from Sepp Reitberger on 02/23/2022
A new generation of the 2 Series Active Tourer is coming onto the market: with the popular large kidney grille, the proportions of a compact car and refreshed technology, it is intended to appeal to even more buyers. As a plug-in hybrid, the 2 Series is now reaching completely new performance levels. EFAHRER.com was already able to drive the car in Spain.
BMW has sold over 400,000 units of the first generation of the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer. This is hard to digest, especially for die-hard BMW fans who reject everything about the vehicle: the family-friendly van layout with the associated proportions, the three-cylinder engines and the front-wheel drive. In fact, the atypical BMW model gained many new atypical BMW buyers precisely with this.
BMW AGThe new generation finally charges with 7.4 kW.
The atypical BMW is a bestseller
By far the best-selling model of the first generation was the 225xe plug-in variant, which accounted for almost 50 percent, and which with the facelift in 2018 displaced the previously offered 225i variant. The 225xe was particularly attractive due to the all-wheel drive and the dynamic driving behavior that is not typical for vans.
With the new edition of the 2 Series Active Tourer, which BMW is bringing to the showrooms in spring, we were particularly excited about the update of the plug-in hybrid versions – the plural stands for two cars, which are now called 225e xDrive and 230e xDrive .
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BMW AGBig mouth, variability: In the new Active Tourer, the plug-in battery is located under the floor instead of under the trunk. That creates space.
BMW 225e and 230e: more power and more range
Both model variants basically follow the same principle as the previous model. The three-cylinder petrol engine with a displacement of 1.5 liters sits under the front hood. In the 225, this has, as before, 100 kW (136 hp) and the 230e has 110 kW (150 hp). The electric motor for the hybrid drive is located on the rear axle and contributes 80 kW of power in the 225 series and a whopping 130 kW in the 230 series. BMW specifies 180 kW (245 hp) as the system output and 240 kW (326 hp) for the top model. In comparison, the 65 kW of the electric drive in the predecessor seems like an economy motorization.
For the maximum twice as powerful electric motor, which, like the motors in the iX and i4, belongs to BMW’s fifth generation of electric machines, the Munich-based company has a much larger battery with a capacity of 18 kWh (previously 10 kWh) with a maximum charging capacity of 7 .4 kW (previously 3.7) are planned. Instead of under the trunk and the seat, the battery in the new model is under the vehicle floor. This is good for the trunk volume (now 406 liters, just like the combustion models) and the variability, but costs the plug-in models a little seating comfort for tall people in the back seat.
Incidentally, all new Active Tourers are offered exclusively with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Manual transmissions are no longer available even with the basic combustion engines.
In the first announcements about the new models, BMW still spoke of “at least 80 km electric range” according to the WLTP standard. With the first drive, BMW let the cat out of the bag: a smooth 90 km were recorded. The 2-series Active Tourer leaves the previous compact top-class A250e from Mercedes (68 km range) far behind.
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BMW AGThe new BMW steering wheel has a very thick rim and fewer buttons.
Refined chassis for comfort and agility
For the driving impression we first had the opportunity to test the new chassis and the intelligent control of the recuperation in the new 223i with four-cylinder engine, 48-volt mild hybrid technology and 160 kW (218 hp). The test cars were equipped with the M-Sport package and the associated intelligent damping. Instead of active control options, the Active Tourer now has so-called frequency-dependent dampers. To put it very simply, the dampers remain soft during fast movements (e.g. on bad roads), but the dampers harden against the comparatively slow changes in force when cornering.
The effect of this technology is amazing: despite the 18-inch tires, the 2-series rolls very smoothly and comfortably over the lower-level roads in the hinterland of Marbella. When cornering fast, however, it doesn’t feel like a van at all. With very little body roll and excellent traction, the Active Tourer always feels like it wants to go even faster.
However, if you overdo it, you will get to know one of the car’s weaknesses: the steering is pleasantly direct, but there is hardly any feedback about road contact. If the car understeers, it can be quite irritating.
