Cornering behavior is excellent, especially for such a high model’
The BMW 2-series Active Tourer has been with us for almost ten years now. Mockery and laughter fell on the model, because this BMW was not only an MPV, but also front-wheel drive. Whatever BMW enthusiasts might think of it, the Active Tourer – unlike the Gran Tourer – received a successor last year. In this article we look at the practical experiences of users who chose ‘the original’.
Beautiful or not, front-wheel drive or not: the 2-series Tourer did BMW no harm. Since 2014, the first year that the model was on the market, Dutch dealers have already sold more than 17,000. In the first years, the model was helped by the tax authorities, because the entry-level diesels could be driven at a reduced addition. Moreover, the 2-series Tourer is an interesting occasion. This is also apparent from the reviews on AutoWeek.nl: not every story was written by a lease driver from the very beginning.
Space and ease of use
We now know that the BMW 2-series Tourer is a ‘van’. That guarantees great ease of use, right? “The space in the car is more than sufficient for us as two over-50s without children living at home,” says the driver who bought his 220i Active Tourer as a young used car. “There is a double floor in the trunk, so that things that you don’t really need are nicely stored out of sight.”
Still, BMW thought that the Active Tourer could be a bit bigger, and mounted a large dormer window. The 2 Series Gran Tourer was born, even available with two additional seats as an option. “Our 4 children aged 7, 8, 8 and 10 fit easily in the 7-seater,” writes an owner who opted for such a large 2-series. He continues: “The dog will also come along. For a weekend away, the luggage will still fit in the car, but for a holiday the roof box must be on it. Because more than a few compact weekend bags can no longer be used.”
“Yes, it’s roomy,” another 220i Gran Tourer driver agrees. “However, it is not as cleverly thought out in terms of space use as, for example, a Touran or other MPVs. Compared to other MPVs, there are few compartments and storage options.”
Seating comfort for up to seven people
The BMW 2 Series Active Tourer offers space for five people, the Gran Tourer can even accommodate seven occupants as an option. This 216d driver describes what the latter looks like in practice: “The space in the first row of seats is excellent. I am 1.97 meters tall and can find an excellent sitting position. Only the headrest could be a little higher. This is actually just too low.” And the rest of the passengers? “If I’m comfortable, there is more than enough space in the second row for children up to the age of 14. However, my offspring is going through a huge growth spurt and that makes it all a bit tighter. Our eldest son, who is almost 16 and 1.90 meters, can no longer sit comfortably behind me. Let alone that another passenger can sit in row number 3. In other words: with six people in the car, it is only possible if everyone agrees, and then a ride of an hour or two is really the limit.” A clear story.
Owners are quite pleased with the furniture, especially if the optional sports seats are chosen. Yet not everything is hosanna: “The only thing that I really miss are the fine chairs from the 5 and also the 3 series. It seems as if car manufacturers think that smaller people also drive smaller models,” a 225xe Active Tourer driver winks. This 220i driver is also enthusiastic-with a caveat. “The seats are fine. I have the sports seats because of the extendable seat, so that I still have support for my upper legs with my almost 2 meters. I am not only long but also wide, which just fits between the prominent side cheeks.”
Driving the 2 Series Tourer
Van or not, when it comes to driving, BMW has a reputation to uphold. Judging by the reviews, it seems to have succeeded. “The car handles very well on the road” writes a 218d driver from the very beginning. “The control is direct and provides sufficient information. On the highway, in my opinion, even a little too much, but that seems to be BMW’s own. The car remains very stable even at higher speeds. Cornering behavior is excellent, especially for such a tall model.
A plug-in hybrid 225xe Active Tourer also gets an enthusiastic review. “First of all, I noticed how tight and sharp this version of the Tourer handles! Really fantastic for a car that weighs about 1,700 kg. Compared to the Mercedes C350 e that I was allowed to drive for six months, a flashy lane change or a sharp turn is suddenly child’s play.” That also appears to have a downside, he says. “The chassis is hard-sprung but not uncomfortable. It can only hit a bit on short ledges.”
With the BMW 2-series Tourer, more weight has to be kept under control, which requires a different chassis tuning. It seems that BMW has succeeded in this. “Handling is better or even a lot better than the Active Tourer,” writes a 216d driver with comparison material. “During the holidays I had a lot of fun when I was alone in the car to do a quick shopping. Love all those mountain roads. The BMW genes are then very much present.” “The handling is excellent and sometimes invites a sportier driving behavior than you would expect from a family car,” agrees another 216d Gran Tourer driver.
A disadvantage that many owners point out in their review are large blind spots, caused by the A-pillars. “Had a near-collision on roundabouts and exits a few times,” writes one of them.
How do the three-cylinder do?
Under the hoods of many BMW 2 Series Tourers is a three-cylinder engine. Both the 214d and 216d diesels feature a 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine, as do the 216i and 218i petrol engines. The entry-level diesel with 94 hp will be quite rare. In any case, it does not appear in the reviews we highlighted, but the 116 hp 216d was regularly chosen.
“The performance is of course not enormous for a three-cylinder, but actually quite good for the flat Netherlands,” writes an owner of such a 216d Active Tourer. “The car runs 140 -150 km/h without too much effort. It seems to be even faster than that.” “Very quiet engine and a long range gearbox,” writes another 216d driver. He continues: “It is good that there is a gear shift indicator in the dashboard because due to the lack of engine noise, I regularly forget to shift (up).” It seems that BMW can isolate the sound of even a three-cylinder diesel very well.
The petrol engine is also particularly praiseworthy. “The three-cylinder is less powerful than the 2.0 TFSI block I was used to, but the combination of this engine with the six-speed automatic drives really well!” exults a satisfied 218i Gran Tourer driver. “Colleagues do not believe that it is a three-cylinder when they ride along.” If you are curious about the consumption of the engines, we previously wrote an article based on data from the AutoWeek Consumption Monitor: practical consumption of the BMW 2-series Tourer.
Maintenance, malfunctions and irritations
Speaking of engines, one 218i driver was particularly unlucky: “After the garage experienced a cold start of my 218i, the conclusion was that the crankshaft had too much axial play. The clearance was so great that repair was no longer possible and the engine block had to be replaced under warranty at 36,000 km.”
This is the largest repair that owners of a BMW 2-series Tourer mention. It doesn’t mean the car is flawless. “I stopped along the highway two months ago, due to a cooling hose that had melted away due to heating,” writes a 218d driver in 2016. After that it went well for a long time, and after two years the balance is drawn. “Electronic handbrake broken, bottom plate loose and the remote control of the key just didn’t work anymore.”
The driver of a 216d suffers from erratic starting and the car kit was of the uncooperative type. Nevertheless, the owner is very pleased with the car. “On the whole, the BMW has done little wrong, except for a questionable audio/navigation system. Yes, there were some creaking noises from the chair back at the beginning of its life. And yes, it bucked for a while when starting. But both problems went away on their own. Moreover, there was such a ridiculous amount of driving pleasure – in the excellent furniture – that the balance is clearly positive for me.”
The latter is also what remains with us after going through the user reviews. The BMW 2-series Tourer turns out to be quite good in practice. Although it is not an unadulterated MPV in terms of use, it is sufficiently spacious, drivers are satisfied with the (sports) seats and the handling. The technology is not flawless, but owners do not run into structural problems. So it seems that this front-wheel drive MPV was not only a bold move, but also a successful one.
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl