2024 BMW iX2 review: Is this the EV bargain of the year? How tax incentives make this slick compact SUV a tempting electric car

May 5, 2024May 4, 2024 Toby Hagon 7077 Views bmw, iX2

BMW is pushing hard into the EV space, in turn crushing its traditional luxury rivals on Aussie sales.

And a lot of its success comes down to good ol’ sharp pricing.

Part of the appeal is six models priced below the luxury car tax threshold, in turn allowing owners to package them into a novated lease and sidestep fringe benefits tax when using the car for personal use. In other words, you’re paying for the car from your pre-tax salary.

And the BMW iX2 is the latest newcomer to push into that sub-$90K space, providing an EV alternative to the X2 compact SUV.

2024 BMW iX2 price and equipment

The iX2 is part of the X2 compact SUV family, which is itself a sportier looking version of the X1. The “i” denotes electric, so that’s the model we’re focussing on in this review.

Compared with the X1 (and iX1) the iX2 gets a sleeker roofline and tail and does without the roof rails and a rear windscreen wiper.

Instead it picks up a glowing grille for a distinctive look.

There’s also a healthy smattering of equipment – with a caveat or two.

The most affordable eDrive20 arrives mid-year and is priced from $82,900 plus on-roads. That motor drives the front wheels and makes 150kW and 250Nm and gives the iX2 about 445km of WLTP range (final figures are to be confirmed).

Standard equipment includes 19-inch alloy wheels and an M Sport styling kit as well as Veganza (a fancy fake leather trim), head-up display, adaptive dampers, smart key entry, powered tailgate, 360-degree camera, dual-zone ventilation and a head-up display.

There’s also a 10.3-inch curved instrument cluster and 10.7-inch central infotainment screen incorporating the latest OS9 software, which is now run by Android Automotive. Smartphone connectivity continues as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and there’s an app that allows remote connectivity to the car.

There are also tyre pressure sensors, two charging cables (one to plug into a regular powerpoint, the other a type 2 to type 2 cable) and a 12-month subscription to the Chargefox network.

It’s a very modest $2800 step up to the dual motor iX2 xDrive30, which adds an identical rear motor for combined outputs of 230kW and 494Nm.

With a sticker price of $85,700 before on-road costs it sneaks the iX2 xDrive30 in under the luxury car tax threshold that gives it access to the FBT exemption.

BMW points out that the same car sells in Germany for the equivalent of about $106,000.

That’s something that required intense negotiation with BMW headquarters – but something that makes the iX2 xDrive30 something of a bargain for those shopping for a premium electric SUV.

That all-wheel drive model also picks up powered and heated front seats, blind spot warning and lane keep assistance (the latter two should really be standard on the base car too).

It also gets the same 64.8kWh battery but has a lower WLTP range of just 395km.

2024 BMW iX2: What we think

Sometimes it’s a fine line between a hatch and an SUV and the iX2 is proof of that.

You’re sitting a tad higher than you are in a hatchback, but nowhere near as high as you would be in a regular SUV.

Yep, the iX2 looks and feels different. Its front seats are terrific and the cabin is suitably classy, right down to the switchgear and stitching across the dash.

From that perspective it lives up to the price tag.

Those in the rear get all the luxury trimmings but miss out on some space; head and legroom are tight and you can forget about squeezing three normal sized humans across the back seat.

The X2 is available with petrol propulsion, which we’ve tested.

But it’s the iX2 EV that makes the most sense from a value perspective – and when you slot behind the wheel.

The iX2 has a suitably soothing ride while also delivering on athleticism.

While it tips the scales at almost 2.1 tonnes it still points sharply at a corner and feels nicely planted once you’re there.

With 230kW and 494Nm there’s no shortage of pull and it teams with the immediate response of electric motors to make it feel swifter than its claimed 5.6 seconds to 100km/h.

Press the Boost button on the left-hand steering wheel paddle and it gives you up to 10 seconds of sharper throttle response and some additional torque – as well as a futuristic sound that a blends a space ship with a computer game.

The 395km of WLTP range isn’t terrific and will limit and road trip ambitions. But it’ll charge from 10 to 80 per cent in about half an hour, taking up to 130kW of DC charge.

The iX2 can also accept up to 22kW of AC charge, double the limit of most EVs.

That’s potentially handy if you have three-phase power at home, making for a full top-up in three hours and 45 minutes.

Even with the more common 7.4kW single-phase wallbox a full charge can be done overnight, taking around 10 hours.

2024 BMW iX2: Verdict

It’s still a sizeable price tag for an EV but the iX2 also represents terrific value when lined up alongside its petrol-powered alternatives. More so if you can package it into a novated lease to leverage the FBT exemption, at which point it’s a no brainer against the petrol alternatives.

While we haven’t driven the base eDrive20 yet, on paper it seems logical to splash out the extra $2800 on the xDrive30 we’ve tested here.

For those chasing a fun to drive, well presented electric car with a prestige European badge on the bonnet then you could do a lot worse than the iX2.

SCORE: 4.25/5

2024 BMW iX2 xDrive30 specifications
Price: $85,700 plus on-road costs
Basics: EV, 5 seats, 5 doors, SUV, AWD
Range: 395km (WLTP)
Battery capacity: 64.8kWh
Battery warranty: 8 years/160,000km
Energy consumption: 18.5kWh/100km (WLTP)
Motors: 1 front 150kW/250Nm and 1 rear 150kW/250Nm, combined outputs 230kW/494Nm
AC charging: 22kW, Type 2 plug
DC charging: 130kW, CCS combo plug
0-100km/h: 5.6 seconds