Clever and practical; spacious and classy interior; hallmark BMW driving dynamics
Some tyre noise with 18-inch wheels on poor roads
The BMW 2 Series Active Tourer range blazes a new path for the Munich giant – this time tackling the premium Mini MPV segment. Yes the main German rivals have already established ‘base camp’ in this growing market, but BMW has again shown hallmark cleverness and versatility by delivering its historic first front-wheel-drive vehicle comprehensively equipped and brilliant to drive.
Tackling a new market segment has its risks – BMW reckons 75 per-cent of 2 Series Active Tourer buyers will be new to the brand. And that means an immediate ‘wow!’ factor was not-negotiable – in this case for the interior design, space and practicality which are the critical elements for these customers.
Delivering that spacious/practical interior dictated the front-drive layout. “Hello Mini!” – the BMW-owned British brand was able to deliver the required expertise in that department so even traditional BMW buyers will enjoy the ‘top-shelf’ driving dynamics of the 2 Series Active Tourer.
Under the bonnet, of the all-new BMW 2 Series Active Tourer there is another debut in the form of a new engine family including BMW’s first three-cylinder – the turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol engine fitted to the 218i model.
BMW 2 Series Active Tourer Overview
This isn’t a BMW M6 Gran Coupe or an M3. The BMW 2 series Active Tourer is a five-door, five-seat Mini MPV with the high SUV-like driving position popular with buyers in this segment and enormous practicality – the rear seat bases are split-fold 60:40 and slide forward for cargo versatility…let’ see you do that in an M6 Grand Coupe.
It’s all about smart practicality for buyers who will be predominantly urban-resident. So despite that spacious interior, the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer measures just 4342mm in overall length, 1800mm in width and stands 1555mm high.
BMW Australia has brought the all-new 2 Series ‘Downunder’ with a choice of three petrol engines and one diesel. All are turbocharged.
BMW 218i, 218d and 220i come standard in the ‘Sport Line’ specification while the range-topping 225i is standard in ‘Luxury Line’ (optional on the other models).
The lineup is:
218i $44,400
218d $47,800
220i $50,900
225i $54,900
BMW 2 Series Active Tourer Engine
BMW 2 Series Active Tourer debuts a new ‘TwinPower Turbo’ engine family for BMW earmarked by a capacity of 0.5l per cylinder (hence 1.5-litre is three-cylinders and 2.0-litre is four-cylinders). BMW says in coming years this family will be rolled-out to other models as it offers a new engine design language, the ability to share components across multiple engines and can quickly shift engine manufacturing from plant to plant.
BMW 218i employs that ground-breaking turbocharged 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine with maximum power of 100kW at 4400rpm and peak torque of 220Nm from 1250rpm – 4300rpm.
Range-topping petrol power comes from the BMW 225i with its turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine delivering 170Kw at 5000rpm and peak torque of 350Nm from 1250rpm – 4500rpm.
For the 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbodiesel BMW 218d you can chalk-up maximum power of 110kW at 4000rpm and peak torque of 330Nm from 1750rpm- 2750rpm.
The other petrol model, the 220i (141kW/280Nm) will arrive in Australia early next year.
BMW 218i drives via a six-speed automatic transmission, the 218d and 220i use an eight-speed automatic while the 225i scores the sporty eight-speeder with paddle-shifters, launch control and dashboard gearshift indicator for manual mode.
In terms of combined-cycle fuel consumption you’re looking at 4.2l/100kms for the 218d, 5.2l/100kms for the 218i, 5.9l/100kms for the 220i and 6.1l/100kms for the 225i.
BMW 2 Series Active Tourer The Interior
It’s the interior which gets pulses racing for buyers in the Mini MPV segment and BMW knew it was critical to get the all-new 218i spot-on in terms of space, practicality and that hallmark BMW premium look/feel. And obvious value-for-money was also crucial.
With its quality steering wheel, nice tactile elements, great ergonomics, high seating position, adjustable sports seats and electronic adjustment for the fronts, the all-new 2 Series Active Tourer certainly delivers what you expect from BMW. But the practical two-level boot floor and 1510-litre luggage capacity may be family-friendly features you would not have previously associated with the Munich brand.
The rear seat back split-folds 40:20:40 (electronic folding too) so long loads and seat passengers are not incompatible (and offers a recline function). As well, the seat base split folds 60:40 for individual for/aft sliding.
Up front you sit high in that SUV-like position which combines with the low glass line to provide excellent visibility. Seats are large and comfortable.
Instrumentation is the usual BMW design with both satellite navigation and radar cruise control as standard (rare in this segment). Centre screen size is either 6.5-inch or 8.8-inch.
Range-topping BMW 225i underlines its sporty intent with front sports seats trimmed in Dakota leather complete with side bolsters, adjustable under-thigh support and racier trim combinations. There’s also a ‘soccer-kick’ function remote tailgate opening/closing.
