Used car check
BMW 2 Series Active Tourer – the van for the sports fan
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The first examples of the first BMW 2 Series Active Tourer have been on the road for ten years now. Accordingly, the sporty van is now available for little money. That should be money well spent.
The BMW 2 Series Active Tourer is one of the last compact vans in Germany, but it costs at least 36,000 euros new. It might be worth taking a look at the used market, because the previous generation, which was offered from 2014 to 2021, can be had second-hand for under 7,000 euros. According to the TÜV report 2024, it is a solid model. However, age-related quirks can also increase over the years.
Quality
The 2 Series Gran Tourer is BMW's alternative to the SUV.
(Photo: BMW)
The first BMW on a front-wheel drive platform has hardly any weaknesses, at least as a young used car, and shows fewer defects in the MOT than the average for the segment. However, from an age of four to five years, the level of defects rises above the average for the segment, as the TÜV report analysis shows. The reason: the vans fail the emissions test comparatively often. While the brakes are often still OK on seven-year-old models, defects in the steering joints also occur more frequently from this age. If you search for defects in Internet forums, you will also find references to rattling panoramic roofs, confusing navigation instructions and rust on the edges of the doors.
Body and interior
The workplace in the BMW van is sporty and also quite elegantly furnished.
(Photo: BMW)
The 2 Series Active Tourer, introduced in 2014, may not look quite as fresh anymore, but the small version in particular still looks pleasingly dynamic for a van. The Tourer's high-quality interior also offers plenty of space and the variability typical of the segment. Despite the wide cardan tunnel, the space behind the front seats can be used in many different ways with a trunk that can be expanded to 1455 liters. This is once again true of the “Gran Tourer” version, which is almost 20 centimeters longer at around 4.60 meters and has a luggage compartment that holds 1905 liters.
Engines and drive
The rear of the Gran Tourer is particularly spacious.
(Photo: BMW)
The 2 Series Van is based on a front-wheel drive platform with optional all-wheel drive technology. The entry-level engine is an 80 kW/109 hp 1.5-liter three-cylinder petrol engine, which does not quite live up to the van's dynamic and active driving demands. The 103 kW/140 hp variant is significantly faster, and above that two 2.0-liter four-cylinder engines with 141 kW/192 hp and 170 kW/231 hp make the 2 Series the most dynamic among family cars.
The diesels are not lacking in power either: the 2.0-liter four-cylinder engines produce 110 kW/150 hp and 140 kW/190 hp, and even the efficient 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine, with 85 kW/116 hp, is still decently powered for this class. From 2018, there will also be a plug-in hybrid version with 165 kW/224 hp and more than 50 kilometers of electric range, which can now be had used for under 15,000 euros. The power transmission in the more powerful Active Tourers is via automatic transmissions with six to seven gears, while manual transmissions are available for the weaker versions 216i and 218i as well as 214d, 216d and 218d.
Equipment and safety
The BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer offers space for up to seven passengers and plenty of luggage.
(Photo: BMW)
BMW offers a wide range of equipment options for the 2 Series Active Tourer. The basic model includes air conditioning, an audio system with hands-free system and alloy wheels (except for the two entry-level engines). There are also four preconfigured lines: “Advantage” offers mainly technology, “Sport Line” and “M Sport” focus on a dynamic exterior and sports seats, and the “Luxury Line” includes leather seats and similar amenities. If you want extras such as an electric tailgate, LED headlights, an adaptive chassis or roof rails, you have to look specifically for them.
Six airbags ensure safety in all variants, and various assistants are available on request – from lane keeping to emergency braking systems. In the 2014 Euro NCAP crash test, it received five out of five possible stars.
Conclusion
The 2 Series Tourer is not only sportier and more elegant than the average family van, it is also technically as sophisticated as a premium car should be. Accordingly, even the oldest models from 2014 often still command five-figure sums. The cheapest models are already on offer for under 7,000 euros. There are currently almost 2,500 models on offer at Mobile.de.
