BMW X2 vs Subaru BRZ: Specs Compared

Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the BMW X2 burns about $2,700 of fuel annually against $2,700 for the Subaru BRZ. That $0 yearly gap compounds to roughly $0 over five years and $0 over eight — often more than the price difference between two trims of the same vehicle, and the single largest running-cost line item separating these two.

City versus highway split: the Subaru BRZ is the stronger commuter at 24 mpg city, while the BMW X2 pulls ahead on the interstate at 34 mpg highway. If most of your driving is stop-and-go traffic the city figure is the one to weigh; for long-distance highway mileage the reverse is true, and the two vehicles effectively swap places depending on how you drive.

Powertrain choice: the BMW X2 is recorded with 2 distinct engine configurations (SIDI & PFI, SIDI), the Subaru BRZ with 1 (SIDI & PFI). Across 23 recorded BMW X2 configurations and 26 for the Subaru BRZ, the wider the engine spread the more the real-world fuel efficiency depends on which version you actually buy, so check the specific model year and drivetrain rather than the headline number.

Drivetrain and class: the BMW X2 is offered with All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive, the Subaru BRZ with Rear-Wheel Drive. All-wheel drive typically costs one to two mpg combined against the same vehicle in front- or rear-wheel drive, which is worth remembering when the gap between these two is small. The EPA classes them as Midsize Cars and Minicompact Cars respectively — the class drives the interior volume, cargo space and passenger space each one is measured against.

Tailpipe emissions: at their cleanest configurations the BMW X2 emits 314 g/mile of CO2 versus 321 g/mile for the Subaru BRZ. Emissions track fuel consumption almost exactly, so the cleaner vehicle here is also the cheaper one to fuel.