[Herrkie]

As a new X2 F39 owner I am extremely excited and love my car to bits. But it was a long discussion between the X1 or X2 or even an upgrade to the X3.

I ended up going for the X2 because I just simply love the design and driving it is just that bit more fun.

What made you decide to get an X2 over an X1?

[rounderman]

X2M35, nothing else was similar. Actually cross shopped a Mini and the Volvo S60 T6 with polestar. The car was more comfortable, the ride height helped my old back, handling was great, and it has a hint of practicality. Finally I liked the looks over the boxy X1. The X3 was bigger, more expensive and our other car is a CR-V which is similar. I have driven mostly sedans with sticks but I really enjoy this one. Bought my lease out when it finished in May.

This car works for me. The next big test will be when the X1M35 comes out and I can keep my new car smell addiction at bay while either waiting for the new X2M35 or gasp, shudder, going electric. Some of which will involve what Mrs. Rounderman is willing to tolerate, she was okay with a higher ride height knowing I need a fast car to make me feel more manly

enjoy the ride and stay safe

[Glen e]

I find the X2 is very polarizing among the public, half my friends love it and half my friends hate it… I think it’s a great design. It’s a SUV without that boxy look, somewhere between an estate wagon and a full blown boxy SUV. But on top of that , you make it an M and it’s a stunning car to drive, I’m very happy with mine, I’m gonna get another one next year.

[rice_rocket88]

I'm exactly with rounderman.. if there was no m35i I wouldn't have gotten it. We own a '16 X1 and they kept on trying to get me/us to trade in and go with the X2 and every time they gave me an X2 as a loaner.. no dice until the m35i showed up and then my ears/eyeballs popped. I ended up getting it and my wife kept the X1. I do think there's some refinement issues that the X3 does better.. yet the X3 still feels quite bloated and big to me. The X2 always got me double taking when I saw it because it looked like an X1 but better to me.

I agree that with electric options or maybe even hybrid/plugin it might be the way to go. I do love the b58 engines and miss some of the bigger power, but right now even the M3 m40i etc doesn't really get my heart pumping too much... nice, but not enough for me to want to shell out the money and change my daily driver. X1 m35i with quad exhausts.. yeah maybe

[chowser51]

I was getting rid of my F33 430 hardtop convertible because I was going to have to start doing grandpa duties (3 little ones, ages 1,3,5) and the F33 wasn't going to cut it. I was actually test driving an Alfa Stelvio when I saw the X2 M35i being brought in to the Alfa dealer.

It was 2 years old with 3800 miles on it. I said let me try that and it was done.

The X2 M35i had enough hp for me. I could fit the 3 kids in the back if needed (but I just stick the two younger ones in the back, the older one sits in a booster in the front). I'm equipped to do my own maintenance on BMWs so that was a plus over the Alfa.

The only one that misses the convertible is my dog. She jumps in the X2 and keeps trying to find the top down button.

[core22]

I bought a 2020 GTI for days when I need to bring my dog somewhere or need extra room compared to my other car. Long story short - hated the GTI and traded it on a CPO M35i at my local dealer. Car was originally from that dealer so full history, etc. It was the service manager's former lease.

[BobbyLoKat]

I fell in love with it the first moment I saw it. It has the size and boot space I need while still being sporty and stylish. The roundel in the C-pillar nailed it for me. Some find it polarizing, I love it!

[r3amir]

More of a sporty hatchback than a boring SUV

[//TMT]

Because the X2 M35i is the last of the hot hatches!

[johns_sp]

I've always appreciated the X2's unusual appearance I do agree however it is polarising

X1 was just too generic looking plus there was no M35i variant - coming from a 435d I wanted similar poke

Coupled with wifey owning a G01 X3 I didn't feel the X2 was a complete compromise as we have the bigger car for hauling the dog and family when that extra space is necessary

X2 is a good all rounder - now that it's lowered it doesn't seem as bloated and high riding as the X1

Something of a large hot hatchback/short estate car

[Rich807]

Super short answer: Because I needed a car when I needed one & an X2 was available & no X1s configured to my taste were.

In all reality I'd prefer an X1 for my needs but I was not going to accept an X1 with the base seats that come in it. Unfortunately in my greater chunk of the U.S.A. 99.9% of X1s were ordered with standard seats.... no-go for me. Every X2 comes with the sports seats standard & combined with X2 availability at the time I was needing a new car I pulled the trigger. I love my X2 but if any X1s had been around with the sport seat option I'd have got one of them instead.

[dragonsback79]

Went in to BMW to look at an X1, and drove out with the X2. Test drove the X1 and it just felt dead, generic, no soul. Saw the X2 and knew that was my car, hoped in and ripped out of the lot. It just felt completely different, fun and faster than that of the X1. I just connected to it. Still am.

[nozydog]

I was looking for an X1 or X2. Coming out of a manual Mini Clubman cooper I needed an auto to save my bad left knee and wanted a small SUV just as something a bit different! I tested a 20i X2 and while I liked it it just didn't feel that special. Saw a two year old white 35i in my local dealers with 12k on the clock and gave it a drive! Sounded great as soon as I pushed the starter button and the drive felt far more special than the standard car. Great cornering stability and oodles of shove when you need it. In short I had no intention of getting the M performance version but the guy did me such a good deal I couldn't turn it down. Absolutely loving the car apart from a small issue I'm getting looked at next month!

[Rich807]

To be completely honest, one of the 3 main reasons I have my X2 vs an X1 is because I couldn't find an X1 anywhere in the entire Western U.S. that was equipped with sport seats. All of our X2s come with the sport seats from the factory so that was that.... hard go/no-go item for me with the X1/X2 platform. I would prefer an X1 for it's better cargo area but wasn't willing to choke down the X1s seats for it.

The other 2 things that put me in an S-Drive X2 vs a competitor's rival car (like Mercs or Audis) is I needed a FWD car & one that didn't automatically apply the parking brake when car was powered off. I have a need to tow my car on a dolly behind a motorhome on occasion & cars like the GLA have 'features' that prevent me from doing so.

[pnwsnowbimmer]

They say that as we grow older, the stuff we like the most is stuff that we liked when we were kids. The X2 didn't exist when I was a kid (yeah - I'm that old), but the first GTI just came out. I had a Buick back then, but I would've died for a GTI.

Fast forward many years... Couldn't decide what to buy. SUV 1, 2, 3, or 4 weren't interesting. Could've gotten a Porsche maybe, but then I'd be freaking out every time I drove the thing. We've been BMW for years, but nothing got me that excited - not the base X1 or X2. Didn't need a big X5. M3 - I like fast cars, but didn't need 500hp either.

But somehow BMW was hiding the M35i, and when I saw that, it instantly reminded me of the hot hatches/GTI from back in the day. Small car with 300+ hp, from BMW, with AWD, heated everything, and HK - what's not to like?

Alot of fun to drive - and folks who know cars, know this is a find. This being said, took a 3 hr road trip the other day, and not an awesome car for that (would've preferred an X5).

[//TMT]

Originally Posted by pnwsnowbimmer

This being said, took a 3 hr road trip the other day, and not an awesome car for that (would've preferred an X5).

Lose the runflats and it's a lot more comfortable. Corners better, too.