Tweaked BMW 2 Series Active Tourer revealed

BMW has revealed a minor nip and tuck for its 2 Series Active Tourer tallboy hatch that ushers in more powerful engines and a subtle visual makeover, with it expected to land in Australia mid year.

For European variants at least, the Active Tourer will be offered with two new hues – Jucaro Beige and Sunset Orange – as well as a choice of six new alloy wheel designs ranging in size from 17 to 19 inches.

The exterior design changes include a fresh front apron with a single piece air intake, a larger kidney grille, a newly designed rear apron and larger exhaust tips for the four-cylinder variants.

Optional adaptive LED headlights get a new look, while some variants are offered with restyled LED foglights. M Sport variants gain a different look for the front and rear apron.

Inside, the changes are limited to a new instrument display, more BMW ConnectedDrive features, the latest version of iDrive linked to a 6.5- or 8.8-inch touchscreen and featuring voice control, a new automatic gear shifter, longer seat cushions and three new seat trims.

BMW says the updated engines in the Active Tourer belong to the second-generation BMW EfficientDynamics family that is being rolled out to various models now, including the recently updated Mini Hatch, 5-door and Convertible range.

The German car-maker says it has made improvements to the turbocharger, heat management, crankshaft and valve train, which has helped reduce fuel use and CO2 emissions by as much as five per cent, while power and torque has increased by 5kW/10Nm, depending on the variant.

In Europe the hatch is offered with four petrol, three diesel engines and one plug-in hybrid drivetrain.

The current Australian line-up consists of the base 218i from $44,400 plus on-road costs, the diesel 218d at $47,800 and the 220i from $51,600.

The 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine in the 218i has copped a 3kW power boost to 103kW, but torque remains at 220Nm. It uses a new seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, replacing the old six-speed unit and official combined fuel use is down by 0.1L to 5.8 litres per 100km.

In 218d guise, the 2 Series Active Tourer uses a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel offering up 110kW/350Nm, a 20Nm improvement over the outgoing version, matched to an eight-speed Steptronic automatic transmission. Oddly, the fuel use figure looks to have increased in the 218d from 4.2 to 4.5L/100km.

The 220i uses a 2.0-litre four-pot turbo-petrol with 141kW/280Nm – the same as the outgoing car – and the eight-speed auto, offering a fuel use figure of 5.6-5.9L/100km.

The 2 Series Active Tourer went in sale in Australia in late 2014 as a direct rival for the Mercedes-Benz B-Class.

In 2015, its first full year of sales, it came close to toppling the Benz, with 1765 sales to 1967, but registrations nearly halved in 2016 to 896 units.

Last year, BMW sold 639 Active Tourers, while Benz found homes for 1330 B-Classes.