New year, new(ish) face: BMW 2 Series Active and Gran Tourer updated

Published: 10 January 2018 Updated: 10 January 2018

► 2018 2-series Active and Gran Tourer
► Facelift brings light tweaks to MPV
► On sale from March 2018

Among the barrage of new SUVs stealing sales from MPVs, it’s amazing that the 2-series Active Tourer and Gran Tourer both exist. But then BMW wouldn’t be doing its job if it didn’t offer something for everyone.

As such, these two most sensible models have been updated for 2018 – the five-seat 2-series Active Tourer and the seven-seat 2-series Gran Tourer. It’s worth doing, as 70% of 2 AT and GT buyers are new to the brand.

What’s changed?

We’ve seen it all before – new lights and bumpers at the front and back, and a few tweaks to the interior. Job done.

Up front, the LED lights have been sharpened up with BMW’s latest look for the corona ring daytime running lights – now more squashed hexagon than an actual ring. If you want, BMW will upgrade them to adaptive LEDs.

There’s a distinct difference between the bumper design of regular models and more aggressive M Sport, both of which have received tweaks. Regular models have a full-width lower grille below the newer, larger kidney grille, and features a set of new LED foglights.

BMW 2 series Active tourer interior

The M Sport looks sportier (obviously) with a more sculptural look to the lower apron. At the back, the M Sport features glossy black lower trim around the exhausts where the regular models are body-coloured. Speaking of which, there are two new colours available – one orange and one beige, as well as a range of new alloys.

Inside, the instrument panel has been updated to look a bit more modern, the latest iDrive system is present and there’s a new gear selector for the automatic gearboxes. There’s also some new seat fabrics and colour options available.

Same engines?

The engine choice remains the same, from three-cylinder petrol to efficient diesel and plug-in hybrid, all of which have been tweaked slightly to be that little bit more efficient than before.

All diesels will come with some form of exhaust gas treatment tech in the form of particulate filter and selective catalytic reduction using AdBlue.

When can I buy one?

The updated Active and Gran Tourer hits the showroom in March. 

Check out our BMW reviews

By Tom Goodlad

Bauer Automotive's former continuity editor and CAR contributor

Comments