BMW

2 Series Active Tourer/Coupe

The latest BMW 2 Series has just been unleashed and it is available in sporty two-door coupe or practical five-door MPV guise. Both have their own individual appeal.

Test Drive

BMW 2 Series – first drive (2022)

BMW has just unleashed its latest 2 series line-up and, while both models are high-end and premium through and through, they are worlds apart in design and audience appeal.

Both the Active Tourer – a compact family MPV – and the two-door sports coupe models have a fresh new look, upgraded powertrains and the latest on-board technology. And both tick the right boxes in their own particular sector.

We had the opportunity to test out the cars on extensive road routes and each model was certainly up for the challenge.

Firstly, the five-door BMW 2 Series Active Tourer which ranges in price from £30,265 to £32,715 (before optional extras are factored in) and customers have a choice of trims levels called Sport, Luxury and M Sport.

The Active Tourer, which has notched up more than 430,000 global sales since its launch in 2014, is powered by a choice of two petrol engines and one diesel with the second-generation of 48V mild hybrid technology. And the range is set to expand further this summer to include two plug-in hybrid models.

We opted for the high-end BMW 223i M Sport Active Tourer featuring a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder, mild-hybrid, petrol engine developing 218hp and 360Nm of torque. It was priced at £32,715, but as is the premium car maker way, optional extras saw the final price climb to £41,490 which puts it into the Government’s premium car tax bracket.

The vehicle can reach 62mph from a standing start in 7.0 seconds and maxes out at 150mph while delivering a combined 42.8-47.1mpg with carbon emissions of 143g/km.

When it comes to looks, the Active Tourer features the trademark large kidney grille, full LED headlights as standard (with adaptive LED headlights on the M Sport version), tinted windows and a number of M Sport design elements. There are 19-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels, folding exterior mirrors, along with a panoramic sunroof that was an optional extra on the test car costing £1,000.

The interior is spacious and elegantly set-out with BMW’s very latest infotainment system. Taking many of its features from the fully electrified iX and i4 models, there is a control display measuring 10.7 inches along with a 10.25-inch information display. These screens are positioned together behind a glass surface that curves towards the driver making one fully digital, high-resolution unit. And it looks amazing.

The traditional iDrive rotary controller has been scrapped and there are fewer physical switches on show. Instead, the driver uses the steering wheel buttons or the clever personal assistant to access the on-board tech. By saying the magic “Hey BMW” password, the personal assistant system is activated and can help with functions such as setting the navigation, finding radio stations, accessing your phone contacts, closing windows and much, much more.

The latest 2 Series Active Tourer is longer, wider and taller than its predecessor and that means extra room inside. Designed as a family car there is enough space for a couple of adults or a trio of youngsters to fit in the back. Meanwhile, the boot can swallow 415 litres of luggage, increasing to 1,405 litres with the 40:20:40 split-folding rear seats dropped forward.

When it comes to performance, the 2 Series Active Tourer in M Sport guise is a delight to drive. With its slightly elevated seating position, the driver benefits from excellent all-round visibility and all the controls, dials and readouts are easy to operate on the fly.

The acceleration out the starting blocks is swift and the latest version of the seven-speed Steptronic dual clutch transmission delivers smooth and responsive gear switches. And, of course, there are paddles for added driver fun.

It offers impressive grip through twisting country lanes, cruises at 70mph on motorways and is deceptively agile in busier city centre settings. The driver can select from Personal, Sport and Efficient drive modes that alter the mannerisms of the vehicle and Adaptive M suspension with mechanically controlled adjustable dampers is standard on the M Sport car that we tested.

This set-up sees a 15mm reduction in the car’s ride height and, along with M Sport steering, means the vehicle is well controlled in and out of bends with most road surface bumps and dips smoothed out along the way too.

Next up was the stunning two-door coupe model. This four-seater is far less practical but certainly makes up for that when it comes to performance.

With prices ranging from £34,980 to £45,795, customers can select from a 220i 2.0-litre petrol engine, a 220d 2.0-litre mild hybrid diesel unit, both of which are four-cylinder. Or if you want guaranteed driving enjoyment, there is the mighty M240i xDrive version with a 3.0-litre, six-cylinder petrol engine.

It was the M240i model we tested and it lived up to all the hype with 374hp of power and peak torque of 500Nm. That resulted in some interesting performance figures with a 0-62mph sprint time of just 4.3 seconds and top speed that is electronically-limited to 155mph. Day-to-day running costs will make more of a dent in your pocket with a combined 34.9mpg under WLTP testing and carbon emissions of 199g/km. But if fuel efficiency is key, then the 220d diesel variant returns a combined 60.1mpg.

