BMW 2 series Active Tourer

BMW 2 series Active Tourer: which version to buy and why

The BMW 2 series Active Tourer is a Compact Van sold across three catalogue generations in this dataset: 1 generation (2014-03-01–2018-06-30), 1 generation, restyling (2018-01-01–2021-09-30), and 2 generation (from 2021-10-01, stop date not measured).

The BMW 2 series Active Tourer is a Compact Van sold across three catalogue generations in this dataset: 1 generation (2014-03-01–2018-06-30), 1 generation, restyling (2018-01-01–2021-09-30), and 2 generation (from 2021-10-01, stop date not measured). If the question is which version to buy, the numbers split the range into three jobs: a light 1.5 Gasoline FWD for city work, a 2.0 Diesel when mixed consumption is the metric, and the 2 generation 230e AT Plug-in Hybrid xDrive Steptronic when 0–100 km/h is the metric (5.5 s, 326 hp). There are no prices in the data, so “extra money” below means extra power, extra kilograms, extra litres, extra CO2, and extra seconds — not list price.

Which generation to buy first

1 generation is the lightest cluster. The 218i 1.5 MT kerb weight is 1320 kg; the same name in 1 generation, restyling is 1355 kg (+35 kg); 2 generation 218i AT Steptronic is 1470 kg (+150 kg versus the first 218i 1.5 MT). Ground clearance moves the other way: 156 mm on that first 218i 1.5 MT, 165 mm on the restyle 218i 1.5 MT, 171 mm on every 2 generation version listed (+6 mm versus restyle, +15 mm versus that first 156 mm car). The fuel tank shrinks from 51 L on both first-generation clusters to 45 L on 2 generation (−6 L).

Power density of the volume 218i line: 1 generation 218i 1.5 MT 136 hp / 1.499 L = 90.7 hp/L; restyle 218i 1.5 MT 140 hp / 1.499 L = 93.4 hp/L; 2 generation 218i AT Steptronic 136 hp / 1.499 L = 90.7 hp/L again, but now with 230 Nm instead of 220 Nm. Weight per horsepower: 1320/136 = 9.7 kg/hp (first MT), 1355/140 = 9.7 kg/hp (restyle MT), 1470/136 = 10.8 kg/hp (2 generation 218i AT Steptronic). The later 218i is heavier per horsepower and still 0.3 s quicker to 100 km/h than the first 218i 1.5 AT Steptronic (9.0 s versus 9.6 s).

1 generation, restyling is the gearbox supermarket: Manual 6, Robotic 7, Automatic 8, FWD and AWD. 2 generation is Automatic 7 only. If you want a clutch pedal, the data only offers 1 generation and 1 generation, restyling.

2 generation is the only cluster with Plug-in versions and the only one with a 171 mm clearance on every row. City and highway consumption are not measured for any 2 generation version; mixed consumption is measured for six of eight.

Specs table: every version named as in the data

1 generation lists two versions both named 218d 2.0 MT: one FWD (1375 kg, 8.9 s, 205 km/h) and one AWD (1465 kg, 8.6 s, 208 km/h). They are not the same car. 223d AT MHEV xDrive Steptronic, 230e AT Plug-in Hybrid xDrive Steptronic and 225e AT Plug-in Hybrid xDrive Steptronic carry “xDrive” in the name; the drive field in the data is FWD for all three.

Engine placement where measured: Front, transverse; 4 valves per cylinder; Gasoline injection Direct injection (direct) where measured. Diesel injection on 1 generation and restyle 1.5/2.0 diesels is not measured; 2 generation 218d AT Steptronic and 223d AT MHEV xDrive Steptronic list Direct injection (direct). Compression: Gasoline 11 or 11.1, except 225i lines at 10.2; Diesel 16.5. Bore × stroke 82 × 94.6 (Gasoline / Plug-in) and 84 × 90 (Diesel). Fuel 95 or Diesel as labelled. Euro 6 on every version.

