BMW iX2 review

It's been suggested the human attention span is shortening, and if that's true (are you still with us...?) we reckon the BMW iX2 could help reverse the trend.

We’re referring to the iX2's attention-grabbing styling. With its chunky SUV body, sleek coupé-like roof and a front grille that resembles a pair of neighbouring caves or huge nostrils, this electric SUV has looks that should make people stop to inspect the details.

Whether, after inspection, they decide the iX2 is a beauty or a beast is another matter, but it’ll get owners noticed more than if they were in the closely related BMW iX1, which has a more traditional boxy shape.

If you decide you want one, there's no need to choose a trim level or battery size because there's only one of each, but there are two power options, one with four-wheel drive. There's also a petrol version, which you can read about in our BMW X2 review.

So is the BMW iX2 a worthy competitor to the best electric SUVs with coupé looks, ranging from the Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron and Skoda Enyaq Coupé to the Volvo EC40? Read on to find out...

The BMW iX2 is offered with a choice of two power output versions – the entry-level eDrive20 and the top-of-the-range xDrive30.

The eDrive20 has one electric motor producing 201bhp, which is sent to the front wheels and can propel the car from 0-62mph in 8.6 seconds.

There’s a slight delay between you pressing the accelerator pedal and the electric motor responding, but there’s plenty of muscle to get up to motorway speed. It doesn't deliver its power with as much finesse as we'd like, and the front wheels occasionally scrabble and struggle for traction.

Meanwhile, the xDrive30 has two electric motors, which provide some serious punch, developing 308bhp and trimming the 0-62mph time to 5.6 seconds. As the "x" in its name signifies, this version of the iX2 has four-wheel drive.

Whichever you choose, it'll have a 64.8kWh (usable capacity) battery. The lighter eDrive20 has an official range of up to 283 miles, although the xDrive30 isn't far behind, officially managing 267 miles.

Both trail the Volvo EC40 (299-345 miles), and the Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron 45 does even better, with an official range of more than 340 miles.

So, the iX2 doesn't have a particularly competitive range, but that does at least mean you'll be doing public charging stops on longer journeys, giving you a break from the uncomfortable ride.

It's particularly bad around town, where potholes and speed bumps are jarring enough to throw occupants vertically in their seats. The jostling continues on country roads, but it's much better on motorways. The EC40 and Q4 Sportback e-tron Sportback are much smoother.

The upside is that the iX2 feels more agile than rivals when cornering down a country road, with impressive grip levels and little body lean. That said, it’s not what we’d describe as fun. Despite a quick response, the light steering doesn't provide a great sense of grip or a strong connection with the front wheels, so it doesn’t inspire that much confidence when cornering quickly.

As with most electric cars, regenerative braking is on hand to harvest energy as the car slows. You can adjust the strength of the braking effect, and in its strongest setting, it slows the iX2 smoothly and quickly to a walking pace without being as violent as the EC40’s system.

There's also an adaptive mode that varies the strength of the slowing effect depending on the road layout and traffic conditions, although it doesn’t always judge it well. Alternatively, switching to Efficient mode allows the car to coast. 

For a bit more theatre, you can switch to Sport driving mode (and also Expressive, on xDrive30 versions), which brings an augmented sound piped in through the speakers. The tone changes as you accelerate, and you can turn it off if you want a quieter journey. There’s only a moderate level of road noise on the smallest 19in wheels, but there is noticeably more wind noise than in a Q4 Sportback e-tron.

"Provided you stick to smooth country roads, the iX2 is better to drive than its rivals, but I've found it struggles to compete everywhere else." – Will Nightingale, Reviews Editor

The driving position in the BMW iX2 is fundamentally sound for most people, with lots of seat adjustment, but some will find the steering wheel doesn’t go low enough for them to get properly comfy.

Electric seat adjustment is available as an option, and adding it also brings adjustable lumbar support – something that really should be standard on a car costing this much money.

On the plus side, the iX2's standard sports seats have plenty of side and shoulder support to hold you in place when cornering. The seat base can be extended to provide more support for long-legged drivers.

You don’t get a truly commanding view of the road, but forward visibility is pretty good, helped by relatively thin windscreen pillars.

However, as with the Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron and Volvo EC40, the iX2 has small side windows, a narrow rear screen and chunky rear pillars, all of which compromise visibility when you look back over your shoulder and out to the rear.

Fortunately, you get front and rear parking sensors, and a rear-view camera as standard. A 360-degree camera is available as an option.

A 10.3in digital driver's display behind the steering wheel shows lots of useful information and offers a range of layouts for the driver, plus there's a 10.7in infotainment touchscreen in the centre of the dashboard.

The touchscreen is used to access many of the iX2's functions, including the climate control system, which is more fiddly than using the physical climate controls in a Q4 Sportback e-tron. At least you can adjust the stereo volume and select your drive modes using physical controls on the centre console.

