BMW 2 Series Active Tourer

The niche small MPV segment only has so few cars. For Mercedes-Benz, they answered with the B-Class. For Audi, they were asleep. And for BMW, it was the Active Tourer. Part of the 2 Series family of Gran Coupe, Coupe and Tourer (The Gran Tourer went out of production. Shame.), it is a member of the compact "luxury" segment. For buyers with a family and a bit more badge-conscious, maybe ditch the small "luxury" sedans and hatchbacks like the A-Class, CLA, A3, 1 Series and 2 Series Gran Coupe and look toward an MPV. Now the word MPV might chase those who attached to the word to the likes of the Citroën C4 Grand Picasso, the Renault Grand Scenic, VW Touran and such, but this is a car of completely different identity. It loses the bloated feel and instead opts for a more sporty, low slung hatchback look which I find to be very sexy. I had this car provided as a courtesy in the form of the 216i M Sport. I find it quite hard in all honesty to find a reason to purchase this variant of car, apart from the badge on the bonnet. Stay with me now, take my advice and opt for the Inspiring, which loses the ever so stiff M Sport suspension and provides more comfort for the family. Neither me nor anyone in the car could bear the stiffness over bumps and uneven roads. I have tried the X1 M Sport and it's the same story. For families, please, please do NOT spec your BMW with M Sport UNLESS you have the option for Adaptive Suspension OR M Adaptive Suspension. This gives you the freedom of choice to choose your dampening to your liking. The 216i feels different from their other compact cars. It is a light car being at 1470kg, which allows for ease of handling. Although advertised as an MPV it certainly shifts you away from the perspective of fat, chunky pieces of metal and more so a sporty hatchback with more space. It gives you the space of an SUV like the X1 in a smaller, nimbler package and the driver's perspective of a sports sedan while also being bigger than its sedan and hatchback counterparts. The rear is where you get all the goodies that a sedan does not. A more flat roofline means more headroom! It also is wider which means a family can fit in more comfortably. There's nothing much more to say. It really is a great alternative to a compact sedan. Good job BMW!... Read More

The BMW 216i Active Tourer offers a modern, tech-rich interior and a practical family-friendly layout, while its engine delivers decent performance for everyday use ... Read More