Unleashing the same level of comfort without sacrificing performance, BMW’s 216i Active Tourer M Sport raises the bar in the luxury driving experience. Despite a slight decrease in power, this luxury vehicle continues to offer top-notch comfort and performance.
The BMW family has long housed the number ’16’, tracing back to the E21 3 Series that offered the ‘316’ variant and subsequently a ‘316i’ model. However, its popularity has seen a significant surge in recent years, particularly among Singaporean motorists. Thanks to the powertrain, these models fall under the more affordable Category A COEs, making them a favourite among the locals. The 216i Active Tourer is the newest addition to BMW’s ‘Club 16’, and it’s no stranger. This model has always been one of the most admired and robust performers in the club.
At first glance, the only notable change in the 216i Active Tourer is its slightly reduced power, now clocking in at 121bhp compared to the previous 134bhp in the 218i. However, this doesn’t detract from the overall driving experience. The turbocharged inline-three engine remains the same, coupled with the same sharp seven-speed transmission. In fact, it still boasts a healthy peak torque of 230Nm, which is quite impressive for a mini-MPV.
The M Sport trim adds a dedicated paddle shifter-activated Boost function in Sport mode, giving you an extra burst of acceleration for up to 10 seconds. This allows you to experience the full power of the engine.
The 216i Active Tourer retains the same drive feel as its predecessor, even with the slight drop in power. Thanks to the peak torque being available from as low as 1,500rpm, the vehicle’s eagerness to speed up remains undiminished.
The 2 Series Active Tourer has always been a popular choice in Singapore. Notably, the power gap between the 218i and 216i has significantly narrowed in this new model, making the performance compromise for the entry point to 2 Series Active Tourer ownership much lower than before.
In terms of appearance and interior, there’s practically no change. The only difference you’ll notice is the replacement of the ‘8’ with a ‘6’ on the lower right-hand corner of the car’s tailgate. Other than that, everything from its 18-inch light alloy rims to the Continental PremiumContact 6 tyres remains the same.
The standard equipment list remains unchanged, ensuring no compromises. This model might not include a panoramic sunroof, a head-up display, or augmented reality navigation – features that were part of the Launch Edition – but in essence, there is no loss of features.
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As a driver, you’ll enjoy the Comfort Access feature that automatically locks and unlocks the same amount of money that the Category B-classified 218i retailed for a year ago. The question is: would the extra 13bhp – if the 218i were still available – have been worth an extra $20,000?
The 2 Series Active Tourer’s core strengths – an unexpected level of driver engagement, a dash of refinement, and a spacious, luxurious cabin – still hold firm despite a minor dip in power that most drivers likely won’t notice.
Indeed, if you’re prepared to break away from the crossover obsession, this could be one of the most balanced options for entry-level BMW ownership today.
This article is based on information from asaione.