One glance in the BMW 2 Series M240i’s direction will confirm this is a powerhouse of a car featuring dynamic streamlining with beautiful curves. The BMW kidney grille boasts vertical air flaps in place of the classical bars and, with the headlights positioned on the outer edges, the vehicle has a wide, low-slung look.

Other design cues include a long bonnet, short overhangs and a sharply tapering roofline. The rear lights are darkened and there are flush-fitting door handles, circular tailpipes, 19-inch double spoke bi-colour alloys, along with brake callipers featuring the M logo.

The interior is also impressive with lots of M design traits. The test car had upmarket leather upholstered sports seats that were power operated and all the tech and gadgetry we demand in our cars these days. However, it still had the iDrive controller dial and two separate display screens so wasn’t quite so stylish as its Active Tourer sibling.

However, when it comes to the driving dynamics, that is soon forgotten. This engine unit has been developed using motor-racing expertise and there is an M Sport exhaust that delivers the perfect accompanying soundtrack.

Go exploring and you’ll discover a Launch Control function to guarantee quick and instant acceleration along with a Sprint feature. When this is activated the transmission will automatically shift into its lowest usable gear.

This coupe feels primed for action from the throttle, through to the gears, steering and braking set-up and it delivers instant power at the slightest hint of pressure on the accelerator.

There are drive modes called Eco Pro, Comfort, Sport, Sport+ and Adaptive to alter the car’s characteristics. Little surprise to learn that the sports settings are the most rewarding when tackling twisting B roads.

It’s a car that reaches motorway speed limits in the blink of an eye and is agile in busier towns, although all-round visibility is hampered by a narrow rear screen and wide B pillars.

While the BMW 2 Series M240i is rear wheel drive the majority of the time, our test car also featured xDrive which is BMW’s all-wheel drive system. This will add extra grip to the front wheels when more traction is needed.

One optional extra worth investing in is the M Adaptive Suspension which allows you to select from sportier suspension or more comfortable settings. This is a ‘must’ on this car with its larger 19-inch wheels and costs £500.

As one would expect, storage options are quite limited on the coupe. The boot can hold 390 litres – an increase of 20 litres over the outgoing model. And despite front seats that are easily folded forward and tilted, anyone forced to sit in the back will soon be complaining about the restricted leg and head space. But in all honesty, this is the norm on any coupe model.

All in all, the latest BMW 2 Series offers a wide range of options and each car will have its own individual appeal. Neither model is cheap, but few things of this sort of quality ever are.

Test Drive

BMW 2 Series Active Tourer

BMW introduced its 2 Series range when it launched the striking coupe model and now it has a big brother to look up to.

And the 2 Series Active Tourer marks the introduction of a number of premieres for the Bavarian company, namely three-cylinder engine technology along with front-wheel-drive for the first time.

The practical MPV is available with a choice of two engines – a three-cylinder 1.5-litre petrol engine with 134bhp and a 2.0-litre four cylinder 148bhp diesel with further choices to be introduced later in the year.

It is priced from £22,125 and certainly looks dynamic from any angle thanks to its sporty, athletic stance, LED lights, muscular bonnet lines, bold kidney grille, rear spoiler with integrated wiper, L-shaped light bars and smart alloys.

Once inside, there’s no mistaking you’re behind the wheel of a BMW with its layered dashboard and driver-orientated layout. Techno treats and creature comforts are plentiful and include a head-up display, DAB radio, rear parking sensors, reversing camera, Bluetooth connectivity, sat nav, auto lights and wipers and a 6.5-inch colour screen which is navigated via BMW’s iDrive rotary controller located next to the gear stick.

Buyers can select from four trim levels – SE, Sport, Luxury and M Sport – and as you move up through the range you can expect to see more luxurious touches, larger alloys and, of course, an addition in the price-tag.

One thing the Active Tourer does offer is bundles of space, versatility and practicality with all passengers benefiting from plenty of leg, head and shoulder room. Rear seat passengers have 40:20:40 split folding seats that can slide forwards, backwards and even be tilted.

And the generously-sized boot, which is accessed via a powered tailgate, can accommodate 468 litres with all seats in an upright position. The maximum storage capacity is increased to a whopping 1,510 with the rear seats folded flat – this is achieved automatically with a push button situated just inside the boot.

There is also a foldable boot floor with storage found beneath it. Elsewhere there are plenty of handy compartments throughout the cabin including a deep central bucket and good-sized door bins. The car is fitted with an automatic handbrake and that frees up the space for a double cup holder section.

I tested out both the 2.0-litre diesel model with eight-speed automatic transmission in Luxury trim costing £35,480 including options totalling almost £10k.

This model can sprint from 0-62mph in 8.9 seconds and tops out at 130mph. It can deliver combined fuel economy of 68.9mpg with carbon emissions of 109g/km.

