• Gorgeous interior that's also practical. • Ride is balanced, like a BMW. • Engine lineup is great.
• M-Sport suspension makes the ride jiggly. • Not as good to look at as an SUV. • You pay a premium for that badge.
A front-wheel drive MPV from BMW. It’s a brave new world.
When BMW first announced that they would be making an MPV, a large number of people gasped in horror. A company that prides itself in putting driver experience first, suddenly in the business of family-tested practical mobility? It was sacrilegious. And then it was discovered that it was going to be front-wheel drive, causing even more BMW fans to lose their minds. It was challenging enough when BMW decided to breach the SUV market, but a front-driven people-mover was seen as a step too far.
But of course, BMW hadn’t come so far in the world by being foolish. They knew that despite the whining from brand purists, there was a business case for what was later billed as the Active Tourer. Objectivity at the fore, the 2-Series Active Tourer (or 2-AT) is very accomplished family wagon, with oodles of practicality and surprising levels of driver appeal.
The 2-Series Active Tourer lineup comprises of the base-model 218i, then rising to the 218d, climbing a little more to the 220i, before topping out at the 225i. We examine the 2-Series Active Tourer to see if it’s a true-blue BMW, or just a people mover with a premium badge on its snout.
Exterior
“The kidney grilles and quad-lamps seem a bit out of place on a car of this shape and it reminds me of a custom show car that surfaced a few years ago, where the owner grafted an E90 3 Series nose onto a Honda Odyssey people mover.” - CarAdvice
German carmakers have a certain knack for making new models fit very comfortably in existing model ranges. We’ve seen it with Audi (with the family design traits moulded seemingly 1:1 on every model), and we’ve seen it with Mercedes-Benz (even their ungainly SUV coupes look like they belong). But the 2-Series Active Tourer, we’re not too sure. It looks like any random MPV that’s had some signature BMW bits tacked on to it, and we’re not entirely certain that it works together as well as it could.
It’s not an ungainly nor unattractive car, not by a mile. But it’s not the prettiest people mover on the lot either. The Citroen C4 Picasso looks more distinctive, while the Mercedes-Benz B-Class’ proportions seemingly sit better on its frame. But the 2-AT does have an athleticism to it, the way all BMWs do, and the surface play along almost every part of the car makes it look more dynamic than an MPV has any real right to be. The Hofmeister kink features here too, despite this being the first modern BMW with front-wheel drive. But altogether, the BMW 2-AT is less of an assault on the traditional BMW design language than the more imaginative i3, so that surely has to please some brand traditionalists.
Engine & Drivetrain
“BMW makes terrific engines…” - CarsGuide
The powertrain range starts with the 3-cylinder petrol unit you’ll find behind the nose of the 218i, good for 100kW and plenty of torque thanks to a turbocharger. Move up the line, and there’s an excellent turbodiesel in the 218d, claimed to use as little as 4.4l/100km in tests. Move up further, and a 141kW turbo-four can be had in the 220i, while the range-topping 225i is the sweetest motor of the lot with 170kW. All engines in the range feature forced induction, resulting in petrol engines offering comparable torque to the single diesel offering in the range.
There’s a six-speed automatic in the base 218i, but higher grades employ the highly-acclaimed 8-speed ZF transmission that features liberally across the greater BMW range.
Interior
“It has a hip point at roughly the same level as a small SUV – say a CR-V or Qashqai – and the driving position is similarly ‘commanding’. For many people, the Active Tourer makes any small SUV pointless – especially a front-wheel-drive model.” - Motoring
While the exterior of the 2-AT does only so much to distinguish itself from MPVs lower in the food chain, the interior is where the 2-AT positively shines. There’s acres of interior space in every regard, with even the Sport line models and their dark interiors feeling remarkably airy. The long wheelbase and short overhangs of the 2-AT pay dividends here, because cabin space and packaging is really very noteworthy. Interior quality is just as you’d expect of a BMW, with everything feeling well put together and ergonomically placed, engineered to a fault.
If the 2-AT does disappoint, it’s in terms of carrying capacity. The boot is relatively petite, even by compact-MPV standards, and folding the rear bench down (which folds down flush, mercifully) doesn’t free up that much space. That said, it’s immensely comfortable, especially with the more adjustable sports seats up front and the drive mode set to ‘Comfort.’ Naturally.
