BMW revealed the production version of the Active Tourer Concept, a front-wheel-drive hatchback they have developed to take on the likes of VW Golf and Mercedes A-Class. It comes with three and four cylinder engines and a host of BMW EfficientDynamics and ConnectedDrive features.

True BMW fans will scoff at the 2 Series Active Tourer, not just because it’s ugly, and a hatchback, but mainly because it is not rear-wheel-drive. That is sacrilege according to the Bimmer bible. However, those who want a quality hatchback that is classy, practical, and very efficient, are going to like the car big time.

BMW, of course, maintains that just because the 2 Active is FWD does not mean it’s not agile and dynamic, and just because it comes with small engines, it doesn’t mean it’s slow. That said, the powertrains are really tuned more for economy than performance.

You get the 218i Active Tourer with 136 hp and fuel consumption of urban/extra-urban/combined: 6.1/4.2/4.9 l/100 km; the 225i with 236 hp and 7.6/5.0/6.0 l/100 km; and the 218d with 150 hp and 5.0/3.6/4.1 l/100 km. The fastest version is the 225i with a 0 to 100 km/h acceleration time of 6.8 seconds. The range will be extended from late autumn to include variants equipped with the xDrive intelligent all-wheel-drive system.

As for practicality, BMW 2 Series Active Tourer boasts a 468 liter boot, which can be increased to 1,510 liters thanks to a unique 40:20:40 split-folding rear backrest and sliding seats. You also get foldable boot floor that conceals a storage compartment with a handy multifunction tray.

For every good looking car BMW makes these days, they make four ugly ones. The 2 Series Active Tourer is definitely one of the uggos, featuring a face like that of a bewildered hedgehog. The interior is pretty good though, especially for a car of this class. The quality is just amazing, and the features are segment-leading.