Performance, mpg and CO2: what the extra output actually buys

0–100 km/h. Slowest measured: restyle 216i 1.5 MT and first 216i 1.5 MT, both 11.3 s. Fastest measured: 2 generation 230e AT Plug-in Hybrid xDrive Steptronic 5.5 s. The Gasoline peak of the first two generations is restyle 225i 2.0 AT Steptronic at 6.3 s (231 hp), matching first-generation 225i 2.0 AT xDrive Steptronic at 6.3 s and beating FWD 225i 2.0 AT Steptronic of 1 generation at 6.8 s. That AWD 225i is 0.5 s quicker than the FWD 225i of the same generation and 80 kg heavier (1510 vs 1430 kg). Restyle 220i 2.0 DCT 7.4 s versus restyle 218i 1.5 MT 9.3 s: +52 hp buys 1.9 s. Restyle 225i 2.0 AT Steptronic versus that 220i 2.0 DCT: +39 hp, +70 Nm, +115 kg, −1.1 s, +6 km/h top speed (235 vs 229).

2 generation Gasoline ladder: 216i AT Steptronic 10.3 s / 206 km/h; 218i AT Steptronic 9.0 s / 214 km/h (+14 hp, −1.3 s, +8 km/h); 220i AT Steptronic 8.1 s / 221 km/h (+34 hp vs 218i, −0.9 s, +7 km/h); 223i AT Steptronic 7.0 s / 241 km/h (+48 hp vs 220i, −1.1 s, +20 km/h). The 223i AT Steptronic is the fastest non-Plug-in Gasoline here (241 km/h) and still 0.7 s slower than restyle 225i 2.0 AT Steptronic (6.3 s) while making 13 hp less (218 vs 231) and weighing 25 kg more (1545 vs 1520 kg).

Diesel 0–100: first 216d 1.5 MT 10.6 s vs restyle 216d 1.5 MT 11.1 s (same 116 hp, restyle is 55 kg heavier: 1420 vs 1365). Restyle 218d 2.0 AT Steptronic 9.6 s FWD versus 218d 2.0 AT xDrive 9.0 s: AWD is 0.6 s quicker and 60 kg heavier (1540 vs 1480). Restyle 220d 2.0 AT Steptronic 8.2 s / 400 Nm versus restyle 220i 2.0 DCT 7.4 s / 280 Nm: the Gasoline 220i is 0.8 s quicker with 120 Nm less. 2 generation 218d AT Steptronic 8.8 s vs restyle FWD 218d 2.0 AT Steptronic 9.6 s: +10 Nm (360 vs 350), +65 kg (1545 vs 1480), −0.8 s. 223d AT MHEV xDrive Steptronic 7.3 s / 211 hp / 400 Nm versus that 218d AT Steptronic: +61 hp, +40 Nm, +110 kg, −1.5 s.

Plug-in: 230e AT Plug-in Hybrid xDrive Steptronic 5.5 s, 225e AT Plug-in Hybrid xDrive Steptronic 6.7 s. Same 477 Nm, same 1499 cc, same 3 Inline Turbo; the 230e has 81 hp more (326 vs 245) and is 20 kg heavier (1845 vs 1825). Versus restyle 225i 2.0 AT Steptronic (6.3 s, 1520 kg): the 230e is 0.8 s quicker and 325 kg heavier.

Top speed. Peak: 2 generation 223i AT Steptronic 241 km/h. First-generation 225i 2.0 AT xDrive Steptronic 237 km/h. Floor: first 216i 1.5 MT 188 km/h; restyle 216i 1.5 MT 190 km/h; 225e AT Plug-in Hybrid xDrive Steptronic 195 km/h — a 245 hp car capped 11 km/h below the 122 hp 216i AT Steptronic (206 km/h). 230e AT Plug-in Hybrid xDrive Steptronic 205 km/h equals restyle 218i 1.5 MT.

Fuel consumption. Restyle Gasoline mixed is 5.8–6.4 L/100 km; restyle Diesel mixed 4.3–5.1. Restyle 216d 1.5 MT mixed 4.3 vs restyle 216i 1.5 MT mixed 5.8: −1.5 L/100 km at +7 hp and +70 kg. Restyle 220d 2.0 AT Steptronic mixed 4.4 vs restyle 220i 2.0 DCT 5.9: −1.5 L/100 km at −2 hp. Restyle 218i 1.5 MT city 7.3 / highway 4.9 / mixed 5.8 versus 218i 1.5 DCT 7.1 / 5 / 5.8: DCT saves 0.2 city, costs 0.1 highway, mixed identical; DCT is 30 kg heavier (1385 vs 1355). First-generation 218i 1.5 MT mixed 4.9 is 0.9 L/100 km below the restyle MT at the same 9.3 s 0–100. First 216d 1.5 MT mixed 3.8 is the lowest measured mixed figure in the whole model; restyle 216d mixed 4.3 is +0.5. 1 generation 216d 1.5 AT Steptronic: city, highway, mixed and CO2 all not measured.

