More info on BMW 2-Series
► BMW’s new MPV driven► Big snout and big tech
► But is it any good?
Let’s cut to the chase here. The 2 Series Active Tourer is an MPV. It’s not a crossover because there’s no ‘faux x faux’ element to it and, despite the Tourer name, it’s obviously no estate.
And yet, I’ve just sat through an hour-and-a-half presentation with five speakers. Target markets, efficiency improvements and intelligent powertrain management systems were all mentioned. But not one person uttered the initialism MPV.
It certainly looks like an MPV…
And, judging by the internet commenters I’m not the only person who’s not entirely blown away by how it looks.
It manages to be misshapen in a completely different way to its big brother, the iX. Where that has too many angles the 2 has too few. It’s very bulbous and round. Things are improved with large wheels and a metal, rather than blacked out grille but even then, it’s still a bit blobby.
The interior, however, is very different from the exterior. Up front there’s a 10.25-inch driver display and a 10.7-inch infotainment screen. It’s BMW’s latest setup, nicked straight from the iX. But it lacks the iDrive controller, so you’re just left with the screen.
It’s up for debate how much you’ll actually miss the iDrive controller here, though – assuming you’ve come from a previous BMW. The screen and this new operating system is easy-to-use and responsive. A home button would be nice, as would separate controls for the heating, but at least the temperature is at the bottom of the screen, so adjusting it only requires a quick swipe and no messing around with menus. If you go mad you can really spec a genuinely luxurious interior with open-pore fine eucalyptus wood and Vernasca leather.
There are three trim levels to pick from. Sport, Luxury and M-Sport. Standard equipment is generous and includes BMW’s latest fancy infotainment, semi-autonomous driving assistance and parking cameras. The wireless phone charger is a new design. You strap your phone in with a large push down bar, a bit like rollercoaster. Your phone will be secure in it, although admittedly I didn’t flip the car upside to test it thoroughly.
As you’d expect practicality is strong. It’s an easy car to get into and see out of. There’s loads of head and knee room in the rear, although the boot space isn’t much larger than a VW Golf or even BMW’s own 1-series.
What’s it like to drive?
I think the largest compliment I can give to the Active Tourer is that when I initially saw the routes in the hills of Malaga I thought ‘Oh I wish I had an MX-5 and not an MPV’, but then proceeded to have a cracking time anyway.
Bodyroll is kept neatly in check and all the engines are zippy enough. High speed ride is very good. Low speed less so, where pimples in the asphalt are telegraphed through the seats, which can be exacerbated by big (18-inch) wheels on M-Sport models. Wind noise is booming at motorway speeds. You’ll definitely want to opt for the Harman Kardon stereo in order to cancel that out.
Performance fans take note. The 230e xDrive PHEV has more power (330hp) and the same 0-62mph time (5.5secs) as an E30 M3. It should charge from 0-100% in about 2 hours 30 minutes from a wallbox and official range is 49 miles.
Steering is a little too light to truly make it a driver’s car but it’s still plenty fun. The PHEV is FWD when using petrol, RWD when electric and 4WD when combined. Most of the time it feels completely FWD but it understeers a little less than the permanently FWD cars.
The 220i is a 1.5-litre three-cylinder jobby and the 230i is a 2.0-litre four-cylinder unit. The three-cylinder sounds a little keener and is up to the job of shifting the Active Tourer’s 1.5 tonne frame.
The 230i is smoother and more muscular. On similar test routes over 85 miles the 220i managed 36mpg while the 230i did around 33mpg. There’s about 47bhp difference (168 and 215bhp respectively) so that’s probably a fair trade off.
Both are mild hybrids. Improvements to acceleration and mpg are minor but it’s all dealt with minimum fuss. Its predictive regeneration uses the nav and semi-autonomous tech to slow the car down, for instance, when approaching a roundabout in the most efficient way. It’s eerily easy to use.
The seven-speed DCT is masterful when left alone. Shifts are nigh imperceptible. Well, until you stick it in Sport, where it’ll sometimes change down straight past peak torque and into the limiter for no apparent reason.
BMW 2-series Active Tourer: verdict
There’s something paradoxical about BMW forging ahead with a sensible and old-school body style and stuffing it with the latest spanking new tech and the option of 325hp.
Look past that and you’ll find a tall car that’s easy to get in and out with wide opening rear doors and good all-round visibility. It’s practical, then. A quality most people would surely appreciate.
If you’re not repulsed by the combination of M, P and V then this is a real winner.
Keyword: BMW 2 Series Active Tourer (2022) review: old shape, new tech