One of the most underrated and hardest working MPV’s, BMW’s second generation 2 Series Active Tourer is launched. It goes up against Mercedes B-Class and has BMW’s latest interior tech, with plug-in hybrid powertrains.
At launch, the new 2 Series Active Tourer will be available with two petrol and a single Diesel engine. Both petrol units are equipped with mild-hybrid tech, in the form of a 48-volt starter-generator that provides a 19bhp boost in power and improved efficiency.
BMW will add two plug-in hybrids to the range later next year, both will be equipped with four-wheel drive. PHEV variants will use BMW’s fifth-generation eDrive electric motors to power the rear wheels, and a three-cylinder petrol engine driving the front wheels.
The new 2 Series Active Tourer comes with a fresh interior design and infotainment technology already seen in the BMW iX EV. There’s a leather-stitched dashboard which has a streamlined design with very few buttons. The radio and drive mode controls are housed on a floating centre console next to a new gear selector switch.
The main interior functions have shifted over to BMW’s iDrive 8 system, fitted to a combustion-engined BMW for the first time with the Active Tourer. The infotainment features include a 360-degree parking camera,‘Hey BMW’ voice assistant, wireless smartphone connectivity and an augmented reality navigation system.
Five interior trim options are available, including open-pore wood and aluminium as well as 11 different paint finishes when it goes on sale next year.
New seats are said to offer improved support and long-distance comfort, while the rear includes ISOFIX in the outer two seats. The rear seats fold in a 40:20:40 split, and move forwards or backwards by around 13cm. The backrest angle can be adjusted, too, for a 90-litre increase in boot capacity. Boot space starts at the smallest 415 litres for petrol models to 470 litres for diesel cars, with maximum capacities of 1405 litres and 1455 litres.