class in 2016, there is no runaway winner this time. There is only one engine. It has, by some margin, the test’s worst fuel economy, but its transmission houses the most gears, and its engine produces only a middling level of power. Its relatively low mass also helped the vehicle with the least powerful engine not only return the best fuel economy (25 mpg, 2 more than the Volvo and 6 more than the Jaguar) but also match the Volvo for the acceleration laurels. B48 engine makes from 181 horsepower (BMW 220i) to 255 horsepower (740e iPerformance). If you want even better performance, choose the range-topping BMW X2 M35i. If you have children, you'll want an X3. The hotel welcomes your dog if you have one and the two of you can walk around observing the locally inspired art, music and craft beer.
