SUV CONTENDERS

BMW X2

WE LIKE Stylish, fun to drive WE DON’T LIKE Harsh ride, steep price tag, no space

For a young, successful professional, a fun, stylish car can be a personal reward. The BMW X2 hits the mark for a dual-income no-kids household. For everyone else, though, it’s long on sport and short on utility.

Our six criteria are weighted equally, but how well a vehicle performs its intended function usually gets the biggest workout. The X2 is clearly focused on looking good and being fun to drive, but even its strengths were points of contention.

Several of us compared it to a hot hatch. Stefan Ogbac, though, called it “uninspiring,” Gordon Dickie called it “numb,” and Frank Markus split the difference, writing, “This is probably the fastest car around the winding track, but it’s not as fun as I would expect a BMW to be.”

Both sides agreed the sportiness came at a price. The rear seat is cramped even for a car this size, and the cargo area is tiny. The ride quality was roundly criticized, with Christian Seabaugh calling it “without a doubt the hardest-riding vehicle here.” Outward visibility is terrible, both to the front and rear. And impact harshness is severe.

Then there’s the question of value. At $39,395 to start for this xDrive all-wheel-drive model and an as-tested price of $50,920, the X2 is already at the top end of the class, and BMW has announced a more expensive M35i model.

It’s easy to rationalize a vehicle that does one thing very well at the expense of other basic functions. But many trade-offs (and only one USB port?) make this single-purpose vehicle incapable of advancement.

Scott Evans

Vehicle Layout Front-engine, AWD, 5-pass, 4-door SUV Engine/Transmission 2.0L turbo DOHC 16-valve I-4/8-speed automatic Curb Weight (F/R Dist) 3,684 lb (57/43%) Wheelbase 105.1 in Length x Width x Height 172.2 x 71.8 x 60.1 in Energy Consumption, City/Hwy 160/109 kW-hr/100 miles CO2 Emissions, Comb 0.79 lb/mile

The X2 is clearly focused on looking good and being fun to drive, and even its strengths were points of contention.

BMW X3

WE LIKE Road manners, improved iDrive WE DON’T LIKE Single USB port, fee for Apple CarPlay

The X3 moves to the CLAR architecture for a better ride, more tech, and its first M variant, setting it up to be BMW’s best-selling SUV.

The third-gen X3 is almost the size of the original X5 and gains some maturity, being quieter and more composed. The I-4 provides adequate power with smooth shifting from the eight-speed automatic. Kim Reynolds liked the brakes and well-composed chassis, but its responsive steering was almost too quick for our lane-change test. Off-road, it powered through the slush and washboard, and it has an excellent programmable hill-descent cruise control.

The two-tone interior with nice wood touches does not feel seismically different from the outgoing model. Seats are attractive but still firm. The iDrive system has become more usable, though its gesture control commands remain undercooked. Judges found it inexcusable that there’s only one USB port in front and none in the rear. And Christian Seabaugh called BMW “greedy” for charging a subscription fee for Apple CarPlay.

Although some felt the X3 helps restore BMW to some of its former glory, others thought the automaker short-armed the fresh sheet of paper it was given. “If you didn’t tell me, I’d easily believe it’s a midcycle refresh, not all-new,” Scott Evans said. “Other than infotainment software and digital gauges, it all seems the same.”

The X3 plays in a segment prone to radical change, and although some admire consistency over time, BMW might have played it too safe.

Alisa Priddle

Vehicle Layout Front-engine, AWD, 5-pass, 4-door SUV Engine/Transmission 2.0L turbo DOHC 16-valve I-4/8-speed automatic Curb Weight (F/R Dist) 4,268 lb (49/51%) Wheelbase 112.8 in Length x Width x Height 185.9 x 74.4 x 66.0 in Energy Consumption, City/Hwy 153/116 kW-hr/100 miles CO2 Emissions, Comb 0.79 lb/mile

Some felt the X3 helps restore BMW’s former glory; others thought it short-armed the fresh sheet of paper it was given.

BMW X4

WE LIKE Potent acceleration, sporty handling WE DON’T LIKE Rough ride, lack of rear visibility and cargo capacity

The 2019