BMW X2 interior, tech and practicality

There’s loads of adjustment in the X2’s front seats, so the driver and their shotgun passenger will be happy to cover many miles once they’ve found a position that suits them. The physical buttons for the climate control and infotainment system fall easily to hand, making on-the-fly adjustments easy.

You might think the X2’s lowered roofline and exaggerated styling would compromise visibility – and you’d be right. The view out the front is clear, although you sit low – almost at hatchback level – rather than the lofty, commanding position you get in some small SUVs.

However, the view out the back or over your shoulder are the biggest issues – thick rear pillars and a laughably small rear windscreen give only a very limited view of what’s behind you. Rear parking sensors are, at least, standard across the range.

Entry-level SE spec includes all the kit you might hope for. You get 17-inch alloy wheels, climate control, cruise control, automatic lights and wipers, and a power-opening boot lid. You also get an infotainment system with sat nav and Apple CarPlay although, annoyingly, Android Auto isn't offered.

Sport brings larger alloy wheels outside along with sports seats and ambient lighting inside. Above that is the company's familiar M Sport trim, with even larger alloys, an M Sport body kit, sports suspension, leather upholstery and heated front seats. You'll also find M Sport X trim, which adds extra satin aluminium and grey detailing to the exterior styling.

The iDrive infotainment system in the X2 is an older setup compared to the latest BMW models, but it still includes almost all the functions you’d expect. The only notable absence is Android Auto, with only Apple CarPlay functionality included.

Older entry-level X2 cars used a 6.5-inch screen, but this was upgraded to an 8.8-inch setup later in the car’s life, which is the most common version on the used market. Load times and responses to inputs are fairly quick, even by today’s standards, but the sheer lack of screen real estate compared to newer setups means it’s not the easiest screen to read information from.

There’s just one standard audio system available in the X2 and it’s more than capable enough for most users.

The first moment you step into the back of the X2, you might initially think ‘it’s not so bad’. There’s enough legroom for one adult to sit behind another provided the front-seat occupant isn’t vastly over six-foot tall. You’ll also find just enough width to carry three in the rear for quick journeys.

It’s when you lean back into the rear seat that you discover the X2’s most significant shortcoming – even shorter adults or taller children will find their hair grazing the car’s sloping coupe roof. This also means you’ll have to stoop a long way if you need to secure a kid in their child seats, so the X2 makes less sense as a family car than the X1 it’s based on.

Again, if you just pay attention to the boot’s width or length, it doesn’t stand out as a particular shortcoming. Smaller pushchairs or a couple of big suitcases will fit back there without an issue.

It’s the height that’s the problem. The parcel shelf is almost at roof height, so there’s very little capacity to carry tall or bulky items. And, if you choose to ferry your four-legged friend back there, it won’t be anywhere near as spacious or airy as the cargo area in an X1, for example.