Even the mild hybrid uses intelligent recuperation control (which is modest at a maximum of 0.075 g): The drive coasts whenever possible, which means that when you let go of the gas, the car continues to roll without resistance. This changes when, for example, a speed limit is recognized or predicted via the navigation system, when a tight bend is approaching, or of course when the distance to the car in front decreases. What feels like a governess-like intervention in the driver’s decisions has become completely natural and intuitive after a few kilometers.
Drive and software components from iX and i4
After switching to the 230e, which is available for testing, everything feels very much the same as in the mild hybrid. The delay when recuperating is twice as intense (maximum 0.15 g) and correspondingly more effective. The intelligence behind the control is just as convincing as with the large iX and makes the always strongly recuperating mode “B” of the driving control completely superfluous.
In normal and efficiency mode, the 230e drives purely electrically in most situations. The dashboard uses a display element to show how much electrical power reserve is still available. If you keep an eye on this, you can drive almost exclusively electrically even in hybrid mode – here we like the active accelerator pedals that are common in the hybrid luxury class, but much better. A clearly noticeable counter-pressure before activating the combustion engine is more intuitive than a display. Of course, the new Active Tourer also has a purely electric drive program. However, it is a bit cumbersome to activate it via the touch display – the previous model had a dedicated button for electric mode.
The full possible electrical output of 130 kW is not used in normal mode – unless you activate the kickdown, which also wakes up the combustion engine. What happens then, while not sensible or sensible, is seriously impressive and fun: at full power, the 230e takes 5.6 seconds to 100 km/h, and unlike the previous model, the new Active Tourer can reach a top speed of over 210 km /h continue to accelerate with electrical support. In the car, which just as a matter of course has optimized the parameters to be as efficient as possible, it feels like riding a cannonball.
When cornering, the 230e notices both the additional weight compared to the 223i and the lower center of gravity. Despite the high system performance, the 223i is the wilder car, but the plug-in hybrid is also very stable and fast.
BMW AGThe great kidney is mocked. We think it suits the Active Tourer best.
Practical electric range and performance
The drive in Spain was too short for meaningful consumption figures. In the electric part of the tour, however, the remaining range of over 70 kilometers indicated at the beginning seemed realistic – the value should be achievable in everyday German commuting. But one thing is also certain: If you use the 230e with full performance as a fun vehicle, you shouldn’t expect any consumption miracles. After a defined lap of 49 kilometers with repeated use of full power, the fuel consumption in the on-board computer was almost five liters, but the calculated power consumption was still almost 20 kWh. The EFAHRER.com comparison values can only be determined by a complete test.
More interesting for plug-in hybrid buyers is the efficient mode anyway, which is extremely useful due to the really strong intelligence of the drive control. That’s the real strength of the 230e – and because the small model uses the same components for the drive and is only limited to less power via software, one can assume that the same applies to the 225e.
The infotainment software in the Active Tourer is very extensive and sophisticated at the same time. BMW does not splash out here and installs a similar (albeit smaller) display and the same software as in the electric flagship iX. In addition to the intelligent drive control, this includes an excellent navigation system with augmented reality support when turning, but also wireless support for Android Auto and Apple Carplay.
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BMW AGThe trunk of the plug-in hybrid now holds 406 liters – like the combustion models.
prices and conclusion
Unfortunately, the new Active Tourer is not cheap either: as a basic petrol engine 218i with 136 hp, the car costs from 35,000 euros. The 225e and 230e are priced at €43,950 and €47,550 respectively. Proud prices for a powerful car, which takes the controversial plug-in hybrid drive concept to a new level. The toughest competitor for the plug-in hybrids, which, by the way, will not be delivered until autumn, is likely to be the all-electric iX1, which is already being tested on the road and which should inherit all the positive characteristics of the Active Tourer without dragging along a combustion engine. The plug-in hybrid remains a sensible choice for markets and customers that are still unable to switch to an all-electric supply.
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