Behind the Wheel
“For a tall MPV, the 2 Series Active Tourer changes direction nimbly. Its steering inspires plenty of confidence while also being light enough for easy use in tight parking spots. There’s a bit of body roll when cornering, but nothing bad by the standard of the class. The 2-Series is more rewarding to drive than most.” - WhatCar?
Beneath the skin, the 2-AT actually shares it architecture with the modern MINI hatchback. As a result, there’s a certain agility and attentiveness that you just don’t get in this segment. Where Mercedes-Benz’s B-Class will remind you to drive sedately, the 2-AT has the ability to keep drivers smiling even with the family in tow (though passengers may not be quite so enthused). The 2-AT’s ride is, like most BMWs, almost perfectly balanced between comfort and involvement, and we reckon that the available M-Sport suspension ruins that balance to some degree by pushing this family people-mover too far in the agility direction.
Refinement out on the move is commendable, with very little wind noise intrusion. Tyre roar can get a little loud depending on the diameter of the wheels, so consider that if your 2-AT will be spending a lot of its time on the motorway. The 2-AT’s steering is precise at speed and light in town, which makes for a people mover with a wide breadth of ability.
Safety & Technology
“The 2-Series Active Tourer was awarded the maximum five-star rating when it was crash tested by the car safety experts at Euro NCAP.” - Telegraph UK
The 2-AT features an impressive list of active driver assistance features, with things like autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warnings, and ISOFIX tethers as standard. There’s the usual smattering of airbags, along with a powered tailgate and active cruise control across the range too.
Higher up the 2-AT tree and you get intelligent cornering headlights (that bend into corners when you do), among others. The options list on the 2-AT is healthy too, so you can likely spec up your BMW MPV to exactly where you want it to be. Just be careful with the costs, because it’s easy to get carried away.
Verdict
While Mercedes-Benz jumped on the compact-MPV bandwagon pretty quickly with the B-Class, the hesitance that BMW exercised said quite a bit. It’s hard to say if they were perfecting the recipe before launch or debating the need for a contender in the segment, but no matter which argument took place it’s clear to see who won. We’re glad to see that the unique BMW experience is alive and kicking even in this front-wheel drive family wagon, and as far as we’re concerned, it’s worthy of shortlisting if you happen to be in the market for something like this.
Our favourite 2-AT has to be the 218d, thanks to its abundant torque and excellent fuel economy. Its middling placement in the Active Tourer range means that it’s also pretty good value, and even without any of the tempting extras you’re unlikely to feel short-changed. Our only problem is that, with the looks that the 2-AT sports, we wonder what would stop you from taking a gander at the more conventional (and arguably more handsome) BMW X1…
CarsGuide - 3/5 - “The Active Tourer goes somewhere new for BMW and not just because it's engineered differently. BMW has already shown us it can make capable - even enjoyable - front-drive vehicles for its Mini brand. The 225i does nothing to dilute that reputation. It does diversify the brand, though, which means its advertising message must be more nuanced. You can claim the Active Tourer is good, but you can't claim it's the same.”
Motoring - 84/100 - “Whichever variant chosen, the Active Tourer is easy to drive, but sporty when required, refined, frugal and well-equipped, comfortable and commodious.”
CarAdvice - 7.5/10 - “The segment may be somewhat niche – especially given the ever expanding range of small and compact SUVs available in Australia – but over our time with the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer, it proved to be largely popular and mostly impressive.”
WhatCar? - 4/5 - “The BMW 2-Series Active Tourer is spacious, well finished, and good to drive, if a little expensive.”
Autocar - 4/5 - “Munich’s new MPV has been executed very thoroughly. It has an excellent powertrain, a cabin of distinguishing versatility, quality and richness and a commendable driving experience.”
Telegraph - 8/10 - “It might not be the best driver's car BMW has ever built, but the 2-series Active Tourer is perhaps its most useful. The car’s high-quality feel, excellent fuel economy and versatile interior make it easy to recommend.”
TopGear - 6/10 - "BMW brand diversification continues. A pricey people carrier, but a cut above.”
Carbuyer - 3.8/5 - "The BMW 2 Series Active Tourer is a worthy upmarket alternative to more mainstream mini-MPVs."
