BMW 225i Active Tourer 2015 review

This is a BMW but not as we've known them.

For as long as I can remember, BMW cars have been all about driving. Even the company slogan, The Ultimate Driving Machine, makes this promise for everything with the propeller badge.

But this one, the Active Tourer in the 2 Series line-up, is all about family. It's not the ultimate in family machines but it makes a lot of sense for new-age nuclear families. That is, provided you can get past the front-wheel drive layout.

Yes, this is the first BMW that puts its power to the front wheels, which makes it closer in its mechanical packaging to the Mini — also from BMW Group — than the 3 Series. In fact, the latest Mini and the 2 Series are twins under the skin.

Is the Active Tourer just an upscale Mazda CX-3? Hardly

But the Active Tourer twist is a body with lots of cabin space and a useful boot, great vision, style and comfort, with BMW final finishing.

It's not a cheap car, priced from $44,000, but it taps into the same thinking that's causing so many people to switch on to baby SUVs.

They put practicality, and city style, first.

So, is the Active Tourer just an upscale Mazda CX-3? Hardly.

For a start, even the base price is more than double the CX-3 and the test car — a 225i with a 2.0-litre engine — sits just under $55,000 and that makes it a hefty purchase.

The Active Tourer feels more plush than I expect

It's most likely to be compared with a B-Class from Mercedes-Benz, which starts a little bit cheaper but has another of those badges that people like to buy.

For me, the BMW is a better choice because it's more practical than the B-Class. They are both more stumpy than other cars in their family but I prefer the Active Tourer's outward vision, its airier cabin and generally better ambience — the Active Tourer feels more plush than I expect.

My first experience, on a short city hop in a base car, was not as promising. The car seemed almost austere and I felt and heard a worrying clunk when a front wheel dropped into a major pothole.

Fettled with extra equipment and a bigger engine, the test car makes a significant difference, from the look and feel of the cabin trim to the alloy wheels and the performance.

On the driving front, the 225i is quick enough but nothing special in a straight line. It corners with good grip and feedback and the brakes are good.

It's not a sports car, and definitely not a heavy hauler M3, but it's fine for the job.

And that's the bottom line on the Active Tourer. I come to the car expecting to be disappointed but find myself won over by its strengths as practical and enjoyable urban transport.

The family like it. The little bloke has good space in the back and my partner says she likes it too. And that's rare for someone whose standards are often higher than mine.