Rear-wheel drive, an eight-speed automatic transmission, a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine, and an electric motor are all standard on the 2016 BMW ActiveHybrid 5.
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Perhaps you are unaware, but BMW now provides a hybrid version of its opulent 5 Series sedan. Recently, we drove a BMW ActiveHybrid 5 for a few days to see if it lived up to the hype and to give our initial thoughts.
For a charge, the car was rented from BMW. The latest hybrid model from the German automaker drives and handles very similarly to the sporty 535i we tried in 2010. It also has the same punchy and refined 3.0-liter inline-six turbocharged engine. The combined horsepower of its electric drive motor increases from 300 to 335 hp. The cost of “hybridizing” this 5 Series is high. This vehicle has a starting price of $61,100, which is $8,000 more than a standard 535i.
The hybrid has all the positives and negatives of the standard 5 Series: a smooth ride, a quiet cabin, a spotless interior, as well as complicated controls and a little hazy steering.
We’ve also seen that the additional funds don’t provide significant improvement in fuel efficiency. In mixed driving, we’ve been averaging 25.5 mpg, as opposed to the overall 23 mpg of our tested 535i. The Toyota Camry hybrid achieved 11 mpg more than the standard four-cylinder Camry, so the 2.5 mpg improvement is substantially less than what we measured with our tested Toyota Camry sedans. Moving upmarket, a Mercedes-Benz E-Class diesel achieved an average fuel economy of 26 mpg in our tests and didn’t cost significantly more than a regular E-Class with a V6 engine, which achieved 21 mpg.
The relatively economical $47,500 528i, with its turbocharged, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, achieves greater fuel economy than the BMW Hybrid, with 24 mpg city/34 mpg highway, as compared to 23/30, according to the EPA. BMW is not typically associated with thrift. Additionally, you keep the fold-down back seat function that you had to give up to buy a hybrid vehicle. Maybe that’s the vehicle BMW should have hybridized if fuel efficiency were the only consideration.
A tiny.675-kWh lithium-ion battery for the ActiveHybrid 5 is tucked between the trunk and the back seat. With a light throttle, it can travel up to 15 mph on electric power alone. When coasting at speeds below around 40 mph, the car is also programmed to turn off its engine. Fortunately, the automated start/stop at idle is not too intrusive—this was not the case with our previous 3 Series test vehicle. The start/stop in the vehicle lacked smoothness, shaking the vehicle when it shut off in a manner that was clearly not elegant. This technology is also used by BMW in its 3 and 7 Series hybrid models. Future pure electric vehicles, including the lease-only 1 Series electric, will build on the knowledge gathered there.
Obviously, the Camry Hybrid’s fuel-economy boost of over 30% is much greater than the hybrid’s best-case gain of 10%. It more closely resembles the mild hybrid “eAssist” that comes with a Buick LaCrosse, which in our tests increased fuel economy from 23 to 26 mpg. So, even if we applaud BMW’s technical prowess, we are left to question why they bothered.
The BMW ActiveHybrid 5 is the first hybrid model of the 5 Series.
The ActiveHybrid X6 and the soon-to-be-retired ActiveHybrid X7 will be followed by BMW’s third hybrid vehicle in production. Based on the 535i sedan, the new ActiveHybrid 5 is the first hybrid vehicle in the 5 Series lineup from BMW. It produces 250 kW/340 hp when the 3.0-liter TwinPower Turbo inline six-cylinder engine in that car is paired with a 40 kW/55 hp electric motor. As a result, the ActiveHybrid 5 can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 5.9 seconds while consuming only 6.4 to 7 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers (44 to 40 US mpg).
The ActiveHybrid 5 allows for the use of either electric power, a combustion engine, or a combination of both, and can travel up to 60 km/h (37 mph) on electric power alone for local, emission-free driving in cities. However, the maximum electric-only range is just about four kilometers (2.5 miles) at an average speed of 35 kilometers per hour (22 mph). When the driver requests more power, the ICE immediately engages, with the eight-speed automatic gearbox transferring power from the two drive systems to the rear wheels.
A hybrid start-stop feature turns off the ICE to conserve gasoline when the vehicle is stationary. The car will restart on either the electric motor alone or the electric motor and the ICE after the driver releases the brake, depending on the battery’s state of charge and the amount of power the driver is requesting. Additionally, when coasting in ECO PRO mode at speeds up to 160 km/h (100 mph), the ICE will also turn off and completely disengage from the drive shaft.
The ActiveHybrid 5’s electric motor functions as a generator during braking and coasting to recharge the vehicle’s lithium-ion battery pack, as is typical in hybrid vehicles. But as the vehicle accelerates, the electric motor also performs a boost function to provide the ICE a quick increase of power.
The basic navigation system is connected to the car’s power electronics so that, depending on the information provided, the vehicle can account for impending driving conditions and prime the drive components for maximum efficiency. For instance, if the system detects that the vehicle is entering a mountainous area, it can use all of the battery’s electrical energy to offer additional power because it is confident that the battery can be recharged during the ensuing descent.
The eight-speed automatic gearbox houses the synchronous electric motor, whose working temperature is controlled by the cooling system of the combustion engine. The lithium-ion battery has its own cooling system and is installed in the luggage area between the wheel arches for maximum protection. According to BMW, this lowers the ActiveHybrid 5’s load capacity to 375 liters (99 US gal), which is 145 liters (38 US gal) less than a typical Series 5 sedan.