2 generation mixed: 216i AT Steptronic 6.2; 218i AT Steptronic 6.8; 220i AT Steptronic 5.9; 223i AT Steptronic 6.6; 218d AT Steptronic 4.8; 223d AT MHEV xDrive Steptronic 4.6; 230e AT Plug-in Hybrid xDrive Steptronic 6.8; 225e AT Plug-in Hybrid xDrive Steptronic mixed not measured. City and highway not measured for the whole generation. The 220i AT Steptronic mixed 5.9 matches restyle 220i 2.0 DCT mixed 5.9 on a 1.499 L engine instead of 1998 cc, with 22 hp less (170 vs 192) and 0.7 s slower (8.1 vs 7.4).

CO2. Lowest measured: first 216d 1.5 MT 99 g/km. Restyle 216d 1.5 MT 112. 2 generation 218d AT Steptronic 125. Highest measured Gasoline: restyle 225i 2.0 AT Steptronic 147 and first 225i 2.0 AT xDrive Steptronic 148. 2 generation 218i AT Steptronic 154 — 22 g/km above restyle 218i 1.5 MT (132). 223d AT MHEV xDrive Steptronic, 225e AT Plug-in Hybrid xDrive Steptronic and 216i AT Steptronic CO2 not measured. 230e AT Plug-in Hybrid xDrive Steptronic CO2 154, same number as 218i AT Steptronic.

Dimensions and weight: the cost of each step up

Wheel sizes: not measured on every version.

Kerb weight. Lightest: 1 generation 218i 1.5 MT and 216i 1.5 MT, both 1320 kg. Restyle lightest: 216i 1.5 MT 1350 kg. 2 generation 216i AT Steptronic kerb and gross not measured. Heaviest: 230e AT Plug-in Hybrid xDrive Steptronic 1845 kg / 2420 kg gross. Payload (gross − kerb) where both exist: restyle 218i 1.5 MT 1935−1355 = 580 kg; first 218i 1.5 MT 1870−1320 = 550 kg; 218i AT Steptronic 2015−1470 = 545 kg; 230e 2420−1845 = 575 kg; restyle 225i 2.0 AT Steptronic 2090−1520 = 570 kg.

Restyle 218d 2.0 MT xDrive vs FWD 218d 2.0 MT: +80 kg (1520 vs 1440), 0–100 8.8 vs 9.5 s (−0.7 s), mixed 5.1 vs 4.5 (+0.6 L/100 km), CO2 133 vs 119. First-generation 218d 2.0 MT AWD vs FWD: +90 kg (1465 vs 1375), 8.6 vs 8.9 s, mixed 4.9 vs 4.1, CO2 129 vs 109.

Ground clearance. 2 generation 171 mm on all eight. Restyle 165 mm on all twelve listed. 1 generation is mixed: 156 mm on 218i 1.5 AT Steptronic, 218i 1.5 MT, 216i 1.5 MT, 225i 2.0 AT Steptronic, 218d 2.0 MT FWD, 218d 2.0 AT, 218d 2.0 MT AWD; 165 mm on 220i 2.0 MT, 220i 2.0 AT Steptronic, 225i 2.0 AT xDrive Steptronic, 216d 1.5 MT; 155 mm on 216d 1.5 AT Steptronic.

Tank. 51 L through 1 generation and restyle; 45 L on 2 generation. Using mixed consumption where measured, restyle 216d 1.5 MT 51/4.3 ≈ 11.9 units of range index; restyle 218i 1.5 MT 51/5.8 ≈ 8.8; 2 generation 218d AT Steptronic 45/4.8 ≈ 9.4; 218i AT Steptronic 45/6.8 ≈ 6.6. That is arithmetic on tank and mixed L/100 km, not a tested range.

Suspension Independent, spring front and rear on almost all; 1 generation 220i 2.0 MT and 220i 2.0 AT Steptronic rear is labelled Semi-independent, springorts hélicoïdaux, sem — take that string as written. Brakes: Ventilated disc front; rear Disc except 225i lines (Disc ventilated).

