Car UK May 2019

72 CARMAGAZINE.CO.UK | MAY 2019

3-series vs the world

The 3-series is the obvious choice for good reason, but its sheer ubiquity will

encourage some to consider a compact SUV instead. Stay loyal to BMW

and that means the X2 xDrive 20d M Sport, closest on price at £38,150, a

tempting £1345 cheaper than our like-for-like 3-series – at 4630mm long it’s

smaller than both X1 and X3, but splits them on price.

Climb from a 320d up into an X2 and it’s like being bumped from

business class. There are analogue dials, a flabbier look to the instrument

panel, grainier leather, flimsier switchgear and older iDrive infotainment.

The X2’s been on sale just a year but it’s like someone’s put a 10-year-old

X5 interior in here by mistake. On the plus side, there’s a rear bench with

enough room for large adults, and the 470-litre boot is just 10 litres shy of

the 320d’s despite a body that’s easier to slot into parking spaces.

The X2’s UKL2 platform is related to the X1 and Mini Countryman, not

the 3-series. Hence the engines are mounted transversely and entry-level

versions are front-driven. Power and torque are identical to the 320d, but

weight, performance and economy are all worse. Indeed, this is an inferior

drive to the 3-series in every respect. Larger 20-inch rubber induces extra

road noise, more turbodiesel clatter seeps into the cabin, and there’s extra

wind noise too. The ride is lumpier, and the lag before bodyroll is checked

gives you the fear when cornering a bit hot.

The SUV uprising

GROUP twO

BMw X2 xDrive 20d M Sport

P Rice £38,150 (£44,525 as tested)

PeR fORMance 7.7sec 0-62mph, 137mph,

45.6-48.7mpg, 124g/km CO2

e n Gine 1995cc 16v turbodiesel four-cylinder,

187bhp @ 4000rpm, 295lb ft @ 1750rpm

The prices of this new generation

of high-rise, sporty 4x4s put them

firmly in 3-series territory

Want proof the

world’s gone mad?

These two are

3-series rivals