Item: BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer
Rating: 3
Author: What Car? Team

BMW 2 Series Active Tourer

BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer

Citroën C4 Spacetourer

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Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Costs & verdict

The 2 Series Gran Tourer looks expensive, but the high-quality interior, good standard equipment and comparatively clean and frugal engines work in its favour. The fact that space in the third row is poor does not.

Its most obvious rivals are expensive versions of Volkswagen’s Touran and Citroën’s C4 Spacetourer, but BMW doesn't think these cars attract the same buyers; we agree, because the 2 Series Gran Tourer is noticeably plusher. As a result, the 2 Series Gran Tourer seems a bit of a niche and, ultimately, you need a very specific set of requirements for this car to make sense.

If you're looking for seven seats and all-wheel drive, more expensive models are priced alongside cars such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/discovery-sport/4x4/review/n17358">Land Rover Discovery Sport</a>. That car has similar space for seven people, a high-quality interior and is far better off road.

Meanwhile, large MPVs such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/touran/mpv/review/n17348">Touran</a> can be specced to a level classy enough for most while offering considerably more space and practicality.

Although not as strong as the 218d or 220d, the three-cylinder 216d will probably make the most sense to the majority of private and company car drivers. It emits the least CO2 and uses the least fuel, while also being the cheapest way into a diesel 2 Series Gran Tourer. Just remember that if you regularly carry plenty of people or clutter, you might want a bit more poke. With that in mind, we’d suggest stretching to a 218d if you can.

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The 220d diesel doesn't feel as punchy as it does in some other BMW cars but, even when the car is fully laden, it produces enough torque low down that the eight-speed automatic gearbox doesn’t have to shuffle down too many cogs for you to make progress. Refinement is good, but not quite as impressive as the 2.0 TDI unit found in the Volkswagen Touran.

We’d recommend the slightly less punchy 218d, however. It’s not quite as quick, but it’s significantly cheaper to buy and has more than enough punch to cope with a full load.

With a little less weight to shift and a smidge more power at its top end, the 220i petrol feels sprightlier. However, with less torque to call on, the auto 'box is more eager to change down in search of higher revs. The petrol is easily the more refined, though, staying quieter when worked hard and sending less vibration back through the controls.

The 218i, meanwhile, feels very refined for a three-cylinder engine and pulls the considerable weight of the 2 Series Gran Tourer very well. It's quiet, sends few tremors through the steering wheel and pedals, but is punchy when needed. Likewise, the three-cylinder 216d diesel is refined and smooth, but can feel a little overstretched when faced with extended inclines. For the extra power and stability that it brings, the 220d in xDrive form is about as good as it gets, although it is the most expensive option in the range.

The eight-speed automatic gearbox on the 220d is slick between changes and smooth around town. The seven-speed dual-clutch unit that’s available on other models is smooth on the move but can be jerky around town. As for the manual, it’s easy enough to use but doesn’t have the nicest shift around. Wind noise is fairly well contained, but coarse surfaces do generate an awful lot of road noise.

We’ve tried the 2 Series Gran Tourer's standard suspension set-up, as well as the optional adaptive dampers, with both versions riding on 18in alloy wheels. The standard suspension keeps the body in better check in tight turns, but the trade-off is a sharp ride over broken roads.

Stiffening the adaptive dampers in Sport mode brings similar results, but there's more body lean in bends than with the standard suspension. Slackening the dampers to Comfort mode improves initial bump absorption but allows the body to move about more through bends, as well as over undulating roads and camber changes.

Ultimately, the 2 Series Gran Tourer's steering feels just as precise as the Active Tourer’s – light to the touch but weighting up quickly in the corners – and its front end just as agile, but you're always aware that the body following it is taller and heavier. At sensible speeds along winding roads, it's better than most seven-seaters, but it starts to feel out of its depth sooner than the five-seat model.

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BMW caused quite a stir when it deviated from its iconic rear-wheel drive layout with the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/2-series/hatchback/review/n78">2 Series Active Tourer</a>. This 2 Series Gran Tourer is essentially an extended version of that car, taking the seat count from five to seven.

Buyers have a choice between two petrol engines and three diesel ones, and the 2 Series Gran Tourer is somewhat unique among its premium rivals in offering all-wheel drive, too.

Read on for our full review on what the 2 Series Gran Tourer is like to drive, what it’s like inside and how much it’ll cost to buy and run versus its rivals. And, if you’ve decided you want one, head to our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/configure/bmw/2-series/estate/">deals page</a> to make sure you’re getting the best prices.

