BMW reveals 2022 2 Series Active Tourer

BMW has launched the new 2 Series Active Tourer for Europe, but has already ruled out the compact MPV coming to Australia.

The new-for-2022 Active Tourer has adopted BMW's signature over-sized kidney grille, which features across the manufacturer's range, as well as similar front and rear lights to the rest of its line-up.

Under the bonnet, BMW will offer a choice of four internal combustion engines – two three-cylinder petrols, one four-cylinder petrol and a four-cylinder diesel – with 48-volt mild-hybrid assistance boosting the output of the higher-spec three-cylinder and the four-cylinder petrol.

While not available from launch, BMW is set to add two plug-in hybrid powertrains to the line-up a few months in to the Active Tourer's life cycle, both of which will be all-wheel drive as opposed to the front-wheel drive launch variants.

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BMW believes design cues from its iX electric SUV are carried across to the Active Tourer's interior, which gains a floating armrest above the infotainment controls and a large centre storage bin.

The driver is provided information via a 10.25-inch digital dash, with a 10.8-inch infotainment touchscreen – equipped as standard with BMW Maps and four USB-C ports to connect and charge devices.

In range-topping guise, the Active Tourer will be fitted with premium equipment such as a panoramic glass sunroof and a Harman Kardon sound system.

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Interior space has also been increased over the outgoing model by as much as 90 litres in the boot, as BMW claims the back seats can slide forwards by as much as 13 centimetres as well as folding in a 40:20:40 split.

With the seats up, the boot space now stands at 470L for the 218i Active Tourer and 218d Active Tourer, reduced to 415L for the 220i Active Tourer and 223i Active Tourer, although seat-down space is up to 1455L and 1405L respectively.

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First introduced in 2014, 2 Series sales this year are at zero for the hatch variant after being removed from BMW's line-up last year – with only the Coupe, Convertible and Gran Coupe moving units for the nameplate.

Despite selling 3696 units over the model's local history, just nine were sold last year, dropping off from 36 the year prior – both of which were lower than sales of BMW's niche i3 electric vehicle in the same time period.