Driven: 2 Series Active Tourer

BMW has entered a new segment, that of the mini MPV. Its 2 Series Active Tourer will take the fight directly to the Mercedes-Benz B-Class in the premium segment when it arrives here in the first quarter of 2015.

However, what is perhaps more intriguing is that the model will essentially be the company’s first to offer a front-wheel-drive setup and transversely mounted engine, breaking away from the rear-wheel-drive and longitudinal engine layout so strongly associated with the brand.

I can already picture a few dyed-in-the-wool BMW fans deeming this sacrilegious, a cop-out by the Bavarian marque if you will, which has for years prided itself on offering unsurpassed rear- wheel-drive dynamics. Nevertheless, some markets grow and others shrink. Stefan Karch, product manager of the model, says research by the group has found that more and more people look for space, functionality, comfort and a high seating position, but not necessarily driving dynamics, hence the 2 Series Active Tourer.

The model, said Karch, was conceptualised in 2009. In 2010 it was presented to the executive board whose members, after much pondering and studying the market, finally gave the production model the green light. Although the idea of a front-wheel-drive sounds completely foreign on a vehicle wearing the blue-and-white propeller badge, one need only look at the sister brand, Mini, to acknowledge that the company has actually dabbled in front-wheel-drive architecture before.

The 2 Series Active Tourer offers a wheelbase of 2.6m and a boot space of 468 litres, which can be expanded to 1 560 litres with the rear seats folded forward. The interior is fairly sizable considering the compact exterior, thanks to clever cabin packaging. The layout is different to that of any model in the stable at the moment and seems well thought through, with sufficient storage space, including the two cupholders between the front seats and the swivelling armrest. Four derivatives are on offer for South Africa: a 218i (100kW and 220Nm), a 220i and a 220d and a 225i (170kW and 350Nm). Specs for the 220i and 220d will only become available when the two models go into production in November. The impressive 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbocharged engine from the new Mini Cooper has been used in the 218i, although this particular model was not available for us to try out at the launch.

All models, bar the 225i, come standard with a six-speed manual or optional six-speed automatic gearbox. Three trim levels in the form of Standard, Luxury, and Sport are offered, and the M Sport package will be made available later in the year. We did spend time in the 218d (110kW and 330Nm), which will not be available for our market, and the flagship 225i model. The latter, says BMW AG, is powered by a new generation of engines that will debut locally in the facelifted X3, among others.

With a displacement of two litres, the TwinPower turbo engine offers excellent poke when allied to the 8-speed automatic gearbox, which has a conventional gearlever gate instead of the electronic gear stick we have seen in recent models. We drove in the inclement weather of the otherwise picturesque Innsbruck and Sölden regions of Austria - and the vehicle performed well, offering exemplary comfort and good all-round visibility. Hurling it through some switch-back mountain passes gave me an eerie feeling, because the steering bucked in my hands under full load when I accelerated out of corners, something I would not have associated with the BMW brand up to now.

Then again, those buying this vehicle will not be in the least perturbed by this anomaly and are likely to relish other aspects of the model - such as comfort and versatility, which are indeed highlights of the new model. There is also a host of optional items available, including a head-up display that beams all vital info for the driver onto a perspex screen (as in the Peugeot 3008) located on the dash just behind the steering wheel. The screen can be hidden in a slot on the dash at the touch of a button, should the driver wish it.

As younger families look for versatile, lifestyle-oriented vehicles without resorting to something like an SUV, the 2 Series Active Tourer seems more and more like a palatable proposition. Sure, although the Mini Countryman will arguably fit this bill, some may consider it too downmarket to justify the price. In that respect, the 2 Series Active Tourer and, by extension, the Mercedes-Benz B-Class, are likely to cater for this segment of buyers.

Although neither upstages the other, in my opinion, they remain well-put-together offerings that are thoughtfully packaged and will appeal to those looking for a practical and comfortable premium product without the frills.

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-Lerato Matebese