2024 BMW X2 | Talking Cars with Consumer Reports #447

In theory, I like the idea of stop-start, but as you discussed, the execution of that technology can be a limiting factor. For example, my 2020 Outback XT (with the turbocharged engine), has stop start but not only does it not stay stopped for very long (10-30 seconds on average only; even with climate control off and my foot firmly on the pedal), but the re-start is what I would describe as "violent." The car will buck/lurch forward. It makes me especially wary of using it when I'm first to the crosswalk and I have pedestrians in front of me. In contrast, the same Outback with the normally aspirated engine, had a much more seamless re-engagement. That said, I still do use it sometimes and over the last 2000 miles (there's a gauge that tracks this) I've saved roughly one tenth of a gallon of fuel, from having stopped for about 40 minutes total.

The 2018 Ford Focus ST-3 has auxiliary cornering lights with adaptive (HID) headlamps. They only work when the light switch is turned to the "Automatic" headlights position. I believe the ST-2 has them, too, but I am sure the ST-1 does not. They are effective, and you only notice them when you really need them.

They activate when you are in gear. As soon as you turn the wheel, they work in concert; the headlights turn, and it will turn on the auxiliary light for the direction you are turning.
Cool, additional fact; when your wipers for the windshield are active, regardless of the setting, you shift into reverse, and the rear hatch wiper activates automatically on the intermittent setting.

P.S. The Focus ST (& RS) have one of the best anti-theft systems in the world... it is called a "6 speed MANUAL transmission".

For GM start/stop, it uses a newer battery technology called AGM, as mentioned by Alex. It stands for Absorbent Glass Mat battery. They last a lot longer than traditional batteries. I have a just over 6 year old Buick that has this technology, and the original battery died at exactly at 6 years - but it did not die. It started the car, but the stop/start functionality stopped operating so I would not get stranded. I replaced the battery in April of this year with the identical battery and had the computer reprogramed for a new battery. Now it works well again. Nothing wrong with the car, and it adds about 1 mpg in city driving. In fact, approaching 90,000 miles and have just done maintenance up to now.

Jen, in the 1920’s there was a luxury car that had secondary mechanical headlights that turned with the steering wheel.

The harsh ride and road noise are attributed to the run-flat tires. They’re stiff and loud. The start/stop can be disabled when the car is started.

25:05 Paul, just get the new hybrid Camry. It is, by far, the definition of a car that will last forever. Toyota is the best in hybrid design too.

The battery they talk about buying from a long term car is pretty expensive if you replace the battery and don't do it yourself. A new battery from Toyota is $6000 in a hybrid, not including fees and taxes. I also keep my cars a long time (owned a 2006 Saab 9-3 until 2018, and put 195,000 on it - still running today with second owner with 270,000). To avoid this known cost, went with a Mazda CX-5 which will last another 200,000 with little to no problem and avoided the hybrid like the plague.

Just curious, how do you decide when a car is worthy of an entire episode like this? This is great analysis, but picking an X2 seemed a bit odd. Fantastic work nonetheless.

I don't expect many manufacturers to dedicate much effort and expense to create lighting systems specifically for the U.S. since the U.S. NHTSA has dug in its heals and refused to follow EU lighting standards which have become the default for the rest of the world including Canada. After I had the LED-matrix headlights of my U.S. market German car reprogrammed, perhaps illegally, to function as if the vehicle was located in German, I now have curve adaptive headlights, a super wide beam pattern at lower speeds (far greater than 180 degrees) that functions as corning lights, the high beam headlights are on most of the time over 18.6 mph with oncoming and preceding vehicles "shadowed" by turning off and on individual LED's in the matrices to keep from blinding and irritating other vehicle occupants, pedestrians on or near the roadway are now targeted with concentrated beams of light (3 flashes) to warn both the them and me. Toyota and other manufacturers began lobbying the NHTSA to allow these adaptive beam headlights in around 2014 and here we are 10 years later with the NHTSA having done nothing except needlessly studying technology that the rest of the world adopted years ago.

You guys have such cool jobs.

You all bring up a great point about auto start-stop paired with a dual-clutch transmission. When paired together they tend to be unpredictable and jerky at times. I drive an Audi Q5 which is a mild hybrid and the auto start-stop is flawless, but as soon as the transmission catches after starting up again it becomes very unsettled most times. It’s sort of a shame because I do see really impressive improvements in fuel economy when I have auto start-stop on. In my short 10 minute commute I see about 4-6 mpg better than if I have it off.

Thank you for talking about visibility. When I think back to the BMW 2002 and it's tall side widows and thin pillars, I had to wonder why designs these days have such small windows and huge blindspots, especially in the back. When I mention visibility with my car friends all I hear back is that there are cameras now so visibility out the windows is not important.

Subaru offers Steering Responsive Headlights, standard on my Ascent but available on most Subaru models.

Start-stop systems have evolved a lot since they were first introduced and reliabiility concers are mostly unfounded. My 2018 Passat BiTDI has done 230k kms and never had issues with the start-stop. I usually keep it active, but do turn it off occasionally during heavy city traffic. I did replace the car's battery a bit sooner than expected, but that's had a hard life from other sources too (parking heater, Dynaudio sound system).

Is this derived from or shared with the Mini Countryman platform, FWD based?

The engine start-stop feature is intended to reduce emissions as much as (perhaps more than) improve MPG. Imagine a busy intersection where 50% of the stopped vehicles are NOT idling and emitting noxious fumes. Then multiply that by the thousands of intersections in this country. Start-stop can be definitely a pain to adjust to, but it does serve a purpose. It could make a real difference if enough vehicles had the feature and if people would stop disabling it.

1:08 and by "sportier" these days it means in the smallest possible unit of measurement "more sporty" that it can be.

what would a "unit of sportiness" be?

BMWs used to look pretty cool. Not sure what this monstrosity is.

iDrive9…
Do BMW execs want us to drive a car or an iPad?
I challenge them to drive in Los Angeles or Houston traffic and change the temp on the a/c or change channels on the radio.

Jen's back! X2 looks good stuck in traffic.