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The 2 Series Gran Tourer has the same large split front pillars as its Active Tourer sibling; from the driver's perspective, front three-quarter visibility isn't great at junctions. However, over-the-shoulder view is much better and rear parking sensors are standard.

The fact that the pedals are slightly offset to the right on manual versions means a slightly awkward driving position that can be tiring on long trips. Our test cars’ electronic driver's seat adjustment and manual steering wheel adjustment were very good, though. Aside from some cheap-feeling switchgear that many BMWs suffer from, interior quality is impressive.

Our cars were also fitted with BMW's optional iDrive Professional system, which remains one of the best on the market. Its bright screen, intuitive menus and simple rotary controller make the system a joy to use on the move. That said, our experience of the standard iDrive system suggests it’s every bit as user-friendly, if not quite as nice to look at.

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Estate

Munich-based BMW is most famous for its sports saloons, in particular the 3 Series and 5 Series. However, it actually builds almost every type of car imaginable: everything from two-seat convertibles to seven-seat MPVs.

The cheapest model in the BMW range is the 1 Series hatchback, which is a rival to the Audi A3, Mercedes-Benz A-Class and Volkswagen Golf. Meanwhile, at the other extreme is the i8 plug-in hybrid sports car, which costs more than £100,000.

BMW was also quick to capitalise on the rise of the SUV and now has six in its range: the X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 and X6.

All of this makes it one of the big three German prestige brands, along with Audi and Mercedes-Benz.

2 SERIES

The BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer has frugal engines, but there are far more spacious MPVs for the money

To ensure there's room for everyone, BMW has made the 2 Series Gran Tourer longer and taller than the Active Tourer model. Included in that additional length is an extra 11cm between the front and rear wheels.

As a result, this car has a decent amount of front space for tall adults and enough room for two more in the middle row, provided the seatbases are slid as far back as possible along their 13cm range – a feature that’s optional on SE and M Sport models but standard for the rest of the range.

Access to the middle row is good, thanks to rear doors that open wide. However, seating three adults abreast will be as much of a squeeze as it is in the Active Tourer; the Gran Tourer is no wider inside and lacks three individual middle-row seats.

The sixth and seventh seats can be pulled up from the boot floor using one hand and can be accessed easily by folding down and sliding forward an outside middle-row seat. However, you won't want to be in there for long as an adult. Shoulder room is good, and they are individual seats, but even for teenagers head, leg and foot room are very tight.

On models fitted with a sliding bench, you can push the middle row forward to free up knee room for the rearmost occupants but, if you’re an adult, by the time you'd be happy there's very little space left for the passengers directly in front.

With the third row folded away and the middle row slid right back, there's a 560-litre boot that has a wide opening, a flush boot lip and a usefully square shape. Sliding the middle row forward increases boot space to 720 litres but decreases leg room.

The middle-row seats can be folded in a 40/20/40 configuration and, when down, they lie almost flat. This can be done electronically using buttons on the boot walls (standard on Luxury and Sport, optional on other models). This feature works well and increases boot space to 1820 litres. The front passenger seat can also be folded flat to leave a load bay that’s 2.6m long, as long as you avoid the electric seat option.

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The BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer has frugal engines, but there are far more spacious MPVs for the money

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Plenty of space for all the family and their paraphernalia</li> <li>Comfortable ride for everyone inside</li> <li>Seats with plenty of adjustment and versatility of layout</li> <li>Engine that can cope with a full load of people and luggage</li> <li>Excellent efficiency to avoid big fuel bills</li></ul>

Practicality is king in the MPV market, which has taken a hit as buyers have turned towards trendier SUVs. There are still plenty of decent offerings to suit most budgets, though, with Citroën fielding a particularly strong line-up. The French manufacturer’s Berlingo offers bags of space for not much money and you can easily haggle off thousands of extra pounds in discounts, too.

Citroën also scores with the larger Grand C4 Spacetourer, which offers seven seats, lots of oddment space and appealing running costs for something so large. A similarly priced and even better option is the Volkswagen Touran. Meanwhile, if you prefer a premium badge, there's always the BMW 2 Series Active and Gran Tourers or Mercedes B-Class and V-Class.

But for something sizeable that's still decent to drive, we’d recommend you check out the Ford Galaxy, which can offer three rows of seats and decent luggage space at the same time. It’s not that much pricier than the smaller S-Max.

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