BMW 218d Active Tourer: The family BMW?
The second generation of the 2 Active Tourer is here, the small MPV from BMW comes in with quite the overhaul. But is it enough to boost sales back to the level of the first generation?
The previous 2 Active Tourer was the first front-wheel-drive BMW introduced and even with this controversial switch from BMW, going to a front-wheel-drive car, they still sold nearly half a million cars of this first generation in Europe. Over the last few years sales have slummed so the all-new BMW 218d Active Tourer has some big shoes to fill.
Progressive design
The 2 Series Active Tourer follows the route of recent BMW design, the large grille being the most obvious. The overall shape has stayed the same but some tweaks along the side of the car make the new 2 Series a car that looks familiar whilst still looking like an all-new car. Front and back, the lights follow the same style as the recent 5 Series LCI.
It’s a very good looking and a very progressive design. It hasn’t gone with some of the recent, arguable design choices that some BMWs have followed lately. But personally, the grille is still a bit too large for me for the proportions of the car. But other than that, it still retains the BMW characteristics. Compared to the previous generation, the 2022 BMW 2 Series Active Tourer now feels nice and refined.
There’s no BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer coming again like there was from the previous generation. So, sorry for the people who were looking for a small car with a 3rd seating row, there won’t be a new one to satisfy your spacious interior needs.
Speaking about the spacious needs, the 2 Active Tourer still provides plenty of space for the occupants and up to 470 L of boot space (415 L for the hybrid models).
Next generation infotainment
Inside the 2022 BMW 2 Series Active Tourer, the full interior has received a massive overhaul with new seats, a new steering wheel and… an all-new iDrive system. BMW’s iDrive8 is the newest and latest iteration of BMW’s infotainment system.
First up with the good things: the graphics look great, it’s fresh and the widescreen is great. The voice assistant is also a big upgrade from iDrive7. I mean an all-new infotainment should be a big improvement in all areas, right? But there are some fundamental issues with the iDrive system and especially fitted in the 2 Series Active Tourer. For starters: Where the old iDrive7 its menu system was nicely segmented and divided into submenus whereas now, you have an overflow of menus from which you have to choose. The system simply is a bit less organized but it remains intuitive to use, a key factor with infotainment. The second thing is the buttons, or the lack of them. All of the climate controls now reside inside the touchscreen, as so many other cars have done over the last few years. And after all these year, I still have to find someone who thinks this was an improvement over physical buttons.
But maybe the biggest the set me off in the interior of the new 2 Series Active Tourer is the lack of a rotating iDrive knob. Ever since BMW put that rotating knob in the center console, the iDrive system has been known to be one of the easiest ones to use. Since then, other manufacturers have copied this design and implemented it in their cars too, albeit in different forms. The iDrive knob is still available in the iX and the new 3/4 Series LCI but the fact that it’s missing in the Active Tourer is simply a damn shame.
Driving pleasure?
A recurring but a must-ask-question when reviewing any BMW is: Does it provide enoug driving pleasure to set it apart from the competition? Well the 218d Active Tourer, as tested here, comes with the M-sports package which comes standard with M sports suspension. Something which is nice on a sports car but on a family car? It’s a tad too hard over rough bumps and your partner might wonder why you bought a family car which could’ve been more comfortable. Want the M-sports package? Just make sure you deselect the M suspension or go for the adaptive M suspension to get the best of both worlds.
But aside from that arguable selection of suspension choices, the car rides and drives beautifully. In Comfort the steering is very numb but once you put the steering into Sport, the weight significantly increases and therefore feels more in tune with what you’d expect from a BMW. The '18d' is one of the best 4-cilinders available in a BMW, it’s smooth, and with 150 hp and 360 Nm, it has enough power. Apart from the hybrid options, the 218d the lowest in both consumption and emissions. Those a hybrid will cost you a further 8- to 10.000 € tough. So this 4-cylinder diesel drivetrain, might just be the best buy.
Is it the perfect family BMW?
If you’re looking for a tough and compact family MPV with premium refinement, then the 2022 BMW 2 Series Active Tourer is by far the best choice in its segment. The car is very spacious, looks great, and also offers a great experiece for anyone inside. In terms of driving, it does lack a bit for a thourougbred BMW model. But for its price and just how economical the diesel is, the 218d is a great choice.