The iX2’s infotainment operating system is packed full of features, including sat-nav, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay plus apps that allow you to play arcade games and stream videos.

The touchscreen responds to inputs quickly enough but at least a row of touch-sensitive shortcut keys down the side of the screen takes you to the most fundamental functions directly. Meanwhile, the graphics are sharper than those in the EC40 and the icons are slightly larger and easier to aim for while driving.

You're unlikely to be disappointed with the iX2's interior, but neither is it as plush as an EC40's, with more hard plastics on show – especially lower down. The iX2 has more plush materials inside than a VW ID 5 though.

"With loads of side and shoulder support, the seats are great at holding you in place, but I think it's disappointing you don't get lumbar support as standard." – Lawrence Cheung, New cars editor

A six-footer will have no trouble fitting in the front of a BMW iX2, thanks to plenty of head, leg and elbow room. There’s plenty of storage space up front, including a pair of cupholders deep enough to hold a 500ml bottle.

The lidded centre armrest is quite shallow (and hinged to only open up for easy access to the driver) but there's a larger storage tray beneath it on a lower tier.

Rear head room is slightly better than in the Volvo EC40, with a six-foot occupant able to sit in the back without their head resting on the ceiling. There’s also plenty of leg room, although due to the iX2’s raised floor, there’s little space to tuck your feet under the front seats.

More positively, you can recline the iX2’s backrest to boost comfort, which is something you can’t do in either the Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron or the EC40.

A third rear passenger (sitting in the middle) won’t fancy a long journey, due to a big hump in the floor robbing them of foot space. The Q4 Sportback e-tron, with its flat floor, is better in that regard, while a Skoda Enyaq Coupé is much more spacious in the back.

The iX2’s 525-litre boot capacity is a little down on the storage space in a petrol BMW X2 (with 560 litres) but there’s still enough space for a large buggy, a big shopping trip or luggage for a family holiday.

On paper, the boot volume is a little less (by 10 litres) than what you get in an Q4 Sportback e-tron, but more than what’s offered in the EC40 (although that also has a small storage area under the bonnet). The Enyaq Coupé is again the one to beat, offering 570 litres.

The load bay is a usefully square shape and has a couple of small storage areas on the side. The small load lip at the boot entrance isn’t awkward to lift heavy items over, and while the height of the boot floor is fixed, that storage area underneath will easily swallow up the charging cables.

All iX2s have a powered tailgate for added convenience. You can also open and close the boot by sweeping your foot below a sensor under the bumper if you opt for the Technology Pack. 

The iX2 comes with a 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats as standard, which makes it easier to carry long loads and still fit four people in the car. You can’t fold down the rear back rests using catches in the boot – the only release catches are on top of the outer seats.

"Considering it has coupé-like styling, I'm impressed that four members of the team will fit into the iX2 with few complaints." – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer

The iX2 costs a little more than a BMW iX1 with the same amount of kit, but has a higher starting price because the iX1 is available in less well-equipped trims.

The entry-level iX2 eDrive20 costs slightly more than both entry-level versions of the Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron (the 35 Sport) and Volvo EC40 Core.

The xDrive30 is quite a big leap up in price, and while a Q4 Sportback 55 is similarly quick, the EC40 Twin Motor can be had for less. You can check the latest prices on our New Car Deals pages.

Both versions of the iX2 sit in the lowest BIK tax band for company car drivers, but the eDrive20 will cost less in salary sacrifice due to its lower P11D price. 

With a maximum charging speed of up to 130kW, a 10-80% charge will take around half an hour. Rivals will take a similar time for the same top-up.

The only trim level (M Sport) comes with plenty of kit, including 19in alloy wheels, two-zone climate control, cruise control, automatic windscreen wipers, ambient lighting and heated front seats with part-leather upholstery.

Individual options include a panoramic sunroof and a heated steering wheel. A few option packs are available, including the Technology Package that brings adaptive LED headlights, keyless entry, wireless phone-charging and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror.

The iX2 did not feature in the 2023 What Car? Reliability Survey but BMW finished eighth out of 31 brands in the manufacturer league table. That's a strong result, above Audi, Jaguar and Mercedes, but below Lexus (which came second).

BMW’s three-year/unlimited-mileage warranty edges ahead of the three-year/60,000-mile warranties offered by Audi and Volvo. The battery comes with a separate warranty for eight years or 100,000 miles.

The iX2 has yet to be tested by safety experts Euro NCAP but the closely related BMW iX1 scored the full five stars. All versions come with automatic emergency braking (AEB) and a suite of airbags.

If you want more safety kit, there are two option packs available. The Driving Assistant pack adds blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, while the pricier Driving Assistant Plus pack brings lane-keeping assistance, adaptive cruise control and traffic-sign recognition.

"The optional M Sport Pro pack adds a rear spoiler, red brake calipers and a black front grille, but you have to combine it with the optional Technology Pack, which further bumps up the price." – Claire Evans, Consumer Editor

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