Which version to choose

Buy 1 generation if kerb weight and mixed Diesel figures are the filter. 216d 1.5 MT is 116 hp, 270 Nm, 10.6 s, 195 km/h, mixed 3.8 L/100 km, CO2 99, 1365 kg, 165 mm. 218i 1.5 MT is the lightest Gasoline with a measured mixed 4.9 L/100 km and 9.3 s. 225i 2.0 AT xDrive Steptronic is the only Gasoline AWD in the whole model (231 hp, 6.3 s, 237 km/h, 1510 kg, 165 mm). Two 218d 2.0 MT rows exist: pick FWD (1375 kg, 8.9 s, mixed 4.1) or AWD (1465 kg, 8.6 s, mixed 4.9) by the drive field, not the name.

Buy 1 generation, restyling if you need a Manual or a Robotic and a 165 mm floor. 218i 1.5 MT versus 218i 1.5 DCT: identical 140 hp, 9.3 s, 205 km/h, mixed 5.8; DCT is Robotic 7, +30 kg, city 7.1 vs 7.3. 216i 1.5 MT (109 hp, 11.3 s, 1350 kg) mixed 5.8 — same mixed as the 140 hp 218i, 2.0 s slower. For Diesel without AWD, 220d 2.0 AT Steptronic (190 hp, 400 Nm, 8.2 s, mixed 4.4, 1470 kg) is the strongest FWD Diesel in this cluster; 216d 1.5 MT still wins mixed (4.3) and CO2 (112). For AWD, only 218d 2.0 MT xDrive and 218d 2.0 AT xDrive exist here (150 hp, 350 Nm). Peak Gasoline: 225i 2.0 AT Steptronic 231 hp, 6.3 s, 235 km/h, 1520 kg, mixed 6.4, CO2 147 — 115 kg heavier than restyle 220i 2.0 DCT for 1.1 s and 6 km/h.

Buy 2 generation if 171 mm clearance, Automatic 7, and Plug-in exist in the brief. There is no Manual. 216i AT Steptronic (122 hp, 10.3 s, 206 km/h, mixed 6.2; kerb not measured) is the entry Gasoline. 220i AT Steptronic (170 hp from 1499 cc = 113.4 hp/L) is the high specific-output 1.5: mixed 5.9, 8.1 s, 1520 kg. 223i AT Steptronic (218 hp, 7.0 s, 241 km/h, 1545 kg, mixed 6.6) is the Gasoline top speed car. 218d AT Steptronic (150 hp, 360 Nm, 8.8 s, mixed 4.8, 125 g/km, 1545 kg) is the measured-CO2 Diesel. 223d AT MHEV xDrive Steptronic (211 hp, 400 Nm, 7.3 s, mixed 4.6, 1655 kg; CO2 not measured; drive field FWD) is the Diesel performance step: +61 hp and −1.5 s versus 218d AT Steptronic for +110 kg and −0.2 L/100 km mixed.

Plug-in pair. 230e AT Plug-in Hybrid xDrive Steptronic: 326 hp, 477 Nm, 5.5 s, 205 km/h, mixed 6.8, CO2 154, 1845 kg, 45 L, 171 mm — lowest kg/hp among cars with both mass and power (1845/326 = 5.7 kg/hp). 225e AT Plug-in Hybrid xDrive Steptronic: 245 hp, same 477 Nm, 6.7 s, 195 km/h, mixed not measured, CO2 not measured, 1825 kg. Same 1499 cc 3 Inline Turbo Plug-in layout; 81 hp is the gap. Drive field FWD on both despite the name.

If the job is highway litres: first 216d 1.5 MT highway 3.4 is the lowest highway figure measured; restyle 216d 1.5 DCT highway 3.9; restyle Gasoline highway floor is 218i 1.5 MT 4.9. 2 generation highway not measured.

If the job is 0–100: 230e AT Plug-in Hybrid xDrive Steptronic 5.5 s, then restyle 225i 2.0 AT Steptronic and first 225i 2.0 AT xDrive Steptronic at 6.3 s, then 225e AT Plug-in Hybrid xDrive Steptronic 6.7 s.

If the job is not dragging 500+ extra kilograms: stay in 1 generation 1320–1510 kg kerb. 2 generation Plug-in cars are 1825–1845 kg.

Problems, reliability, trunk space, boot space, interior, luggage capacity and cargo space are not measured in this dataset; they are not inferred.

Trunk / boot / cargo figures: not measured. Interior packaging: not measured. Reliability / problems: not measured.