BMW 2 SERIES GRAN TOURER 2016 FULL REVIEW

Traditional thinking has always assumed that buyers in search of a compact seven-seat MPV wouldn't be interested in a premium brand. In 2015 though, BMW decided that traditional thinking needed a bit of a shake-up - and brought us this car, the 2 Series Gran Tourer. As you might gather from the looks, it's a lengthened, more versatile version of the company's five-seat 2 Series Active Tourer, a model which was not only BMW's first MPV but also the first to break away from the rear wheel drive configuration that had previously defined the Bavarian maker. In one sense, this is what BMW calls a 'retention car', there to keep buyers loyal who would otherwise be forced to desert the brand to meet the needs of a growing family. But it's also there to attract customers who might never before have had the opportunity to buy a BMW: prior to the original launch of this model, the brand had, after all, never previously sold a model offered as standard with seven seats. Now, it's been improved with more efficient engines, smarter looks and better media connectivity.