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Some would say that’s blasphemy. Others would say it’s industrial sell out. I say they’re confused because the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer I and the BMW 2 Series are as related as Haylee Baylee is to work.

And look how successful it still is. The BMW 2 Series Active Tourer was designed to take on the Mercedes B Class and take on the premium minivan segment. The kind of family man who has small children but is too snobby for a Touran or B Max but still thinks it’s a good idea to have a car with leather upholstery and small children who will dirt up the interior with all the food and dirt and mud they will be carrying. And look, there are enough people who actually think like this.

BMW 2 SERIES ACTIVE TOURER I DOESN’T NEED REAR WHEEL DRIVE.

BMW 2 SERIES ACTIVE TOURER I DOES NOT NEED REAR-WHEEL DRIVE.

BMW 2 SERIES ACTIVE TOURER I DOES NOT NEED REAR-WHEEL DRIVE.

BMW 2 SERIES ACTIVE TOURER I DOES NOT NEED REAR-WHEEL DRIVE.

That’s because the BMW 2 Series…ugh, I’ll call it Active Tourer straight up, that’s because the Active Tourer doesn’t need rear-wheel drive because you won’t drive fast or sporty enough with a minivan like that. Plus if you look at the average BMW buyer you’ll find that they don’t know what rear-wheel drive is, nor do they care about the rear-wheel drive. And that goes for all rear-wheel drive cars in general. Sure, there are enthusiasts who enjoy it, but the bulk of sales come from people who will never drive sports. Also, the Active Tourer has way too little power for the rear wheel drive to actually matter.

The second reason is that rear-wheel drive eats up a lot of space in the back, both in the rear seats and in the boot, see the 1 Series case. This is ok in a 6-Series because you don’t have friends for having a 6-Series anyway, but in an Active Tourer which is supposed to be a family car, you need that rear space and boot space. And on top of that, the Active Tourer comes standard with a power-operated boot and a push-button folding rear seat.

Is the 2 Series Active Tourer industrial sell-out?

Yes. But as long as there’s a market for a premium front-wheel drive MPV from BMW, then it’s still 1-0 for BMW.

BMW 2 Series Active Tourer I Engines

Petrol

• 1.5 Turbo of 107, 134, and 138 horsepower – This engine was frowned upon when it was launched on the i8 but it turns out this 3-cylinder petrol has no specific issues and may be all the engine you need. Yes, the 134 is directly related to the one in the i8.


• 2.0 Turbo of 189 and 229 horsepower – I highly doubt anyone bought this engine in the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer I, but you never know. In any case, this engine is suitable for the 3 Series and has proven to be reliable as well, as long as you change the oil every 5,000 miles or it will penetrate your behind.

Diesel

• 1.5 diesel 94 and 114 horsepower – The 94 version seems outrageous for the money the 2 Series Active Tourer is asking, but the 114 horsepower will probably be the sales star. Essentially it’s the 3-cylinder version of the 2.0 diesel, BMW’s most important and refined engine.


• 2.0 diesel with 148 and 188 horsepower – Yes, the most important engine on the 3 Series and BMW’s most important engine altogether. Except that the 218d aka the poor person version starts at 33300 euros and you can get very close to 40,000 euros which is outrageous for a minivan, even from BMW.

Hybrid

1.5 Turbo hybrid of 221 horsepower – Why? Because if you get the state rebate, a 225xe costs the same as a 218d but you get about 70 more horses and an xDrive system and lots of features. The drivetrain has been tested on the Mini for a few years now, so you’re left with xDrive issues and the rest of the specific issues. But if you don’t get any gubment subsidies for EVs and hybrids, the 225xe starts at 37000 euros which again is outrageous.

BMW 2 Series Active Tourer I General Issues

• It’s a modern BMW so I have to talk about the complementary electrical issues, especially on the iDrive side and the safety and roadside assistance systems.


• The suspension isn’t the strongest possible but at least we here in the UK have perfect roads and the suspension will hold up long and well.


• At low speeds, the steering column can make sounds that raise your blood pressure to heaven but then it calms you back down because “that’s their thing”.

BMW 2 Series Active Tourer I Verdict

It’s a more controversial car than Donald Trump, but nonetheless it was a commercial success. And the most important word is “commercial”. It’s a car built specifically to sell. It has quality materials, it has good engines, and it’s comfortable. It’s a great premium family car, ready to be destroyed by little kids and their chocolate stained fingers.

What engines do I recommend? The 1.5 Turbo petrol should be all the engine you need for any situation, that or the 1.5 and 114 horsepower diesel.