THE BMW 216d Gran Tourer may have an impressive-sounding name for what is essentially an MPV but it also stands out for its unique positioning - this seven-seater is the only compact premium model in its class. Aimed at young and obviously wealthier families, it is one of two versions of the 2 Series minivan, with the other being the five-seater Active Tourer. The Active Tourer and Gran Tourer have similar styling but with that one important difference - the latter is an extended version of the former, thus allowing a third row of seats to be squeezed in.

At 2,780 mm, the BMW 216d Gran Tourer's wheelbase is 110 mm longer than the Active Tourer's. The GT is also 55 mm taller at 1,641 mm.

But with an overall length of 4.6 metres long, the 216d GT is still eminently manoeuvrable. Reinforcing that ability is its engine. Under the hood is a 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbodiesel driving the front wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission.