Mind the Gap
Hatchback handling, SUV spaciousness and oodles of options. Matthew Parkinson visited Bowker BMW to test drive the BMW X2. Photography: Paul Currie
How do you define luxury? For some, it’s flying first class for others it might be a luxury cruise, but what if you can’t abide air travel or seasickness keeps you on dry land? That’s exactly the point BMW is making with its new X2. Luxury is subjective.
Like its more costly cohorts, the BMW X2 sports a slick touchscreen display mounted atop an aluminium trimmed dashboard that plays host to an array of neatly aligned switches and buttons. The seats are heated for when it’s cold, and there’s air conditioning at the flick of a switch.
So, if it’s technologically comparable to other cars in the BMW range, how does it drive? It tackles corners about as well as any of its smaller siblings, yet the ride is as silky smooth as its bigger brethren. You can thread it around town as easily as BMW’s 1 series, but the X2’s size makes it a more capable family car. If you’re not ready to settle down just yet, the rear seats fold down so you can slide in a couple of golf bags, some skis or maybe a couple of snowboards.
Like BMW’s saloons and SUVs, the X2 would be a capable companion on long-haul trips. My journey might be limited to Lytham, but I start imagining crossing continents in the BMW X2. Fitted with BMW’s eight-speed automatic gearbox and its frugal two-litre diesel engine, it’d be equally happy cruising along German autobahns.
There’s little road-roar from the tyres and the engine is hushed at higher speeds. If you want to break the silence, digital radio is available and pairing up your smartphone is super-simple.
BMW isn’t pretending this is a mud-plugger for climbing mountains, but the car boasts a slightly raised ride. You can even opt for BMW’s Xdrive system, which gives power to the rear wheels when the car senses the front losing grip.
Still, for those confined to the concrete jungle, a capable (and less expensive) two-wheel drive version is available.
Today’s trip barely exceeds 20 miles, but I’d happily watch the odometer tick past 2000 listening to the sat-nav reeling off the names of picturesque French villages.
Electric seats are available, but the manual seats in the car I’m driving are so adjustable that I’m sure I could park up in Lichtenstein and slide my seat back across the Swiss border. As well as being able to move up, down, forwards, backwards, and recline, the seat also has adjustable sides to ensure a snug fit when the road gets twisty.
The BMW X2 is as good a car as I’ve ever driven, but it’s impossible to pigeon-hole into a category because of how well it works on so many levels. Ultimately, I think that’s the point.
Bowker Blackburn BMW
Trident Park, Trident Way
Blackburn BB1 3NU
01254 274444
www.bowkerblackburnbmw.co.uk
