BMW iX2 | Reviews | DriveElectric

Fastback version of the electric iX1 SUV

All-wheel drive in xDrive30 form

WLTP driving range of up to 267 miles

0-62 mph in 5.6 seconds

Design & Powertrain

The BMW iX2 is the sporty, fastback version of the electric iX1, gaining a rear-end design that closely resembles the X4. The front also receives more individual styling to differentiate it from the iX1. There are fewer differences between the two cars when it comes to the interior, aside from the reduced height in the boot due to the sloping rear window (and rear legroom isn’t huge), and it’s a similar story with the powertrain. The iX2 has a 66.5 kWh battery (64.8 kWh usable capacity) with two electric motors in xDrive30 trim - 190 hp/247 Nm at the front and 190 hp/247 Nm at the rear – giving all-wheel drive.

BMW iX2 Driving Experience

The iX2 has the normal BMW feel when you get into the cabin, with the familiar thick-rimmed M Sport steering wheel and the latest dashboard, which, although featuring a wide ‘Curved Display’, is still instantly recognisable as a BMW.

What might be different compared to the majority of BMWs over recent years is the way the power is delivered to the road. Rather than the rear-wheel drive experience of 3 Series models upwards, the iX2 is front-wheel drive, and although the iX2 xDrive30 is all-wheel drive, thanks to the equal 50/50 power and torque split front to rear, the handling is very neutral (and of course very secure).

Ride quality is good (although it doesn’t quite match the ultra-comfortable ride quality of the BMW iX3), which is combined with the normal refined and quiet overall driving experience of an EV.

Performance is impressive in the xDrive30 model, with a 0-62 mph acceleration time of 5.6 seconds. There’s even a ‘boost’ control on the left-hand side of the steering wheel; if you need to carry out a quick bit of overtaking this can deliver a short blast of extra power.

The iX2 has standard drive mode choices of Personal, Sport and Efficient, however three additional modes are available via BMW Digital Premium: Expressive, Relax and Digital Art. Acceleration in Sport mode is accompanied by Hans Zimmer’s ‘BMW IconicSounds Electric’ futuristic sporty soundtrack. Efficient mode includes a MAX RANGE function which BMW claims can increase the driving range by 25%.

The iX2’s gear selector gives you the options of D or B, the latter delivering increased levels of brake regeneration. High, medium or low braking energy recovery can also be selected through the touchscreen.

BMW’s iDrive system has included a rotary controller and shortcut buttons between the front seats for many years, but in the iX2 (like the iX1) this has disappeared – you now only have the option to control car settings by pressing buttons on the touchscreen, like virtually all other cars. The shortcut buttons for Media, Tel and Nav are now on the right of the touchscreen.

The user-friendly physical cabin heating and ventilation controls have also gone – again replaced with buttons at the bottom of the screen, which you need to press to bring up the full range of climate controls.

The iX2 has manual rather than electric seat controls, and as with the majority of new cars, if you don’t like the car corrupting your steering, you’ll need to switch off the lane departure warning system.

Range & Charging

The BMW iX2 xDrive30 M Sport has a WLTP combined electric range of 259-267 miles. Real-world range is likely to average around 220 miles.

The iX2 xDrive30 can rapid charge at up to 130 kW DC, enabling a 10% to 80% charge in 29 minutes. AC charging can be carried out at up to 11 kW using a three-phase power supply, typically found at workplaces in the UK, when a 0% to 100% charge could be completed in 6.5 hours. AC charging at up to 22 kW can also be specified as an option, which can reduce the charging time to 3 hours 45 minutes.

The iX2 has the latest version of BMW’s ‘Max Performance Charging’ software which is designed to result in its rapid charging rate dropping smoothly instead of following the previous ‘stepped’ curve, meaning shorter charging times.

The BMW iX2 is also equipped to use the Plug & Charge function. This means that the vehicle authenticates itself automatically at compatible public charging stations, so authentication via an app or a card is no longer required.

The iX2 has a heat pump which aims to ensure that cabin heating in cold weather has minimal impact on the battery’s range.

Price and Model Range

The BMW iX2 is offered in two variants in the UK, the BMW iX2 eDrive20 and the BMW iX2 xDrive30, with M Sport specification as standard.

The BMW iX2 eDrive20 has a 204 hp electric motor at the front axle with a WLTP driving range of 272 – 283 miles and is priced from £51,615.

The BMW iX2 xDrive30 M Sport costs £56,540.

Conclusion

The BMW iX2 is another desirable electric BMW. It’s reasonably compact and when this is combined with the 302 hp powertrain in the xDrive30 model the result is a fun driving experience. The all-wheel drive system delivers excellent levels of grip, but with the 50/50 power and torque distribution you do lose the traditional BMW rear-wheel drive bias. The iX2 has the latest BMW interior, with a touchscreen and a driver’s instrument display merged into one wide curved screen, but the iDrive rotary dial and physical shortcut buttons have disappeared, so all car controls have to be selected by pressing the touchscreen. For this size of car, the driving range is decent, and the price reflects the premium positioning.