The second generation of the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer has finally arrived and the gauntlet has been thrown at the rival Mercedes B-Class. What does it bring with it in its new incarnation? Several news; between its new aesthetic appearance, an updated cockpit, lots of on-board technology, and not only, but also the new engines, even on tap.
Let’s find out together if the new 2 Series Active Tourer has managed to maintain its qualities of habitability, spaciousness and comfortand if at the same time it has still managed to convince the most demanding fathers (and mothers) in terms of driving pleasure, once again distinguishing itself from the many SUVs on the market.
SLIGHTLY INCREASED MEASURES
Let’s start with order and let’s start from its aesthetics, indeed, even before its measures. The new BMW 2 Series Active Tourer measures 439cm long, 184cm wide, 158cm high, with a wheelbase of 267cm. In short, on closer inspection measures slightly higher compared to the previous generation.
REVIEWED AESTHETICS AND DESIGN
What doesn’t change only slightly is hers design that was it deeply renewed. Now the minivan offers the public a look that makes the verse to crossovers, but with an overall more sporty and dynamic aesthetic look. Where does it change the most? Certainly on the front.
Have you seen how big the double kidney is now? Part of the grille itself extends over the engine hood. And then her face is now sportier and more vicious with the more angular design of the bumper, the large air intakes and the new front headlights, with Full Led technology, with a slim design inside. Don’t worry though. On request there are also the Matrix LEDs.
Speaking of the face, now there are also active flaps to improve aerodynamics. The angular and sporty look, which can be seen on the face, is immediately recognizable also on the b-side. This is characterized by the new horizontally developing LED optical unit; the rear bumper design has also been revised and, for the sake of sportiness, there is also a conspicuous spoiler at the top of the tail.
It should be noted that, upon request, it is possible to have alloy wheels up to 19 inches. The new BMW 2 Series Active Tourer can also be ordered with i Luxury Line or M Sport packages, in addition to the Base. A total of 11 body colors are available (nine metallic).
A NEW AND TECH INTERIOR
It is useless to go around it, inside the passenger compartment you can breathe the air of the “BMW good sitting room”. This means materials with soft coatings in the parts that we will touch the most (upper levels of the dashboard and doors), all embellished with some contrasting stitching.
The passenger compartment is made of a lot of plastic but of good quality, with refined and original coatings and textures as well as the black piano to surround the air vents. The build quality is flawless. Not the slightest hint of a creak is heard. With the new generation, the space on board also increases.
The central tunnel was replaced by a suspended armrest ending with the shift-by-wire gear selector. Below, two large storage compartments and two USB-C sockets for charging the phone. As an option there is also wireless charging for the mobile phone. The interior design is minimal, and completely revised, with the disappearance of many physical commands. There is not even the classic knob on the central tunnel that allows you to navigate between the various menus of the infotainment, you only use the touch.
In front of me there is a multifunction steering wheel that allows me to manage the settings of the 10.25-inch digital instrumentation display but also of the second display, next to it, dedicated to 10.7-inch infotainment. The right home for the new iDrive 8 infotainment.
There are multiple connected services that take advantage of the connectivity of the infotainment system (compatibility with 5G) but also the menus to control the navigator, the multimedia section to listen to our favorite music from Spotify, from our mobile phone or from the radio and it is also present the menu to manage the air conditioner, only with the touch. There is the possibility to take advantage of the supports for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Having a smartphone with a Green Robot at your disposal, I can tell you that Android Auto runs well, with the canonical graphics that are intuitive and easy to understand, not to mention the touch that retains its good fluidity characteristics.
LOTS OF SPACE FOR OUR PASSENGERS
As was the case with the past generation, even on the new BMW 2 Series Active Tourer the rear seats can slide forward 13 cm and are adjustable in the inclination of the seat, to the advantage of passengers or load capacity. On request, the front seats can be of the sports type, and have electric adjustments (with memory), massage and heating.
The trunk, with the electric tailgate as standard. has a capacity of 406 liters which rises to 1,455 liters by folding down the rear seat backrests.
THE ENGINES TO THE PLUG WILL ALSO ARRIVE
And now motors chapterthe BMW 2 Series Active Tourer is offered with four enginesall combined with front-wheel drive only:
-BMW 218i Active Tourer: 1.5-liter 3-cylinder petrol engine with 100 kW (136 hp) and 230 Nm of torque – 7-speed automatic transmission – 0-100 km / h in 9 seconds and 214 km / h top speed .
