Review: BMW F39 X2 (2018-on)

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• Fuel-efficient engines
• High standard of interior fit and finish
• Based on F48 X1, steering is well-weighted…

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• … but lacks feedback
• Ride quality?
• In-cabin noise?

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Overview

Released in Australia in March 2018, the BMW F39 X2 was a compact ‘Sports Activity Coupe’. Manufactured in Regensburg, Germany, the BMW F39 X2 range for Australia initially consisted of the sDrive20i variant, but was subsequently with the release of the sDrive18i, xDrive20i and xDrive20d. In mid-2019, Australian deliveries of the X2 M35i will commence.

All drivetrains for the BMW F39 X2, however, included the following ‘EfficientDynamics’ technologies:

• Auto Start Stop: could shut down the engine when the vehicle was stationary in traffic to reduce fuel consumption;
• Brake Energy Regeneration: regulated alternator output to recharge the battery when the vehicle was coasting or braking; and,
• Eco Pro drive mode: adjusted engine management, throttle response and transmission behaviour to minimise fuel consumption. Eco Pro also included a coasting function that could disengage the engine from the powertrain when the driver eased off the accelerator to prevent engine braking.

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xDrive all-wheel-drive

For BMW X2 xDrive variants, the xDrive all-wheel-drive system consisted of a single-speed bevel gear in the front-axle drive unit (a power take-off) and a rear-axle drive unit with an electro-hydraulically controlled multi-plate clutch. In normal driving situations, power was directed to the front wheels. Based on sensors measuring vehicle speed, lateral and longitudinal acceleration, however, the clutch could engage to direct up to 50 per cent of the engine’s torque to the rear wheels.

Body and dimensions

The BMW F39 X2 was underpinned by BMW’s UKL2 platform which was shared with the F48 X1 . Compared to the BMW F48 X1 , however, the BMW F39 X2 was 79 mm shorter (at 4360 mm), 3 mm wider (1824 mm) and 86 mm lower (1526 mm), though wheelbase length was unchanged at 2670 mm. Furthermore, the BMW F39 X2 had a drag co-efficient of 0.28 Cd for the xDrive20d variant, and 0.29 Cd for the sDrive20i and xDrive25d variants.

The BMW F39 X2 had luggage space of 470 litres, though this increased to 1355 litres when the rear seats were folded down and luggage was filled to the roofline.

Suspension

The front suspension for the BMW F39 X2 was a single-joint spring-strut axle, while the rear suspension had a multi-arm axle with separate spring and damper configuration. As an option, the F39 X2 was available with BMW’s ‘Dynamic Damper Control’ which consisted of electronically controlled dampers that continually adjusted damping resistance according to road conditions and driver behaviour. Furthermore, the ‘Driving Experience Control’ switch enabled the driver to select from sport or comfort damper settings. The optional M Sport suspension provided tauter spring and damper settings, and a 10 mm lower ride height.

Steering

The BMW F39 X2 had rack-and-pinion steering with speed-sensitive electric power assistance (BMW’s ‘Servotronic’). The steering had a ratio of 15.9:1, while the F39 X2’s turning circle was 11.3 metres.

Safety equipment

Standard safety equipment for the BMW F39 X2 included dual front airbags, front side airbags, full-length curtain airbags, ABS, electronic brake force distribution, brake assist, cornering brake control, electronic stability control, traction control and front seatbelts with pre-tensioners and load limiters.

As standard, the Australian-delivered BMW F39 X2 was fitted with BMW’s ‘Driving Assistant’ which included the following technologies –

• Forward Collision Warning and Pedestrian Warning with City Braking: operating at speeds between 10 and 60 km/h, the system would warn the driver if a pedestrian or stationary vehicle was detected in the vehicle’s path. If the driver failed to react, the system would automatically apply the brakes to prevent or minimise the severity of a collision;
• Lane Departure Warning: could identify lane markings and warn the driver via steering wheel vibrations if the vehicle was drifting out of its lane;
• High Beam Assistant: used a forward-facing camera integrated into the interior rear-view mirror to identify vehicles ahead and could partially masks headlight illumination to avoid dazzling other drivers; and,
• Speed Limit Info: could recognise speed limit signs and incorporate speed restrictions into the driver-selectable Speed Limiter function or Active Cruise Control (where fitted).