I also tested the 1.5-petrol 136bhp model with six-speed manual gearbox in Sport trim priced at £31,105 with options costing nearly £6k. This three-cylinder model can sprint from 0-62mph in 9.2 seconds and redlines at 127mph. It can achieve 57.6mpg on a combined run with emissions of 115g/km.

Both models offered excellent ride and comfort levels and the high-seated position is a bonus for all occupants. The car is beautifully insulated so the cabin remains quiet at all times even when pushed hard.

The manual gearbox proved just right when travelling through busy towns and villages or along faster country lanes, but on the downside a fair amount of changing down was required when a rapid burst of pace was needed or when confronted with a particularly steep incline.

That certainly wasn’t the case with the eight-speed auto box which coped admirably with any challenge thrown its way.

That said, the auto transmission does cost £1,685 more than the manual transmission so it’s a case of weighing up the pros and cons.

Despite its size, the 2 Series Active Tourer is deceptively agile and the road holding is excellent meaning tight bends can be attacked with confidence at pace. It’s also beautifully nimble and easy to manoeuvre which makes parking a complete breeze.

The driver sits high up with good visibility, although I did find when exiting tight junctions that the wide windscreen pillars obscured visibility a little.

There are three driving modes to select from – Sport, Comfort and Eco Pro – and these adjust the car’s handling, dynamics and response accordingly.

And of course, all models are kitted out with a comprehensive range of safety features to protect occupants and pedestrians alike.

BMW has three potential buyer groups in mind for the 2 Series Active Tourer.

The first is small families that need a practical vehicle, the second is empty nesters where the children have moved out but the owners demand style and the versatility to carry grandchildren; and finally young professionals who like to combine business with pleasure.

All in all, the 2 Series Active Tourer is a very welcome addition to the ever-growing BMW range and brings with it a wealth of plus points.

It is a clear indication that the company is always willing to test out new design and engineering innovations along the way.

Test Drive

BMW M235i Coupe

There’s been a major shake-up at BMW recently and with it, the emergence of some powerful and impressive new models.

And the latest beauty to roll into showrooms is the striking new 2 Series.

The Bavarian company has dropped the 1 series coupe and replaced it with the slightly stretched and more sporty-looking 2 Series Coupe and believe me, it doesn’t disappoint.

Approach this car from any angle and it’s impossible not to be wowed by its dynamic, sharp styling and athletic stance which is accentuated by 18-inch alloys, twin tailpipes, LED rear light bars, xenon headlights with LED corona rings, tinted windows, plus a kidney grille with eight extra wide high-gloss black vertical slats.

The test car also boasted many M styling traits such as special aerodynamic body-styling, the M logo on both front wings and blue brake calipers with an M embossed onto them. Inside, comparisons can once again be drawn to the 1 Series, but it’s almost like a modern take on an old favourite. The build quality is impeccable with beautiful craftsmanship and examples of premium materials at every turn.

The low slung Black Dakota leather sports seats can be electrically adjusted with a memory function. There is a soft-touch dashboard, a high gloss interior trim that contrasts beautifully with the brushed aluminium features and an abundance of technology to be explored.

Creature comforts include two-zone air con, DAB digital radio, a driver comfort package that introduces cruise control with brake function, park distance control, plus the Servotronic steering.

The test car also featured the BMW professional media pack which adds a first class sat nav system, real time traffic information, BMW online services, an apps interface and plenty more.

To be honest, the list of techno treats seems almost endless, but there is so much more to the M235i than airs and graces. For this rear wheel drive car can sprint to 62mph from a standing start in just 5.0 seconds. It redlines at 155mph and boasts a 3.0-litre petrol engine that delivers 450Nm of torque.

It grips the Tarmac like glue and simply loves to attack tight bends at pace and then with the slightest pressure on the throttle, it’s off like a rocket again.

The six-speed manual transmission is super sleek and there is a constant supply of power on tap at all times.

There are four driving modes to select from – Eco Pro, Comfort, Sport and Sport Plus – all of which adjust the cars handling, response, performance and economy.

Another factor worth noting is just how user-friendly and easy to navigate all the technology within the car is.

Functions such as the sat nav or car’s settings can be accessed within seconds via an iDrive dial and there is a colour widescreen display which is easy to glance at whilst driving.

Back seat passengers will be a tad squashed, as is the case with most coupe models.

Elsewhere, the boot is fairly generous in size with a capacity of 390 litres.

All in all, this 2 Series is a very welcome newcomer to the extensive BMW line-up and when you add in the comprehensive list of state-of-the-art safety features, the price tag of £42k (including £7.7k options) is not quite so startling.