Creator: Andy Pringle
Area: Zadar, Croatia
Need to know:
• Big sibling for the Active Tourer
• Comes with seven seats as standard
• at a bargain in June, with costs from £24,710
Auto Trader Verdict:
With no opponents from any semblance of Audi or Mercedes, the Gran Tourer viably has no direct rivalry. There are more commonsense MPVs, and there are less expensive MPVs, yet the Gran Tourer has one vital fascination: it may not be the MPV with the most capacity, but rather it could well be the one with the most attractive quality.
What is it?
The Gran Tourer is a nearby relative of the 2 Series Active Tourer that was dispatched a year ago, with the distinction being that – as the name suggests – the Gran Tourer is somewhat more and taller, and maybe above all, accompanies seven (as opposed to five) seats as standard.
Thusly, BMW’s initial seven-seat MPV has no direct adversaries, however it makes a comparative showing to any semblance of the Ford Grand C-Max and Peugeot 5008; and, in keeping with that MPV-style mission, there are a lot of seat-collapsing deceives you can perform.
First and foremost, the 40/20/40-part second line of seats can be slid back- and advances, permitting the proprietor to exchange off kneeroom and bootspace. At that point, there are two further individual seats in the third column, permitting you to transform the auto into a smaller than normal transport; and, when they’re not required, they crease away into the floor. Similarly, when you need your Gran Tourer to try its hardest van impression, the second line likewise overlays down into the floor; and, the front traveler seat back can likewise be collapsed down, permitting the auto to take additional long things.
The extent will go marked down in June, with a decision of four trim levels – SE, Sport, Luxury and M Sport – all of which accompany Bluetooth, double zone atmosphere control, and programmed lights and wipers. Costs begin at £24,710 – generally £2,500 more than the identical Active Tourer.
How is it?
Outwardly at any rate, the Gran Tourer resembles, well, a MPV with a BMW grille on the front. Mind you, there’s just so much degree the originators had for uniqueness, given the amount of space they expected to create inside the auto. Still, this is one of the more intelligent seven-seat MPVs, and all the more quick witted in the event that you venture up from the fundamental SE trim to Sport, Luxury and M Sport, all of which include an appreciated bit of additional bling.
From the driver’s seat, its all exceptionally BMW – well constructed, simple to utilize and, in run of the mill BMW design, with all the significant controls calculated somewhat towards the driver. It’s actual that its not as keen as the most recent lodges from any semblance of Audi and Mercedes, however no MPV has a more intelligent lodge.
There’s surely no lack of space in the front two seats, either, with the high rooftop giving fantastic headroom, and an extensive variety of modification on the seat and wheel. As in many MPVs, the driving position is somewhat higher than in a general cantina, however that is no awful thing, as it gives a summoning perspective of the street ahead. What’s less great, however, is that the windscreen columns (which spilt into two at the base) confine your perspective, making it cumbersome to haul out of T-intersections, for instance.
In the second line, as well, there’s a lot of space for several six-foot grown-ups, however the slender focus seat implies that its so tight it would be impossible get three grown-ups over. Similarly, in spite of the fact that its not very hard for the youthful or sensibly dexterous to get into the third column of seats – the sliding focus line and expansive back entryways help fundamentally – these seats aren’t suitable for grown-ups for much else besides a brief trek. Indeed, even those of normal stature will discover their heads brushing the rooftop, and legroom is tight unless you push the inside line of seats right forward – which regularly restrains the room there.
In general, the Gran Tourer lives up to expectations extremely well as a four-seater, yet its best to view alternate seats as just for more incidental utilization. In truth, that is an allegation you can level at also measured adversaries like the Ford Grand C-Max, however comparably evaluated opponents like the Seat Alhmabra are much better human transporters.
At any rate the BMW has a decent boot, and its anything but difficult to load on account of the low load ledge; additionally, there are a lot of additional cubbies spotted around the auto to take chances and grasses, for example, kids’ toys and electrical things.
To top it all, its likewise simple to swap between all the different seating changes: the two individual rearmost seats are anything but difficult to raise and bring down; the middle line of seats can be collapsed down with the push of one of two or three catches in the boot, and in addition utilizing controls on the seat themselves; and, once all the seats are collapsed down, they leave a level floor.
In this way, so un-BMW, and its the same story out and about, as the auto is that most un-BMW-like thing – front-wheel drive. That won’t be promptly clear in the sort of day by day motoring that a MPV can expect, yet what our brief commute demonstrated was that the Gran Tourer is still a fine commute.
It’s consummately simple to move around town, with very much weighted controlling and a turning circle that will adapt effectively to most regular circumstances. At that point, on the open street, the Gran Tourer demonstrates better than average refinement at motorway speeds, solid and adaptable execution (in the 220i we drove), and fair taking care of: it positively doesn’t carry on like a common seven-seater through the curves, feeling preferably more lithe than you may anticipate.
In fact, its not exactly as dexterous as the littler Active Tourer, yet despite everything it turns in pointedly, holds unequivocally and has great offset. Body roll is by and large all around controlled, yet as far as we can tell, the ride on the standard suspension is a little on the firm side, so models with the discretionary versatile suspension give a superior scope of capacities. With this, changing to Comfort mode makes the ride a great deal more agreeable in regular utilize; and, while it does lead to somewhat more body come in the curves, you can just change to Sport mode to fix things up pleasantly when you favor an additionally energizing commute.
We likewise discovered truly a contrast between the 220i and the main other form we drove, the reach beating 220d. Since this lead rendition accompanies four-wheel drive, it is a reasonable bit heavier than the 220i, which implies that it doesn’t react as distinctly or feel as sharp through the curves.
By and large, however, there’s most likely the Gran Tourer is one of the best-driving seven-seaters available.
Should I get one?
From various perspectives, its difficult to contend a case for the Gran Tourer, as its not elusive a just as functional seven-seater that expenses less; or, in the event that you take a gander at it another way, you can undoubtedly discover an also valued MPV that is significantly more reasonable. Then again, what the Gran Tourer does offer is the sort of prestigious and select identification that none of its adversaries can. On top of that, it is likewise a fine auto to drive, with not too bad standard hardware and low running expenses – the 216d and 218d both normal more than 60mpg, for instance – that assistance to take the sting out of the high rundown costs.
Key certainties:
Model: BMW 220i Gran Tourer
Cost: £28,025
Motor: Four-chamber turbocharged, (discretionary) eight-velocity self-loader
Power/Torque: 189bhp/207lb ft
0-62mph: 7.8secs
Top speed: 138mph
Economy: 47.9mpg
CO2/BIK charge risk: 138g/km/20%
Boot space: 560 – 1,820 liters
Additionally consider
Portage Grand C-Max
Not the cleverest or most flexible MPV, but rather unquestionably one of the best to drive
Volkswagen Touran
Bunches of space and a truly brilliant lodge
Peugeot 5008
All that you could need from a MPV: its open, functional, very much prepared and incredible to drive
Discover a BMW 2 Series Active Tourer in our classifieds
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