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The ActiveHybrid 5 easily switches between both configurations, and while braking and descending, there is a battery-recharging phase. Both in the center instrument cluster and on the iDrive screen are graphics that show how well or poorly you’re doing.
The ActiveHybrid 5’s entire power output is accessible when you are in Sport+ mode. This results in a 0-62 mph time of just 5.9 seconds, which is comparable to the acceleration of the petrol 535i SE.
The ActiveHybrid 5’s acceleration from 0 to 62 mph takes about 7.5 seconds in regular mode because there isn’t any extra battery power. The ActiveHybrid 5 introduces BMW’s Intelligent Energy Management software as a component of the optional Navigation Professional system in order to maximize efficiency. This analyzes the traffic ahead and responds appropriately, choosing the driving mode that will be most effective for the cleanest possible driving.
The hybrid is said to improve economy by about 12% and emit 16% less CO2 than the 535i SE. When driving in the most economical EcoPro mode, this translates to emissions as low as 149g/km and average fuel economy of up to 44 mpg.
Selecting the right wheels and tyres is also important for efficiency. Our test vehicle had optional 18-inch Streamline alloy wheels in place of the standard 17-inch low-resistance tires that came with the ActiveHybrid 5. The best we could manage on the larger wheels across Portugal’s coastal terrain was 30.1 mpg. We would anticipate earning close to 40 mpg with a 535d diesel while driving normally.
Reduced practicality is an additional expense. The weight of the 5 Series is increased by 140 kg by the lithium-ion battery pack, which is mounted over the rear axle. Sadly, the pack cuts the amount of luggage space available to 375 liters, a decrease of 145 liters. Additionally, because the power pack is tucked between the cargo compartment and the bench, the back seats can no longer be folded down.
The ActiveHybrid 5 has an uphill struggle because, at PS46,860, it costs 6% more than the 535d and 20% more than the 535i SE on which it is based. Pricing is the second significant obstacle. In contrast, the 535d costs PS44,290 and is both quicker in practice and more cost-effective.
The ActiveHybrid 5 is nevertheless expertly done and features typical BMW attention to detail. It offers the greatest hybrid experience among the premium brands made in Germany thus far.
Conclusion
Driving the BMW ActiveHybrid 5 is a pleasure. It looks excellent, has plenty of performance, a rear-wheel-drive chassis, an automatic gearbox rather than a CVT, and is quiet, smooth, and comfortable.
On the down side, it costs more money and has a smaller cargo than a Toyota Prius, so its economy won’t cause concern.
For PS32,680, you could purchase a BMW 520i with an equivalent fuel efficiency. Or you might spend PS30,435 on a 520d that offers 62.8 mpg. However, the 535d, which has better acceleration (0-62 mph in 5.5 seconds), better economy (52.3 mpg), and lower emissions (142 g/km CO2) (despite a slightly higher BIK tax rate of 22%), is probably the better option in the UK for a similar performance/economy mix. It also costs less at PS44,295 in SE trim. It features a bigger boot as well.
But none of that gets at the BMW ActiveHybrid 5’s main selling point. Because they enjoy BMW and the concept of the technology in the car, they are likely to purchase this vehicle. They will be able to astound visitors with the performance of a hybrid vehicle and also dazzle them with its silent electric operation, although for a very short distance. The ActiveHybrid 5 should be popular in markets with a premium gasoline focus, like North America. It won’t likely have a significant impact on 520d sales in the UK.
We therefore give the BMW ActiveHybrid 5 a score of 10 out of 10. However, it’s quite challenging for us to give it such a score, especially when compared to BMW’s own goods like the 535d or even the outstanding 520d EfficientDynamics. Thus, after taking everything into consideration and, as always, focusing on emissions and miles per gallon, the BMW ActiveHybrid 5 receives an overall score of 8 out of 10.
The ActiveHybrid 5 does, however, succeed in piqueing our interest in the upcoming BMW i8 hybrid, which promises to combine performance and economy in a manner that is far more remarkable.
How does ActiveHybrid 3 function?
BMW, like many German automakers, prefers diesel power to hybrids when looking to increase fuel economy. Because sections of Asia and America are both significant markets for gas-electric vehicles, the Bavarians have created hybrid versions of their popular sedans.
The 300-hp, 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder engine from BMW is used in the ActiveHybrid 3–or “3-series hybrid” to those who prefer nomenclature that isn’t quite dripping with marketing goop—along with a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission with a 55-hp electric motor in place of the torque converter. The only thing missing is a clutch to connect the internal combustion engine and electric motor. The relocated 2013 ActiveHybrid 7 will have the same gasoline-electric system as the ActiveHybrid 5, as well.
How is the BMW hybrid engineered?
BMW plug-in hybrid electric vehicles pair an electric motor with the company’s standard BMW TwinPower Turbo combustion engine. This dual drivetrain system maximizes fuel efficiency without compromising range by lowering exhaust emissions. On drives of any length, intuitive drive modes automatically improve economy by choosing the appropriate ratio of electric and gas power. Additionally, you have the option of using an all-electric vehicle within a specific range or a typical BMW with the convenience of a combustion engine.
Does the BMW hybrid self-charge?
You may enjoy all the financial advantages of a hybrid without needing to charge your vehicle. While you’re driving, the electric battery charges itself, and the motor is employed to improve fuel efficiency.
The motor regains power when you break, giving you more miles for your money while emitting fewer tailpipe pollutants.
The ideal way to start driving electric is with a self-charging hybrid vehicle. They’re also perfect if you want to go electric but don’t have access to convenient charging stations because you can top off the battery without plugging in.