BMW 2 Series Active Tourer Exterior & Styling
As well as the front-drive configuration, it has been the exterior styling of the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer which has been the focus of comment in Europe. As BMW has been at pains to point out – again – the 2 Series Active Tourer isn’t an M6 Gran Coupe…it’s a new urban mobility concept for the German brand and in this league looks are somewhat a function of space/practicality.
Standing slightly taller and wider than the BMW X1 compact SUV, the all-new 2 Series Active Tourer looks stylish and very ‘BMW’ with its hallmark kidney grille and L-shaped tail-lights. And of course that compact 4342mm overall length and transverse engine layout means it’s maneuverable and easily parked.
The sculptured bonnet, rising window line and plentiful character lines again promote a BMW look.
BMW 225i rides on 18-inch alloy wheels and the others use 17-inch alloys.
BMW 2 Series Active Tourer On The Road
There was more than the usual sense of curiosity as we headed towards our first ‘seat time’ in the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer on the roads surrounding Launceston, Tasmania – after-all there will only ever be one first drive of BMW’s first front-wheel-drive vehicle. That first-up drive was in a turbo-diesel 218d which was followed by a 218i and finally a 225i.
For traditional BMW buyers, the news about the all-new 2 Series Active Tourer is all good. In terms of ride and handling, BMW’s first-up front-driver ranks with the best – we really shouldn’t have expected anything less.
Underneath that lightweight single-joint spring-strut axle front end and independent multi-link rear is, from a production viewpoint, relatively more expensive than the torsion beam arrangement which is common these days. Throw-in BMW’s meticulous tuning of geometry, mounting points, spring and damper rates and…well it matches the best of the Europeans.
Even with the Driving Experience Control set to ‘Comfort’, the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer was nicely responsive and balanced through the twisty stuff. Switch to ‘Sport’ (225i also adds Servotronic variable sport steering and adaptive Dynamic Damper Control) and things firm-up even more - although this is not an ‘M’ vehicle so it’s not race track hard.
The BMW 2 Series Tourer was also nicely refined in terms of suspension isolation of bumps and road imperfections. Again this highlights BMW’s advanced development of its first front-driver.
As expected all drivelines were nicely matched to the chassis although the 1.5-litre 218i with its six-speed automatic transmission let you know it was working hard up some of the steep hill-climbs. In those conditions maybe it too would have appreciated the eight-speeder fitted to the 218d and 220i.
Of course the turbo-diesel 218d reveled in the hilly/twisty going with its wide torque spread and steering wheel paddle shifters making for rapid ascents/descents. And, for us, the 225i with its 170kW/350Nm and sportier eight-speed transmission was the pick of the bunch – dare we say a thoroughly BMW-ish performer in the high-speed rural conditions.
BMW 2 Series Active Tourer Issues
Frankly we’re pushed to be critical of the BMW 2 Series Tourer, but if pressed we’d nominate some tyre noise we noticed while driving the 225i with its 18-inch alloy wheels on some of those secondary roads around Launceston.
BMW 2 Series Active Tourer Verdict
Let there be no doubt, BMW has done a mighty job with the all-new 2 series Active Tourer. Plunging into an unfamiliar market segment, the team from Munich has delivered a vehicle with the packaging, looks, premium equipment and driving dynamics BMW buyers demand.
Understandably there has been some focus on driving dynamics for BMW’s first front-driver. Tick that box, it’s right up there with the best.
And that front-drive layout combined with smart design has delivered the spacious interior which is a ‘not-negotiable’ requirement for sales in this league. It’s that stylish, roomy interior which gives the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer a deserved entry into the upper echelon of the ‘mini-MPV’ crowd.
Sure the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer isn’t the sharpest-priced German in this league but pleasingly BMW has included lots of kit as standard and to some degree simplified the process of specifying the various models to customers’ needs.
BMW 2 Series Active Tourer The Competition
And of course in this category we open the batting with the hot-selling Mercedes-Benz B-Class. ‘Benz has its own ground-breaking mini-MPV very sharply priced in the range of $39,990 to $49,500 but, as we always say, you do need to check closely all standard and optional features to make a fair value comparison. Choose from 1.6-litre or 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engines or the 1.8-litre turbo-diesel and expect the usual ‘Benz excellence inside and out…it’s a CarShowroom.com.au Favourite.
The other CarShowroom.com.au Favourite in this league is the Audi Q3. Putting aside the phenomenal $81,900 RS Q3, the range starts at $42,300 for the only front-drive model, the 1.4TFSI to $56,500 for the 2.0TFSI. A choice of turbo-diesel and turbo petrol engines, available Quattro all-wheel-drive, gorgeous Audi interiors and expected proficiency from the chassis are the Q3’s highlights.