As an extra-cost option, the F39 X2 could be specified with BMW’s ‘Driving Assistant Plus’ which included –

• Active Cruise Control with stop & go function: operating at speeds between 30 km/h and 140 km/h, Active Cruise Control could maintain a pre-set distance from the vehicle ahead by automatically applying the brakes when cruise control was active. When the road ahead cleared, the vehicle would then accelerate back up to its cruising speed. With the stop & go function, the F39 X2 could be braked until stationary and, once the traffic ahead began to accelerate, would automatically accelerate if the vehicle has been stationary for a period between 1 and 3 seconds. If the vehicle has been stationary for longer than 3 seconds, the driver would need to briefly press the accelerator or a button to initiate acceleration up to the previously set cruising speed; and,
• Traffic Jam Assistant: assumed proximity control and lane-keeping tasks from the driver at speeds up to 60 km/h. Specifically, Traffic Jam Assistant provided steering assistance to keep the car ‘reliably in the middle of its lane’ provided that the driver had at least one hand on the steering wheel.

Euro NCAP testing

Compared to the BMW F48 X1, the BMW F39 X2 shared its platform and almost all of its structure; the F39 X2, however, had a slightly different side frame and a new bumper front, such that Euro NCAP performed additional side, pole and leg impact tests. A review by Euro NCAP of the results of those tests and data provided by BMW demonstrated that the 2015 rating of the F48 X1 could also be applied to the X2. As such, the BMW F39 X2 received a five star safety rating which included a 90 per cent adult occupant protection rating and an 87 per cent child occupant protection rating.

Features: BMW X2 sDrive20i M Sport X Package

The standard infotainment system for the BMW F39 X2 sDrive20i included a 100 watt sound system with six speakers, a digital radio tuner (DAB+), a 3.5 mm auxiliary input, USB connection, BMW’s iDrive6 operating system with a 6.5-inch colour display and HDD navigation (included three year subscription for navigation data), and Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity with voice control.

The BMW F39 X2 sDrive20i with M Sport X Package was also equipped with 19-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control air conditioning, cruise control with braking function, front sports seats, cloth ‘Hexagon’ Alcantara Anthracite upholstery with yellow contrast stitching, LED headlights, LED fog lights, front and rear parking sensors (‘Park Distance Control’), a rear view camera, dusk-sensing headlights, rain-sensing wipers, 40/20/40 split and folding rear seats, an ‘M Sport’ leather-wrapped steering wheel, remote central locking, power windows and heated mirrors, tilt and telescopic steering wheel adjustment, height adjustable front seats, an anti-dazzle interior rear-view mirror, power-operated tailgate with motion detection, 12 volt power sockets in the rear centre console, velour floor mats, a cargo net, a 5.7-inch TFT display within the instrument panel, ‘Aluminium Hexagon Anthracite’ interior trim and an immobiliser.

For Australian-delivered vehicles, the BMW X2 was equipped with BMW’s ‘Parking Assistant’ which, at speeds below 35 km/h, could identify parallel parking spaces using ultrasound sensors. When the driver pressed a button to begin parking, the Parking Assistant would automatically steer the F39 X2 into parallel or transverse parking spaces such that the driver only needed to control vehicle speed.

October 2018 update

From October 2018 production, standard features for the BMW X2 were extended to include BMW’s ‘Navigation System Plus’ (which had an 8.8-inch touchscreen display), Apple CarPlay and a Head-Up Display (HUD) which projected driving and navigation information onto the windscreen.

In addition to these changes, the entry-level X2 sDrive18i was fitted with 19-inch alloy wheels (previously 18-inch).

Specifications

• Specifications Guide: BMW F39 X2 (January 2018)
• Technical Specifications: BMW F39 X2 (October 2017)

Related links

• BMW: the new BMW X2 – Exciting looks, sparkling dynamics (October 2017)