STILL LEADING FROM THE FRONT
New Active Tourer has many features from BMW’s premium models and will remain a jewel in its crown
“You can’t put a front-wheel drive on a BMW, “screamed the purists.
“Oh yes we can,” said BMW and it did. To the purists’ surprise, the Active Tourer with front-wheel drive became a huge success
And now it’s back, far better than before and with so much kit and so many systems on board that its delightful headlights are almost watering.
What made the first Active Tourer so successful? It filled a need. Families who wanted the BMW badge found in the Tourer exactly the Beemer required for everyday life with children, school, after- school stuff and weekend demands. It welcomed them with open doors and they still had a premium German car sitting in the driveway.
Now the new model is upon us – more of a crossover – and BMW has played a blinder. It’s still a front-wheel drive but with new architecture so that in the future the same body will accommodate hybrid and presumably electric versions. It is slightly higher, longer and wider than the previous model but the exterior remains very much a BMW.
There’s a beautiful kidney grille with a radar sensor if you want to add in driver assistance systems, elongated headlights and some lovely slim light units at the rear.
Inside, it takes its wonderful new curved screens straight from the company’s premium models and the glass lines are slim and uncluttered.
Unnecessary buttons have been removed for a sleek and plush look and the interior trim in the Luxury version I was driving was open- pore f ine eucalyptus wood, which contrasted beautifully with the Sanremo Green of the exterior – the colours of nature. The interior has been completely redesigned and the new Active Tourer has been the lucky recipient of many features other models covet due to the delight with which BMW bosses have regarded its success.
There is a new gear selector, My Modes (activating personal, sport and efficient), and a tray for your smartphone. The seats are newly developed with lumbar support and massage functions in all models and luggage capacity can be expanded from 415 litres to 1405 with the seats down.
The Active Tourer is the first compact model to get BMW’s new-generation operating system and updates can be sent down the line on a variety of features.
There are three trim levels, Sport, Luxury and M Sport, and three engines – one 2.0-litre diesel and two petrol, a 2.0-litre delivering 218hp and the 220i 1.5-litre I was driving offering 170hp. Both are mild hybrids, helped along the way by a 48V battery.
The 220i is the entry level and is light and nimble on its feet. It is immediately responsive, making driving a pleasure, and the feeling of airiness as you spin along is enhanced by the double panoramic roof.
At junctions, the sat nav’s augmented reality comes into play with real-time video and arrows showing you the way.
It’s all helped by systems such as Automatic Speed Limit Assist and Cruise Control with brake function standard across the range.
The Active Tourer may have begun life as a quirky idea in some engineer’s eye but it has ended up as one of the jewels in BMW’s crown, a position this model is likely to retain.