The Grand Tourer, BMW is consolidated in a new direction in which the practicality, versatility … the welfare of passengers, in short, become priority areas.

The Young families are the target audience This Grand Tourer, minivan 4.56 m long, and others can be considered rival models like Volkswagen Touran, 5008, Renault Grand Scénic, Citroën Grand Picasso or Toyota Verso. All have in common with the BMW, the possibility of incorporating a third row of seats. It is precisely along the shape of the rear area and the size, which distinguish Active Gran Tourer. Regarding this, the Grand Tourer is 21 cm longer, of which 11 are for increasing the wheelbase and the overhang 10. Grand Tourer also is 5cm higher.

These changes allow Gran Tourer has more longitudinal space and up to five centimeters adicionales- more luggage. They are about 70 additional liters, seen both as five seats. A similar engine and equipment, Grand Tourer represents more than 2,050 euros Active Tourer.

Engines and common basic

Both they share the same base and of course engines. Thus, the three Diesel are common. The 150 hp 2.0 version of the 218d represents the power step more high with which it is available with front-wheel drive Grand Tourer and is always a safe bet. The most powerful version available at BMW of this engine is the 220d, which has 190 hp version and only this minivan today associated with automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. Surnamed xDrive therefore. Later it will also be front-wheel drive, the only option, as in the 218d, 216d of. This version has a three cylinder 1.5 liter 116 HP. Also common are gasoline, the 218i version as 220i 136 hp and 192 hp. Today the Grand Tourer does not have the 231 hp 225i.

Traditionally, one of the aspects in which BMW has always excelled is in their way of facing the road. However, this constant breakdown of concepts with which these minivans are presented against BMW cars even affects this.

BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer: a new world

Along with the Active Tourer and the new X1, it forms the family minivan models with motors located transversely, ie oriented so that its cylinders are perpendicular to the direction of travel. This solution is the usual front-wheel drive cars, as are all these new BMW, and has advantages over the back. Among them is the ability to use small spaces to put them, so that what is benefited is the habitability in relation to size cars. A car front wheel drive also uses fewer parts and reduces manufacturing costs. Also in these models traction-as opposed to the drive, the rear wheel motrices- weight distribution is “unbalanced”, because there is no longer distributed symmetrically as both axes.

Use these resources should not be a problem-there are a huge number of cars on the market that use and dynamically work very well- but in the case of this Grand Tourer tested things do not seem to fit as they should I can not really be blamed everything feels this technical resource and maybe it’s the combination of suspension and excessively rigid wheels.

BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer: dynamic

We were able to test the Diesel version medium power Grand Tourer with Steptronic change, with exceptionally good results. The 218d Gran Tourer is at the head of the carriers of seven seats in acceleration or recovery capacity, even when among his rivals not concur few similar power with 160 hp or more. He Merit is the engine of lightness -weight is similar to the average of similar cars, but probably have more amount of aluminum and composite materials in their body that them-; for that two liters has a great ease to win round. Also it maintains a permanent push, even with high values, from 1,500 rpm to slightly beyond 4,000. It is therefore very elastic. Add to the above softness in the way they turn Y not noisy, because only cold chatter of a Diesel is perceived.

The icing on this magnificent performance and driveability therefore, puts the consumption: so low is that not only similar cars are in doubt, but either road or city, their records bear comparison with much smaller and less powerful cars. Among the resources that help the engine achieve such low consumption they are, regardless of not a few aerodynamic resources -assets some, like the motorized front curtains that are closed as the speed or temperature motor- an Auto Start Stop that for the first time in a BMW, we understand how valuable also for how it works. It may be the transverse engine configuration, but the truth is that deactivation is instant after engine stop and start, softer than other models.

As well convinces as works ‘sail’ the 8-speed Steptronic, a change that will find only a low paste to move towards a greater converter slip torque expected in, for example, the output of a stop; or not having cams associated with the wheel to select the gear in its most ‘economic’ variant, which represents 2,396 euros as an option. These gadgets, useful in reductions to support the brakes are included in the sports variant (2,567 euros). Otherwise, this box passes, by how it works, almost unnoticed by the driver.

BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer: Behavior

The feelings when we are not formidable high-capacity roads and into those with tighter curves and straight. Then the Grand Tourer continues to show its strength with those 225/45 R18 wheels sensory -also responsible for the high noise rodadura- mounted on 18 “wheels. Thus the driver receives the requirement representing the deviation of the drawn, the more as potholes abound, especially if they arise in support of a curve. Unperturbed, this Grand Tourer is not in those circumstances and perhaps to ease the work of the stiff suspension would not hurt-and it is possible to choose-point more wheels 205/55 R17 Who knows if even the rim series of 16 “- which increase the amount of rubber profile.

On the other hand, as is logical for its technical configuration, a strange feeling appears in this model in a BMW: the loss of traction on the front axle if we have to close the direction to plot a curve or accelerate much while we are turning. Then the Grand Tourer, even when the electronic works significantly to correct the situation, tends to open the path. It does more than other similar minivans, but more than any other BMW known. In any case, also in this format more familiar the rear axle feels very participatory, much less than the Active Tourer, no doubt, some effect must take the battle to grow 11 cm-, model showed considerably more agile.

BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer: Interior

To reach the rear seats nothing distinguishes the Grand Tourer Active. This assumes that we find levels of habitability in the first not unlike those of a X1 row and compared with those of its rivals, meet an approved.

The exception to this note is the longitudinal space that is seen in the second row and -height not cambian- width, aspect in which Grand Tourer comes to outstanding. It matters little that consider the seats of the second row developed or delayed to the maximum, according to need cargo space or the third row; or desire privileging seat occupants in the second row. Between the two positions are 13 cm administrable at will. The same applies to the inclination of the back of the second row with at least, seven positions between the right angle and the obtuse they can take. These backups can be folded manually, with built on top of them or with the push buttons on the sides of the trunk, acting on some small engines that release command. They are folded in three parts to give an almost flat to the trunk below. The driving position substantially approximates that of any other tourism BMW, in relative proximity to the floor of the bench seats and little soft. It is a common denominator of all places of Gran Tourer, like sidewalks so short. In general, el driver can achieve a successful integration in this model, although the size of the pillar that supports the windshield or the door intrude excessively on the viewing angle, for example, access a roundabout.

The third row seat which gives real reason for this model. The two seats that form, and that, as is usual in any similar car is not reached easily through the access hole available are small stool. Also too close to the ground for an adult plus there is not much distance to the ceiling, but those seats admit the possibility of installing child seats there. Same situation exists in three places in the central bench, with area among more uncomfortable hardness than the side and a small tunnel at his feet.

BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer: equipment

He equipment and collects sufficient serial to elaborate on the versatility without further need for options, for example, the third row of seats (902 euros, by 600 to 700 rivals) in case they are needed up to seven seats. So are standard package that includes the different compartments distributed around the cabin, the back of the rear bench divisible proportions 40/20/40, the longitudinal adjustment of the two parts in which the second-row seat is configured or motorized tailgate, incidentally, this opening with five different heights and the highest, not far down: 182 m. It aids such as lane departure warning, approach the pedestrian indication signals and brake options within the city are Driving Assistant.

You can choose between terminations as Advantage (1,800 euros), including full LED headlights or rear parking sensor; the Luxury (such as photos, 4,900 euros) with chrome inserts and wood, leather upholstery, heated seats and alloy wheels 17 “; or Sport (3,500 euros), with sport seats or upholstery black roof. There is also a level M Sport (5,400 euros).