Announced as BMW also reveals new 109g/km engines for its 5 Series and for its 4 Series, the new 2 Series Active Tourer marks the company's first front-wheel drive car and first use of three-cylinder engines.

The model offers compact dimensions of just 4,342mm long (only marginally longer than a BMW 1 Series), 1,800mm wide and 1,555mm in height, making it slightly shorter, wider and lower than the rivalling Mercedes B-Class.

Boot space is 468 litres rising to 1,510, with a flat loading floor and a 40:20:40 split-folding rear backrest fitted as standard. To add to its MPV practicality, there’s also a sliding rear seat, allowing either knee room or luggage space to be increased as required, while the backrest can be adjusted to recline for the three rear seats or sit more upright for extra luggage space.

In line with the move to front-wheel drive, the 2 Series Active Tourer features a newly developed chassis. There’s also optional electronically controlled dampers, which offer a choice of two different chassis settings.

The initial engine line-up includes a brand-new 134bhp three-cylinder diesel engine seen in the MINI and offering CO2 emissions of 115g/km plus a combined fuel figure of 57.6mpg for the six-speed manual and six-speed automatic.

There’s also a 148bhp four-cylinder diesel engine with 109g/km and 68.9mpg combined in six-speed manual and offering the same CO2 with the optional eight-speed auto.

Joining the line-up after launch will be the higher-power 225i with xDrive four-wheel-drive alongside 220i, 220d and 220d xDrive Active Tourer models and a sub-100g/km 216d version.

Standard specification for the model will include automatic tailgate, two-zone automatic air conditioning, rear Park Distance Control, BMW Emergency Call, 40:20:40 split folding rear seat with electronic folding functionality and 60:40 sliding rear bench. 



Sport models gain 17-inch Sport alloy wheels, Sport front seats, LED ambient lighting, Black High-gloss trim and Sport exterior styling enhancements and cost £1,250 over the SE specification.



Luxury models build on this with 17-inch Luxury alloy wheels, Dakota leather upholstery, LED ambient lighting, Chromeline exterior, Fineline Stream wood trim and Luxury enhancements to exterior styling. Luxury models cost £2,000 over an SE.


From November the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer will be available in M Sport specification, priced at £3,000 premium over the SE. This includes 18-inch M Sport alloy wheels, Dakota leather upholstery, High-gloss Shadowline exterior trim, Aluminium hexagon interior trim, M Sport aerodynamic styling, M Sport suspension and M Sport interior styling enhancements as standard.

Prices for the initial models start at £22,150 for the 218i SE Active Tourer and £24,205 for the 218d SE Active Tourer.

Books are open for customer orders now, with first deliveries expected on 27th September 2014.