BMW 2 Series Active Tourer Review 2015

Building and selling cars is a bit like playing poker. You make an opening bet, in this case the Benz B-Class, then wait for someone to see you or raise the stakes with a new and improved model of their own.

Sitting steely-eyed across the table BMW is about to bet the house on a car it reckons is better again, the 2 Series Active Tourer - a large stretched hatch that could be described as a mini people mover if it had a third row of seats.

We had a peek at BMW's hand when we drove the new addition to the 2 Series range this week at the international launch in Austria.

FRONT WHEEL DRIVE

The company that is synonymous with rear wheel drive has finally succumbed. The 2 Series Tourer is BMW's first ever front-wheel drive car but one it claims still deserves to wear the badge.

While it might not be the "ultimate driving machine" the Tourer is at the very least something you wouldn't mind being seen if the family requires something a little more versatile.

Why the sudden change of direction? Put simply front-wheel drive cars are cheaper to build and offer some practical advantages, but perhaps most importantly BMW really had no choice.

The company could not continue to hand this slice of the business to its rivals on a plate - Benz and Audi have been happily building front-wheel drive vehicles for some time.

WHAT'S THE DOWNSIDE?

For those that enjoy driving, a "fronty" is just not as fun to drive. The sensation of being pulled rather than pushed along by the wheels coupled with the feel from the steering wheel is not as satisfying.

And, once you lose it in a front-wheel drive car and by that we mean when it begins to plough straight through a corner, a situation known technically as understeer - there's no getting it back.

Recent advances in technology, such as electronic stability control, largely prevent this from happening - so it's not such an issue these days.

It can also be a challenge in front-wheel drive vehicles to get power to ground without the tyres breaking traction and squirming from side to side under full acceleration, a process known as torque steer - a scenario exacerbated by wet roads.

THREE-CYLINDER POWER

You heard right. Just like the Mini which BMW also builds the Tourer starts life with a 1.5-litre three cylinder petrol engine - albeit a turbocharged one.

There will three models from launch with a fourth to be added early next year. The three cylinder 218i delivers 100kW of power and 220Nm of torque and is paired with a 6-speed automatic, with fuel consumption that is rated at 5.2 litres/100km.

Next comes the 218d 2.0-litre turbo diesel with 110kW and 330Nm, with an 8-speed auto that consumes a miserly 4.2 litres/100km.

Topping off the range is the 225i with a 2.0-litre four cylinder petrol turbo that pumps out 170kW and 350Nm, also with an 8-speed auto that consumes 6.1 litres/100km.

They will be joined in the first half of the new year by the 220i, with 135kW and 270Nm, with an 8-speed auto (no fuel consumption figures yet).

All come with automatic stop-start which shuts down the engine at the lights to save fuel.

BECAUSE SIZE MATTERS

BMW says it could not have achieved the same proportions using rear wheel drive. Because the engine is turned sideways and does not need to be connected to the rear wheels, a front wheel drive system consumes less space.

This means more room for occupants, more legroom for rear passengers and more room for luggage. With seating for five and a coveted high driving position, the new Tourer is surprisingly spacious; at 4342mm long, 1800mm wide and 1555mm high, with a wheelbase of 2670mm.

If more luggage space is required the rear seat slides forward and the seat backs fold flat at the flick of a switch - there's a power tailgate as standard too.

It comes as no surprise that these dimensions are almost identical to those of the B-Class, but the Benz has slightly more luggage space.

WHEN AND HOW MUCH?

The 2 Series Active Tourer when it arrives in November will be priced from $44,400.

That gets you the three cylinder 218i in Sports Line trim, followed by the diesel 218d Sports Line at $47,800 and the four cylinder turbo petrol 225i for $54,900 - the latter in Luxury Line. More models are set to follow including a longer, seven seat version.

Standard kit includes climate air, faux leather, 17 inch alloys, daytime running lights, auto lights, wipers and rear view mirror, park assist with front and rear parking sensors, plus safety features like emergency SOS, rear view camera, auto high beam, auto city braking, lane departure warning and forward collision warning.

BMW's starting price is $3500 more than the entry level B-Class, but the Munich-based manufacturer argues its car is more dynamic and better equipped.

Note however the B-CLass is about to receive a major facelift that is expected to address any shortcomings.

DRIVING FEEBACK

You can't beat bad luck. After travelling halfway around the world it promptly bucketed down.

BMW was keen to show off the superiour dynamics of the car, but that's something of a challenge with the tyres threatening to break traction in the wet conditions.

We got to drive the 218d diesel and 225i petrol models. Perhaps the most interesting of the lot, the three cylinder petrol version was not on offer (car companies want to put their best foot forward).

BMW says it has leveraged the experince it has gained in the development of the front-wheel drive Mini over the past 10 years. In fact the two cars sit on the same new platform which we are told will spawn up to 12 Beemers and 10 variations of the Mini.

In spite of the prevailing rain we managed to find one interesting stretch of road with little traffic that wound its way up a picturesque valley through numerous tunnels.

Surprisingly it was the diesel that was the most convincing of the pair, quiet and confident in an unhurried, self assured way.

The 225i although it was punchier and sounded better was flighty in the atrocious weather condtions. Maybe, had the road been dry, the result might have been different.