Test drive BMW 218i Active Tourer: goodbye prejudice

The first van in BMW history and the brand's first front-wheel drive vehicle

Now that the model has been on the market for about a year, passions have died down, and its real advantages increasingly outweigh the imagined disadvantages regarding the philosophical differences between the concept of a car and BMW tradition. The truth is that there is hardly even a BMW fan whose first reaction to the announcement of the Munich company's intentions to create a front-wheel drive van was not associated with some kind of culture shock. And there is no other way - rear-wheel drive has always been and remains part of the DNA of an elite German manufacturer, and the idea of a van coming from a brand whose cars claim to put the joy of driving above all else is, shall we say, strange. . And, not to mention one more "invigorating" detail - the BMW 218i Active Tourer was the first model of the brand to be offered with three-cylinder engines ...

Traditions are changing

However, to be really objective in our assessment of this car, it is necessary to look at the facts as they are, at least for a moment we stop trying to make them what we want or what we think we should be. The truth is that in recent years the undisputed growth of the BMW brand, its values have undergone a series of metamorphoses. Take, for example, the fact that if a few years ago BMW was invariably associated with sporty driving behavior, but not necessarily with refined comfort, today the brand's models successfully combine sporty temperament and superior comfort. Moreover, there are many examples that point to certain BMW models as the benchmark for comfort in their respective market segments. Or the xDrive dual drive, which is now available for almost all model families of the brand and is ordered exclusively by a solid percentage of BMW customers - for example, in our country, about 90 percent of the company's sales come from cars equipped with xDrive. What about niche models like X4, X6, Gran Turismo or Gran Coupe? All of them were initially met with a certain amount of skepticism, but over time they not only established themselves in the market, but also gave us the opportunity to look at the BMW philosophy from positions that we did not even suspect existed. We can continue with more illustrative examples of how traditions change and how this is not always a reason for nostalgia for the past.

The purpose of the assignment

Perhaps the right question we should ask ourselves when evaluating the performance of the 2 Series Active Tourer is not whether BMW really should make a van, but whether this van is worthy of the BMW brand and interprets the brand's classic qualities enough. path. After the first detailed acquaintance with the car, the answer to both questions turned out to be surprisingly short and unambiguous: Yes! Both the exterior and the interior of the car perfectly match the image of BMW - the body design exudes an elegance rarely found in a van, while the interior combines excellent ergonomics, high quality workmanship and plenty of space in a pleasant, cozy atmosphere. The fact that the BMW 218i Active Tourer has a van concept has a positive effect on both the size and functionality of the interior, while the typical disadvantages of this vehicle class in terms of driving position and visibility from the driver's seat remain. avoid completely. Not to mention the exceptionally convenient access to the seats in the car, as well as the rich possibilities of transforming the usable volume in accordance with the needs of the driver and his companions.

Results that exceed expectations

So far so good - only a BMW wouldn't be a real BMW if driving wasn't fun. However, what kind of driving pleasure is a BMW, if it has front-wheel drive, traditionalists will ask. And they are deeply mistaken - in fact, the 2 Series Active Tourer is one of the most enjoyable front-wheel drive models that the modern automotive industry has to offer. The front axle traction is fantastic, the influence of the transmission on the steering is minimal even under full load, the steering is extremely precise - BMW's experience with the MINI obviously helped build this car. Tendency to understeer? Virtually absent - the behavior of the car remains neutral for an extremely long time, and in the event of a sharp change in the load in a turn, the rear part even helpfully helps the driver with a light controlled feed. Here, a BMW can deliver driving pleasure even with front-wheel drive... And if anyone still finds front-wheel drive a BMW unacceptable, many versions of the Series 2 Active Tourer can now be ordered with dual xDrive.

We come to the last contested decision in the Series 2 Active Tourer, the three-cylinder petrol engine. In fact, like other fears about supposedly "dramatic" moments in this car, the prejudice against the 1,5-liter engine turns out to be completely unfounded. With its 136 hp. and a maximum torque of 220 Nm, available at 1250 rpm, the three-cylinder unit provides quite satisfactory temperament for a car weighing about 1,4 tons. The car accelerates with ease to the accompaniment of a characteristic muffled growl, vibration is reduced to the minimum achievable for this type of engine, and the sound remains restrained even at high highway speeds. The interaction with the six-speed automatic transmission is harmonious, and fuel consumption is in a reasonable range of seven to seven and a half liters per hundred kilometers.

CONCLUSION

BMW with front wheel drive? And the van ?! In fact, the end result is amazing!

Apparently, the initial concerns that BMW was selling a front-wheel drive van were unnecessary. The Series 2 Active Tourer is an extremely enjoyable vehicle to drive, boasting plenty of interior space and great functionality in addition to an active driving style. The car will no doubt attract a substantial number of new customers to BMW – and it's understandable why it's already among the brand's best-selling models in certain markets.

Text: Bozhan Boshnakov

Photo: Melania Yosifova, BMW