-BMW 220i Active Tourer: 1.5-liter 3-cylinder Mild Hybrid petrol engine with 115 kW (156 hp) and 280 Nm of torque – 7-speed automatic transmission – 0-100 km / h in 8.1 seconds and 221 km / h h maximum speed.
-BMW 223i Active Tourer: 4-cylinder petrol Mild Hybrid of 2 liters with 160 kW (218 hp) and 360 Nm of torque – 7-speed automatic transmission – 0-100 km / h in 7 seconds and 241 km / h of top speed .
-BMW 218d Active Tourer: 4-cylinder 2-liter diesel engine with 110 kW (150 hp) and 360 Nm of torque – 7-speed automatic transmission – 0-100 km / h in 8.8 seconds and 220 km / h of full speed.
Later they will be Two variants with Plug-in recharge were also introduced on the market: the BMW 230e xDrive Active Tourer and the e BMW 225e xDrive Active Tourer. For the latter two space, respectively, with an output of 240 kW / 326 hp and 180 kW / 245 hp.
Their batteries will be 16.3 kWh (14.9 kWh usable) and will support AC charging up to a maximum power of 7.4 kW. Autonomy in electric only mode, according to the WLTP cycle, reaches up to 80 km. Even for these last two versions, the transmission will only be automatic with seven gears.
THE ROAD TEST
BMW is once again made on the FAAR platform already exploited by BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé, BMW X1 and Mini Countryman, with transverse engine and front-wheel drive. The aesthetic look is crossover, the setting of an SUV but, if necessary, it does not forget to dedicate to its driver the sensations of a sporty sedan. In short, it’s a nice mix. A car that knows how to be versatile if we play with the preset maps.
In the mode Individual, the most versatile, she prefers the soft attitude of the SUV (also thanks to its rather high center of gravity) with a structure capable of absorbing the hardest bumps and with a light and communicative steering wheel. It is child’s play to park even in the tightest places. There cheapest mode makes the gas pedal less sensitive so as to allow the engine to be sparing in consumption, while sport mode gives the driving pleasure typical of a BMW; stiffened trim, heavier steering and more responsive gas pedal. It is certainly capable of entertaining.
For me it was reserved the diesel engineso I spent this preview in the company of BMW 2 Series Active Tourer 218d with its 4-cylinder diesel engine of 2 liters of 110 kW (150 HP) and 360 Nm of torque, coupled with the 7-speed automatic transmission. Together with the pure petrol heart, the diesel-only engine has also been revised from top to bottom with theintroduction of completely redesigned and 90% revised parts. The end? Making the engine even more efficient and cleaner. And as long as the regulations do not completely prevent it and customers continue to ask for it, BMW swears it will continue to propose the diesel fuel in its price list.
THE consumption? After 56 kilometers spent in his company, having done a lot of motorway and some extra-urban roads, the on-board computer returned a figure of 7l / 100 kilometers. Value deferred to a more exhaustive consumption test.
COMPLETE ADAS SUITE
The BMW 2 Series Active Tourer, as seen, is technological inside the cockpit but also on the ADAS front. The driving aid suite is quite complete and includes the presence of the cruise control, the Lane Departure Warning, the frontal collision warning and also the Parking Assistant with rear view camera but also the automatic emergency braking with support in left turns and recognition of pedestrians and cyclists. Steering and lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control with Stop & Go function for second-level assisted driving, Head-Up Display and 360 ° camera are available on request.
PRICES AND EXIT
In dealerships, lto BMW 2 Series Active Tourer it will arrive in February 2022. In the summer of 2022 variants with Plug-in powertrain will also arrive. Prices start at € 34,600 for the 218i.
TECHNICAL FEATURES
- BMW 218d Active Tourer
- Engine: four-cylinder turbo diesel
- Displacement: 1.995 cc
- Power: 150 hp / 110 kW, 3,750 – 4,000 rpm
- Maximum torque: 360 Nm 1,500 – 2,500 rpm
- Transmission: Seven-speed Steptronic automatic transmission
- Acceleration 0-100 km / h: 8.8 seconds
- Maximum speed: 220 km / h
- Consumption: 5.3 – 4.8 l / 100 km (WLTP)
- CO2 emissions: 138 – 125 g / km (WLTP)
- Approval: Euro6D
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