TESTED 8.3.24, COTS-WOLDS ON SALE NOW
Small BMWs have often shown a bit of an inferiority complex over the years. Transverse, high-set engines have meant they've lacked the perfect weight distribution and native rear drive that BMW is renowned for, leading them to overcompensate with a too-firm ride and reactive steering just a slightly try-hard vibe.
Electrification would, you might imagine, be an opportunity to start from a clean slate, but for now BMW is adapting ICE platforms for most of its EVs - including the new iX2.
Its main motor goes in the front; the entry-level eDrive20 version is exclusively front-driven, while this xDrive30 gets another motor at the rear and thereby four-wheel drive.
This is the car BMW is offering up against Audi's Q4 E-tron Sport back, and it's clearly hoping that sporty styling will sell it, which explains the distinctly over-egged biplane rear wing of our test car. Yet the appeal of the iX2's fundamental profile and stance just isn't a patch on that of the best-looking electric crossover-coupés in this class.
The cabin has quite a glitzy, technical, expensive look about it, but it isn't as spacious in the back as those key rivals - and nor do all of the materials from which it's made feel quite as expensive as they look.
It has the iDrive 9 infotainment system, which works well in BMW's bigger cars but here lacks a physical controller so is quite a bit less easy to navigate while you're driving than it could be.
Esta historia es de la edición March 20, 2024 de Autocar UK.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición March 20, 2024 de Autocar UK.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
HONDA E:NY1
How do you like the sound of a version that's better in almost every way for £15k less?
GWM ORA 07
Lightning Cat is poised to leap into the UK's electric saloon market
Renault fills final gap in SUV line-up
Captur spawns more practical, hybrid-only Symbioz as £30k Nissan Qashqai rival
AMG lines up turbo V8 for CLE 63
Performance arm U-turns on unpopular PHEV power for coupé range-topper
Moss hits 246mph in MG's Roaring Raindrop
AT THE BEIJING motor show, MG unwrapped an attention-grabbing new concept car in celebration of its centenary: an electric hypercar named the EXE181, with an ultralow profile and a single, central seat.
MCLAREN ARTURA
Our car's back up to full speed, but can it chase down a 750S?
VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG
Big 4x4s with big diesel engines: things to forget or preserve? We intend to find out
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
Everrati's electric luxury restomod business is picking up pace. Stephen Dobie drives its latest model, a Mercedes SL Pagoda with twice the original power
JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE
Can the American SUV brand's new flagship mix it with the plug-in hybrid big guns?
A110 signs off with £200k special
Alpine readies Cayman GT4 RS-baiting track-focused 'ultimate' model with 330bhp