BMW is no stranger to controversy these days. It all started with the massive kidney grilles on the BMW 7 Series and 8 Series, but then the brand doubled down with the buckteeth on the new BMW 4 Series. It seems as if BMW might like all the controversy, and the evidence lies in the new BMW 2 Series Active Tourer. Now, before I go too deep, I should point out that the 2 Series AT is no stranger to controversy, either, as it was widely criticized as being the first BMW to feature FWD. It performed well enough that it warranted a second generation, so what did BMW do? It decided to go all-in but pairing a mildly updated silhouette with the front end of a BMW 7 Series. The end result is a car that’s not exactly hideous, but it’s not exactly pretty either.

The Bastard Child

It took me a couple of minutes to figure out where I had seen a similar look, outside of the 7 Series, of course, but then it hit me. Behind the front clip and outside of a couple of different body lines, the 2 Series AT looks like the bastard child of a love affair between the Ford Escape and the 7 Series. Even from the rear view, the 2 Series AT has sleeker taillights and a more aggressive rear fascia, but it’s still pretty damn similar. That aside, I still can’t get past the cut-and-paste job that is the 7 Series front end on the front of a compact hatch….uhem… minivan….uh…crossover. What the hell is the 2 Series AT anyway?

For the record, it’s officially classified as a “subcompact executive MPV” but to me, it looks more like a slightly taller hatchback that wants to be a crossover.

But I digress, and my rant is over. I suppose you want to know a little something more about the new 2 Series AT, right? Well, here it goes.

The 2 Series Active Tourer in Brief

The second-gen 2 Series AT, much like the model it replaces, won’t land in the United States, but it will compete with the Mercedes B-Class over in Europe. The main highlights of the exterior include that 7 Series front end, sleeker Led headlights, and flush door handles. The headlights, I should note, can be upgraded to adaptive LED if you’re willing to pony up a little extra cash. In the rear end, the exhaust outlets have been integrated into the rear fascia, and there’s a choice of 16- or 17-inch wheels as standard or a few optional 19-inch wheel designs. Overall, the exterior is a lot cleaner and sportier than that of the first-gen model.

The interior design draws inspiration from the BMW ix electric SUV, with a curved display layout that features a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.7-inch touchscreen infotainment display. That system operates with the latest iDrive 8 software. There’s a new floating center console integrated with the control panels and the rear seats can slide forward by more than 5 inches or be folded flat with a 40-20-40 split. Finally, cargo capacity comes in at 470-1,455 liters if you buy the 218i or 218d, while the 220i and 223i come with 415-1,405 liters. You can access the cargo area via an automatic tailgate and there’s an optional electrically operated trailer hitch.

Under the hood, there’s a range of 1.5-liter gasoline engines and a 2.0-liter diesel engine. The 218i delivers 136 horsepower and 171 pound-feet of torque while the 220i will net you 170 horsepower and 206 pound-feet of torque. If you go with the most powerful 223i, you’ll have 218 horsepower and 265 pound-feet of torque at your disposal. If, for some reason, you still want a diesel engine, the 218d with the 2.0-liter engine will get you a total of 150 horsepower and 265 pound-feet of torque. As you’d expect, the 2 Series AT is FWD only, and power is sent to the wheels through a seven-speed DCT with no option for a manual transmission. By the summer of 2022, BMW plans to have two plug-in hybrid powertrains available as well, but details about them are still a complete mystery.

The BMW 2 Series Active Tourer will go on sale in February 2022. In the U.K., the 220i will start out at £30,265, while the 223i will command £32,715 and the 218d will set you back £31,820. BMW has yet to reveal U.K. pricing for the 218i, but expect it to start around the same price range as the 218d.

2022 BMW 2 Series Active Tourer Specifications