BMW unveils new 2 Series Gran Tourer model

BMW has unveiled the all-new 2 Series Gran Tourer, a vehicle the automaker claims is "the first premium compact car to offer up to seven seats."

The front-wheel drive 2 Series Gran Tourer measures 4,556 mm long, roughly the same size as the Kia Rondo, allowing it to accommodate a folding third row of seats in the back.

Cargo room is also quite spacious considering the car's diminutive stature, with as much as 1,820 litres on offer with the second and third rows of seats out of the equation—only 20 litres shy of the Rondo's 1,840 litres of cargo room behind the first row of seats—while the front passenger seat back can be folded down to achieve 2.6 metres of dash-to-hatch space.

Available in the U.K. this month, there are no immediate plans to bring the 2 Series Gran Tourer, nor the related 2 Series Active Tourer, to North America, according to an Automotive News report, though the former can be found on BMW's Canadian and American websites.

While that doesn't make it a sure thing that the 2 Series Gran Tourer will ever make it to this side of the Atlantic, there's reason to believe it could given the lack of competition and the growing appetite for smaller vehicles that can carry more.

Slightly shorter than the 2 Series Gran Tourer, the Mercedes-Benz B-Series has found relative success here thanks to its compact size and unique looks, while the Mazda5 and Kia Rondo have proven popular in Canada since their respective launches.

In fact, the Rondo is no longer sold in the United States, while it continues to enjoy success north of the border.

With the BMW offering both more cargo and passenger room than its rival Mercedes, and a much more premium feel than the similar-looking Rondo, it would surely pique some interest should it ever land on dealer lots in North America.