Road test: BMW 218d Active Tourer

BMW is famous for making premium sporting cars with rear-wheel drive. So its new 2 Series Active Tourer, the company’s first front-wheel drive compact MPV, is a model that sticks its toe in rather different water.

This is a lucrative part of the car market, and BMW wants its share. The car is longer, wider and much taller than a 1 Series, with such a short bonnet that the vehicle is really a one-box shape. It’s hard to make this van-like shape attractive and — while it’s no less or more appealing than its main competition from the VW Golf SV, Mercedes-Benz B Class and Nissan Qashquai — compared to most other BMWs it looks a bit bland.

One area in which it scores is its cabin, which oozes quality and is roomy. There is plenty of legroom, but shoulder room seems a bit restricted. The elegant dashboard is new but unmistakably BMW.

The first cars available here are a 218i with a three-cylinder 1.5-litre petrol engine, and a 218d, with a four-pot two-litre diesel unit.

Both are remarkably easy to drive, with tall gearing and very little engine noise, although tyre roar is noticeable and the ride can get a bit bouncy. Various other petrol and diesel variants with 110 to 230hp will follow, and all will be available with six-speed manual or eight-speed auto gearboxes. There will also be two 4x4 versions from November.

The downside of such tall gearing is that there’s not much zip at low speeds, but performance is par for the course and the Active Tourer handles quite well when pushed.

It’s well equipped with sliding and reclining rear seats, dual-zone climate control, a power tailgate, and three Isofix fittings for child seats. This is a new type of car for BMW and the company has made a decent fist of it. It expects the Active Tourer to win the brand plenty of new customers. But it is unlikely to stir the blood of existing BMW devotees.

BMW 218d Active Tourer
Top speed: 127mph
MPG: 68.9;
Emissions 109g/km
Price: £24,205