The BMW 2 Series Active Tourer is a compact five-seater MPV that gives you the tech, quality and driving appeal you associate with BMW in a car that’s family-friendly yet no larger than most mid-size hatchbacks.
The 2 Series Active Tourer was introduced in 2014 as BMW’s first-ever MPV (Multi Purpose Vehicle). That first-generation version was sold until 2021 and a brand-new version has been available since 2022 with updated engines and BMW’s latest on-board tech. You can spot the latest car by its bigger front grille, slimmer headlights and smoother look overall.
There are, in fact, two different 2 Series Tourer models: the seven-seat Gran Tourer and the five-seat Active Tourer, which we’re looking at here. Both the first-generation and the latest versions are available with petrol, diesel or plug-in hybrid power, manual or automatic gearboxes and two- or four-wheel drive (which BMW calls xDrive). There are lots of trim levels to choose from – the plush Luxury and sporty M Sport are the most popular.
Every 2 Series Active Tourer is very well-equipped, with several features included as standard including sat nav, two-zone air con, cruise control, rear parking sensors and an electrically powered tailgate. The infotainment system in many models supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Luxury trim level adds leather upholstery, wood-effect dashboard trim and heated front seats; the sporty-looking M Sport has bigger wheels, deeper bumpers and a rear spoiler.
The 2 Series Active Tourer is very fuel-efficient compared with many MPVs. Looking at the first-generation version, the official figures show petrol models can give you an average fuel economy of 40mpg to 55mpg with carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of 119g/km to 152g/km; diesels models can give you 50mpg to 74mpg and CO2 emissions of 99g/km to 148g/km.
The early plug-in hybrid version has an official average of 134mpg to 166mpg, with CO2 emissions of 38g/km to 49g/km and a battery-only range of just over 30 miles.
Although the latest petrol and diesel versions of the Active Tourer give you similar figures to the first-generation model, the newer plug-in hybrid is much more efficient, with an official average of more than 400mpg and a maximum battery-only range of more than 50 miles.
Being a premium-brand car, the 2 Series Active Tourer does cost more than most other small MPVs, but you get so many features that it’s actually decent value.
The Mercedes-Benz B-Class is the only other premium-brand small MPV but you may also want to consider the Volkswagen Golf SV, the Ford C-MAX and the Citroen C4 Picasso. They’re all pretty closely matched for practicality and efficiency, but the BMW feels particularly good to drive and has the most-upmarket interior.
Both versions of the 2 Series Active Tourer have a similar amount of passenger space and there’s loads of it. Four people who are six feet tall will fit with room to stretch out, and three children can sit comfortably on the back seat. Even if you’re six-feet-five you should have sufficient headroom and legroom in the front. There are two sets of Isofix mounts on the back seat and installing child seats is easy because the doors open wide.
The back seat slides forwards and backwards, allowing you to alter the ratio of back seat legroom and boot space according to your needs. Both versions have similar-size boots, around 470 litres – hybrid models lose some space to their batteries, so plug-in hybrids have around 415 litres. Regardless, there’s more than enough capacity for most people’s needs, whether you’re taking the dog for a more rural walk or going on a family holiday. The back seats fold down if you need to carry anything really big, like a fridge.
The 2 Series Tourer models – the five-seat Active Tourer and seven-seat Gran Tourer – are the only MPVs ever made by BMW, so they’re unique in the brand’s range. The Active Tourer is only a few centimetres longer than the 1 Series hatchback, but quite a bit taller. It’s slightly smaller than the BMW’s X1 SUV.
Both versions of the 2 Series Active Tourer scored a full five-star safety rating when assessed by safety organisation Euro NCAP. The MPVs scored high marks for protecting passengers in a crash and for their driver-safety features. The first-generation version has automatic emergency braking on all models; some are fitted with extra features like lane-departure warning. The latest version comes with those and a lot more besides, including adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist and speed-limit recognition.
You can get the 2 Series Active Tourer with plug-in hybrid (PHEV) power, using a petrol engine. The first-generation 225xe can be driven from 25 to 35 miles on battery power alone and its CO2 emissions are 46g/km to 57g/km, depending which model you get. The latest 225e and 230e (the latter is more powerful) emit around 15g/km of CO2 and have a battery-powered range of 55 miles or so.
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