BMW 2 Series Active Tourer Review 2023
The BMW 2 Series Active Tourer is a luxury MPV that's oriented towards families who need a practical and high-quality lease car. With a premium interior and an impressive range of engines, the 2 Series Active Tourer provides good competition to the SUV-dominated family lease cars.
Rivals to the 2 Series Active Tourer include the Dacia Jogger, Ford Galaxy, Volkswagen Touran, and Mercedes-Benz B-Class.
Our BMW 2 Series Active Tourer review covers:
- Sharp exterior with kidney front grille and sporty styling
- Premium interior that's built to last
- Up to 415-litres of boot space
- Petrol and plug-in hybrid engines to choose from
- Three trim levels
Pros:
- Good to drive for an MPV
- Premium interior
- Plenty of headroom
Cons:
- Infotainment system doesn't have a rotary controller
- Firm ride quality
- Top-end models are expensive
While other manufacturers have left MPVs behind, BMW hasn't. The result of this is a stylish 2 Series Active Tourer that blends forgotten practicality with modern styling. You get BMW's kidney front grille, slick headlights, creases throughout the body, and a sporty-looking rear end.
Although classed as an MPV, the 2 Series Active Tourer only accommodates five passengers. So, if you need seven seats, look towards the Dacia Jogger or Ford Galaxy. However, a benefit of only five passengers is that there's more space. Three adults can fit in the rear with ease, and there's loads of headroom to accommodate those well over six feet tall.
Boot space ranges from 406 - 415 litres, which is pretty generous for an MPV. You also get a powered tailgate and no-load lip, which is handy for loading heavier items, and you can fold the rear seats flat 40/20/40.
The 2 Series Active Tourer is described as a 'luxury' MPV, and its interior certainly meets this criteria. You get a high-quality cabin with a range of materials, such as soft-touch plastics, leather upholstery, and fine wood trims. The dashboard is also simple to navigate and feels built to last.
On the dashboard, you get a curved screen home to both the 10.7-inch touchscreen infotainment system and the 10.15-inch digital driver's display. The screen displays crisp graphics, is responsive to touch, and comes with built-in sat-nav, a DAB radio, and smartphone mirroring as standard.
Unfortunately, you don't get the rotary controller that makes BMW infotainment systems easy to use. You'll have to use touchscreen prods or voice control to control the infotainment system.
Three trim levels are available: Sport, Luxury, and M Sport.
Sport has 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, automatic air conditioning, front and rear parking sensors, a rear-view camera, a 10.25-inch digital driver display, a 10.7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and automatic parking.
Luxury adds leather upholstery and fine wood trim to the interior, heated front seats, and an aluminium roof rail.
M Sport has 18-inch alloy wheels, adaptive LED headlights, an Alcantara leather interior, sportier seats, and specific M Sport exterior styling.
Two petrol engines and two petrol plug-in hybrids make up the engine range for the 2 Series Active Tourer. All come with an automatic transmission and either front-wheel or all-wheel drive.
The entry-level petrol engines are the 220i and 223i, with 170hp and 218hp. The 220i is our pick of the two, being quick to respond to accelerator inputs and offering decent acceleration by achieving 0-62mph in 8.1 seconds. Both units also feature mild-hybrid technology to help with efficiency, and you'll get a fuel economy in the high 40s.
The next two options are the four-wheel drive plug-in hybrids. The first is the 225e, which combines a 16.3kWh battery with a 245hp petrol engine, while the range-topper is the 230e, which uses the same battery but has a 326hp engine. Both return decent performance and are good to drive. However, the latter is much more powerful, achieving 0-62mph in just 5.5 seconds.
The main pull of both plug-in hybrids is their efficiency. BMW claims you get a fuel economy of up to 353mpg and have an electric range of 54 miles. You can also charge using an AC charger at speeds of up to 7.4kW, taking two and a half hours to charge from 0-100%.
The 2 Series Active Tourer is straightforward to drive and is reliable on the road. Around town is where it's at home. The steering is light, and you get a pretty tight turning circle, and there's loads of tech to help navigate tight city streets, like a reversing camera and parking sensors.
The petrol and plug-in hybrid engines are smooth and punchy at low speeds. However, you can notice potholes and bumps in the road, especially on the larger 18-inch alloy wheels.
On the motorway, the 2 Series Active Tourer is a solid cruiser. It feels secure, the suspension settles down, and comfort levels are good. You do get a bit of road and wind noise, but it's not too noticeable.
On a country road, the 2 Series Active Tourer handles itself well. There's plenty of road grip and not much body toll, however, it lets itself down by the steering. It feels a bit numb and doesn't make for an engaging drive, but what can you expect from an MPV?
Prices for the new BMW 2 Series Active Tourer start from £32,890.00 OTR* or to lease from £389.44 per month.
Looking to get behind the wheel of the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer? Nationwide Vehicle Contracts is one of the UK's largest car leasing brokers and offers a range of leasing deals to suit your every need.
Leasing may be cheaper than an outright purchase, thanks to a low initial deposit and fixed monthly rentals.
*' On the road' price correct at time of publication and includes one year's road fund license, DVLA first registration fee and number plate fee. Prices are subject to change; always check with your nearest retailer.
