While news of a front-wheel drive BMW MPV may have sent some enthusiast websites into meltdown, you can’t argue with the sales figures. With 8,000 customers expected for the five-seat BMW 2 Series Active Tourer in 2015 (that’s double BMW’s own target), sales are being limited by the factory, which literally can’t make them fast enough.
It seems quite a few fans of the premium German manufacturer were being forced to leave the brand as their family grew, unless they could afford a pricey X5 SUV. Not anymore, and this seven-seat Gran Tourer is even more practical, being a significant 22cm longer than the Active Tourer it’s based on and 5cm taller.
Unlike traditional BMWs with their long bonnets, most of this metal is dedicated to cabin space too, so you have almost as much legroom in the middle row as you’d get in a 7 Series luxury saloon. The middle bench slides forwards and back by 13cm to increase luggage space or knee room, while the two seats in the third row flip-up from the boot floor. I’m 5ft 11in and just managed to sit in one of the rearmost seats, so although it’s mainly for kids, adults could use the third row in a pinch.
Alternatively, you could use the Gran Tourer to move house, or for anything else which requires you to carry huge amounts of stuff. Its boot can swallow between 560 and 1,820 litres, depending how many of the rear seats are folded flat.
Up front, this is the most impressive cabin of any MPV on sale, and I guess it should be considering it’s the only one from a premium manufacturer, unless you count the huge Mercedes V-Class. All the latest BMW design cues and technology are carried over, with a ‘layered’ dashboard design and standard tablet-style sat-nav floating above the centre console.
Trim levels are SE, Sport, Luxury and M Sport, with SE and Luxury models getting a more traditional styling treatment (think chrome trim), while Sport and M Sport models boast more aggressive bumpers and alloy wheels. Starting from £24,710, the entry-level Gran Tourer is well-equipped with the aforementioned navigation, front and rear climate control, DAB digital radio, Bluetooth, auto headlights and wipers and an iDrive controller for the infotainment system.
Sport highlights include 17-inch wheels, black gloss exterior trim and sports seats while M Sport versions have lowered suspension, leather upholstery and bigger wheels again. Of course, there are options too, with a panoramic sunroof, adjustable suspension (Dynamic Damper Control) and a Head-Up Display expected to be popular.
Three diesels are available, with power outputs of 114bhp, 148bhp and 187bhp from the 216d, 218d and 220d respectively. We tried the 216d first, with a three-cylinder 1.5-litre engine surely a recipe for rattily diesel noise? Not at all, BMW has done a fine job of hushing the small diesel, and it can be revved without feeling strained. It feels quicker than its 0-62mph acceleration figure of 11.4 seconds would suggest too, but while we’d hardly describe it as underpowered, you might want to go for one of the 2.0-litre units if you plan on filling all seven seats or towing a heavy trailer. I’m sure 68.9mpg and 108g/km CO2 emissions will be hard for some to resist though.
We also had a quick drive in the 220d xDrive, which has 187bhp and is the only model currently offered with four-wheel drive. Its standard automatic gearbox is quick to react and 0-62mph in 7.8 seconds offers the performance owners of sportier BMW models might expect, while economy of 57.6mpg is still decent.
Petrol engines are a 134bhp 218i three-cylinder turbo as well as the 220i, with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder producing 189bhp and matching the 220d for acceleration.
A runway laid out with a cone slalom and gates for high-speed lane changing manoeuvres suitably demonstrated the ability of the 2 Series Gran Tourer to grip the tarmac and remain stable even in extreme circumstances, and this translates to a feeling of safety on the road.
Refinement comes to the fore, with very little engine or wind noise and pretty good ride comfort, particularly in models with smaller alloy wheels. This isn’t one of the most memorable BMW models to drive, but it is thoroughly competent and it manages to outshine other seven-seat MPVs. If you want to have some fun between school runs, the Gran Tourer should certainly be top of your shopping list.
