BMW X2 M35i’s biggest competition is from BMW

I recently got the chance to test drive the BMW X2 M35i, the range-topping model of the X2 range.

As the range-topper, it features a powerful 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine pushing out 225kW and 450Nm of torque. It will do 0-100km/h in 4.9 seconds, with a top speed of 250km/h.

I was impressed by the car. In comfort mode, it handles our crappy roads well. Put the car in sports mode and deactivate the stability control, it becomes an exciting little thing, I especially liked using the launch control.

The car I tested was specced at R926 172, with optional extras costing another R100 000!

The X2 M35i is aimed at people looking for a dynamic look, sporty performance and some practicality. It will trounce the GTI and will also give the likes of the Golf R and Audi RS3 a run for their money. But R1 million is a lot of money for what is essentially a jacked-up hatch.

After test driving it, I don’t think the X2 M35i is where you should be spending your R1 million.

For that kind of money, you can get a highly specced BMW X3 xDrive20i. It will do the 0-100km/h sprint 3 seconds slower, but it is overall a better car. It is bigger and features a more plush interior, with BMW’s latest iDrive system and dials.

It is a more comfortable car too because it is not as crazy about being sporty, but more pleasant to drive daily.

Thanks to the M Suspension you with the M Sport Package car, the X3 will not fall apart when you take it on some twisty mountain passes.

The X3 sits higher than the X2 and therefore delivers more of the SUV driving experience. The ride height also means that you can take it on trickier dirt roads, unlike the X2 M35i which sits lower than even the standard X2.

The X3 is also a more practical car. It has more head and legroom in the back. It will also lug a lot more luggage than the X2.

All this means that the X3 will serve you better as a young family in the long run. It will be easier to put in the children’s seats, and you’ll have more space for the baby strollers in the back.

When the kids grow older they’ll appreciate the space in the back. For longer distances, you’ll appreciate the more comfortable ride and more advanced driving assistance technology that let the car practically drive itself, something you don’t get in the X2.

If you are not dead set on getting an SUV you could also look at the BMW M135i xDrive which will give you the same powertrain as the X2 M35i for around R100 000 less. The M135i features a more updated, fancier interior than the X2.

Conclusion? If you do have R1 million to spend on a BMW, you have a lot of options. Take your time and think carefully about what it is you need.

Sthembiso Lebuso Journalist | City Press

+27 11 713 9001 Sthembiso.Lebuso@citypress.co.za Media Park, 69 Kingsway Road, Auckland Park

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