How was it with the mother of the porcelain box? Oh yes, she wants to be treated with care. The people of Munich seem to have come to terms with the facelift of the BMW 2er Active Tourer and its stretched-out brother, the BMW 2er Gran Tourer. You have to look closely to find the differences to the predecessor. A few new paint colors here, new rims there and the facelift is done? Is it really that easy or is there more behind the model maintenance?
About 380.000 copies of the not typical BMW are said to have been sold since its market launch in the year 2014. A van from BMW? Since the cry was great at the time, but the sales figures give the Bavarian right. But not all the bright sunshine in the BMW 2er Active Tourer is: The main bearings of the three-cylinder engines were limp, so that an engine failure was the result - often even after a low mileage. The know-it-alls, who see only the silky inline six-cylinder engines as the real driving force behind a BMW, will feel confirmed. But now the facelift is on the plan and wants to do better. "Look!" The Bavarian would say.
Optics - Very subtle retouching
The people of Munich say that the 2 Series Active Tourer has been given a new front section, but you have to look twice to see it. The bow is now adorned with a wide, continuous air inlet in the lower area. In addition, the van now has a more present kidney and should thus dominate a sporty but elegant appearance for a van. Well, it is and remains a compact van ...
Another new feature is the luminaire design for the optional LED and adaptive LED headlamps, which feature a glare-free high beam. The double round headlights are now hexagonal and thus a little more present. In addition, BMW includes with this design on the remaining models of the portfolio. Oh yes, one more thing: the fog lights have also been redesigned and are designed in LED technology. Not baffled? OK, me neither.
The same applies to the rear of the Bavarian spaceship, which has been given a new rear apron, which should emphasize the width. Enlarged tailpipes - in the three-cylinder engines with only one tailpipe - are intended to further emphasize the dynamic character of the 2er Active Tourer. For the four-cylinders, after all, two flutes should let out the exhaust fumes, so that one can actually speak of dynamics. The Active Tourer with the optional M Sport package is even better off and looks a bit beefier and wider with the facelift.
Typical facelift: new exterior colors. If the "Juraco Beige" is more likely to satisfy an older clientele, you can probably see the new, bold "Sunset Orange" more often on the official photos than on the registered cars. Also a classic remedy for a facelift are new alloy wheels, which are available in the format 17 to 19 inch.
Interior - familiar with slight refresher
What really stands out is the new, higher-quality interior materials and the new seat covers in the BMW 2er Active Tourer and Gran Tourer. They are now covered with a mixture of "fabric Sensatec" and leather and leave a pleasant impression. Also changed was the shift knob of the Steptronic, which is now designed as a purely electronic gear selector lever. Let's take a quick detour into the technology drawer: the BMW 2er Active Tourer with three gearboxes is available. You can choose between a six-speed manual transmission, an 7-gear Steptronic and an 8 gear-steptronic. If the latter is reserved for the 220d and 225i xDrive models only, behind the 7 Steptronic gearbox is a dual-clutch gearbox.
But back to the interior: for the second half of life, the latest-generation iDrive system comes into its own, with optional navigation systems equipped with 6,5 and 8,8 inch screen diagonals. Operation is not only with the iDrive controller with touch-screen, but also via the touch screen and voice control. In addition, the 2er Active Tourer is highly networked and offers the BMW ConnectedDrive Services - of course only against significant surcharges. Those who want to afford it, drive with real-time traffic information or the time-to-leave function on the ravages of time. In addition, destinations can be shared via an app, the web or the calendar. Of course, the now common smartphone integration via Apple CarPlay is also available. Depending on the corresponding mobile terminal this can be charged inductively. And as befits a BMW, the 2er Active Tourer also offers numerous assistants. These include the Active Cruise Control with adaptive cruise control or a traffic jam assistant.
Engines - The 2er Active Tourer remains true to the three-cylinder
Yes, the three-cylinder engines had their problems. But with the now installed latest generation, they should be a thing of the past. All gasoline engines have been extensively modified, including a new crankshaft, optimized thermal management, valve train and boost. As three-cylinder models are the 216i with 109 PS and the 218i with 140 PS ready, each having the well-known 1.5 liter displacement. The four-cylinder start with the 220i with 192 PS, a 2.0 liter four-cylinder, and find their master in the 225i xDrive with emphatic 231 PS. A special feature is still the plug-in hybrid 225xe iPerformance. Its electric range is 45 km, the system performance is 224 PS, while the combined consumption on 100 km should be only 2,3 to 2,5 liter.
The start into the diesel world of the Active Tourer takes place with the 216d with 116 PS, which uses 1.5 liter cubic capacity from three combustion chambers. Its consumption should be in modest 4,3 liters in the third mix. The 218d, which is also available with xDrive, gets its power - sufficient 150 PS - from 2.0 liters and four combustion chambers. Topdiesel is the 220d, also optionally available with xDrive, with 190 PS and 2.0 liters cubic capacity. This, like all other diesels, uses a diesel particulate filter, NoX storage and an SCR system. The latter means a urea injection, which reduces nitrogen oxides in the exhaust gas. In addition, TwinTurbo loaders should ensure a better response of the diesel engine. With all the measures one can assume that the Bavarians got the motor difficulties under control. The eternally yesterday but will probably continue to swear on the straight-six and abjure the progress.