First BMW people-mover pricier than B-Class

BMW has announced its new 2 Series Active Tourer will arrive in Australia with an entry price $3500 more expensive than its closest rival, the Mercedes-Benz B-Class.

On sale from November, the five-door/five-seat wagon is the first front-wheel drive BMW and also debuts a new modular three- and four-cylinder turbo-petrol and diesel engine family that has only previously been seen in the latest MINI.

The compact people-mover’s pricing starts off at $44,400 for the 1.5-litre triple-cylinder petrol 218i, rises to $47,800 for the 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel 218d and tops out at $54,900 for the 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol 225i.

The equivalent B-Class models are all priced beneath their 2 Series Active Tourer equivalents, with the B 180 1.6-litre petrol-turbo priced at $40,900, the 1.8-litre turbo-diesel B 200 CDI at $46,400 and the 2.0-litre turbo-petrol B 250 at $50,400.

An additional model, the triple-cylinder petrol 220i, arrives in the second quarter of next year and its pricing is yet to be confirmed.

A seven-seat version will be launched in 2015 and should come here, but an all-wheel drive xDrive version to launch in Europe late this year is unlikely for our market, in line with BMW Australia's rear-drive passenger car policy.

As reported last week by motoring.com.au, BMW is claiming the Active Tourer’s price premium over the B-Class is driven by a higher level of standard equipment.

But in the product data issued to Australian media at this week’s international launch in Austria, the 2 Series people-mover's equipment advantages over BMW’s own cheaper 1 Series hatch were also spelled out, suggesting a concern about cannibalisation.

But the official line is that 75 per cent of Active Tourer customers will be new to BMW.

All Australian-spec models will come with an automatic transmission -- a six-speed in the 218i and eight-speed in the rest of the range – plus an automatic tailgate, climate-control, sat-nav, parking assistant, 6.5-inch colour screen with iDrive controller, Bluetooth connectivity and multiple Performance Control driving modes that range from Eco to Sport.

Safety equipment includes six airbags, Driving Assistant with lane departure warning, forward collision warning with light city braking, front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera. BMW expects a maximum five-star Euro NCAP rating.

The 220i upgrades from 17- to 18-inch alloy wheels and adds a visibility package, while the 225i includes dynamic damper control, leather trim, variable sport steering and paddle shifters for the auto.

Two trim lines are standard; Sportline for the 218i, 218d and 220i, while the 225i is equipped with Luxury Line trim. An M Sport package is optional.

That’s far from the only option, with a panoramic sunroof, steering wheel heating, Navigation plus with head-up display, foot-waving gesture control to open the tailgate and video-based automatic cruise control with stop and go functionality up to 130km/h all part of an extensive extras list.

Functionality is a key design feature, with 40/20/40 electric split-folding of the rear seat, which also slides and reclines. Boot space is 468 litres, which expands to 1510 litres. An optional fold-flat front seat allows an item up to 2.4 metres long to be loaded.

The 218i makes 100kW of power and 220Nm of torque, with fuel consumption officially rated at 5.0L/100km and CO2 emissions at 122g/km.

The 218d generates 110kW of power and 330Nm of torque. Claimed fuel consumption and emissions are 4.2L/100 km and 111g/km.

The 225i makes 170kW and 350Nm of torque. Fuel consumption is claimed at 6.1L/ 100km and CO2 emissions at 142g/km.

Engine outputs mostly outdo the equivalent B-Class, while all of the Active Tourer’s consumption figures better their Benz rivals.

Fuel consumption is aided by a suite of efficient dynamics technologies including Auto Stop Start, brake energy regeneration and extensive use of lightweight material in the body structure.

Click here to read more about the 2 Series Active Tourer's technology and our first drive review of the 225i, and stand by for our first impressions of the 218d.