With the upcoming unveiling of the BMW iNEXT all-electric SUV and high PHEV and EV sales so far in 2018, BMW’s long-promised push toward electrification finally appears to be gaining traction. For drivers who aren’t quite convinced they want a plug-in, the 2021 330e feels more like a hybrid than its predecessor did. Despite having a rather short electric range, there aren’t any typical limitations, either in terms of how it drives or how livable it is every day.
There might still be a sizable audience for that. Even while EVs may be the wave of the future, there are still many folks for whom switching completely electric isn’t currently feasible. Charge rates, infrastructure issues, and plain old range anxiety are still present and still real obstacles. The 330e gives you a taste of the electrified life without binding you to it.
Ordering with restraint pays off, as does researching utility, state, municipal, and federal rebates and incentives, which can assist to tame the inescapable premium for plug-in hybrids. The main line is that PHEV, despite being viewed by some as a transitional technology, appears set to continue playing a significant part in the switch to EVs. The 2021 BMW 330e provides a lot while requiring little in the way of compromise as far as electric tasters go.
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Driving the BMW X5 xDrive45e is enjoyable.
A plug-in hybrid’s battery pack and electric motor contribute weight to the vehicle, which is positioned low on the platform and lowers the center of gravity. The X5 xDrive45e’s suspension has been strengthened by BMW to counteract the negative effects of this extra weight on the vehicle’s ride and handling characteristics.
The standard 2-axle air suspension with dynamic damper adjustment, which is included in the base price, almost completely eliminates the normal negative effects of the additional weight on the ride and handling. Additionally, it lifts or lowers the SUV in either direction by 1.6 inches, making it easier to load in the lowest position and providing more ground clearance if you decide to go off-road.
In addition, the test car had 21-inch wheels with 275/40 run-flat performance tires on them, which likely helped to provide the car’s exciting driving characteristics on the testing loop.
The extra weight isn’t a disadvantage overall. This X5 model has remarkable grip, body control, steering reaction and accuracy, and braking feel and performance. It also shows to be agile and predictable. The X5 xDrive45e has nearly no head toss or excessive body movement despite the driver’s high position behind the wheel.
The X5 PHEV also steamrolled the asphalt flat on the 405 freeway through West Los Angeles, avoiding the “hop” in the ride that I’ve frequently experienced in other cars.
Even while contemporary BMWs are less viscerally analog than they once were, they are nonetheless a thrill to drive in a digital environment. The X5 plug-in hybrid performs well on pavement, especially considering its size, height, and weight. Even when only using the Sport and Hybrid settings on the test loop, it managed to average 22 mpg. That outperforms the EPA’s 20 mpg combined driving estimate.
However, the ADAS, particularly the aggressive lane-keeping assistance system, can be invasive. Additionally, the BMW issued a warning about the ADAS’s diminished performance in mild rain. After that, the notice vanished without informing me if everything was back to normal.
Be aware that throughout the course of a week-long test, every time I brought the X5 home, I plugged the SUV in to recharge it. At the 200-mile mark, the SUV had only used an indicated 30% of the fuel in its gas tank, and approximately 75 of the total miles I had traveled had been on electricity. Maintain a full tank of fuel and it should last you a fair amount of time if you keep the battery charged.
How will you park?
Where do you park at night, to be more precise? If so, is it in a designated garage or driveway where you can plug the 330e in? Even a 110-volt wall outlet may fully recharge the battery in about 12 hours; a 240-volt charger is not required.
(Another inconsequential inquiry to consider is how much trunk room you require. The 330e’s 12-kWh battery is located right underneath the boot, reducing the capacity there from 17.2 cubic feet in the gas-powered 3 Series to just 13.2 cubic feet.)
Everyone’s use case is different, of course, but use this as a quick guide to which 3 Series to pick:
- The 330e is a better option if you primarily make short trips and/or you reside in a city or suburb with a designated parking area where you may charge at night.
- The 330i is a better option if you frequently take long journeys or don’t have access to a convenient charging location every day. Longer trips go smoothly thanks to its exceptional highway fuel economy (Car and Driver’s testing recorded an astounding 42 mpg at 75 mph), larger gas tank, and additional trunk room.
Now, granted, you could be thinking, but wait, that also implies I could absolutely have an EV, right, if you read the first of those two blurbs and thought, Hey, that describes me. Yes, the 330e does have a surprising drawback in the form of its price. With a starting price of about $45,000, it is more affordable than any of the most recent generation of excellent, nearly affordable EVs, including the Kia EV6, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Ford Mustang Mach-E, and Volkswagen ID.4. A famous BMW sport sedan is available for the same price as a nicely equipped EV6 Wind RWD, and it also happens to make the first 20 miles of every day’s journey emissions-free.
The 3er continues to be among the greatest vehicles in its class, both in gas-powered and hybrid versions, even though it may not be nearly the sport sedan icon it once was. The 330e becomes just as enjoyable to drive as the 330i when you switch to Sport mode and turn the turbocharged inline-four on constantly. Additionally, Sport mode charges the battery pretty quickly, so if you get your fin, you’ll definitely end up with a few extra miles of emission-free propulsion. Even while it’s not as environmentally friendly as plugging in, it’s still a nice little perk for something you’re already doing.
Review of the BMW 330e: A look at both sides
A car that is more effective than the sum of its parts is created by combining the convenience of internal combustion with the efficiency of an electric engine.
Craig joins the Cars team with 15 years of automotive journalism experience. He has lived in Michigan his entire life and is equally at ease using a wrench or a welding gun as he is in front of the camera or at a computer. He’s probably out in the garage working on one of his project vehicles when he’s not hosting videos or pounding out features and reviews. He has so far finished restoring a 1936 Ford V8 sedan, and he is currently working on a 1951 Ford Crestliner, another flathead-powered antique. Craig is a proud member of the Midwest Automotive Media Association and the Automotive Press Association (APA).
Plug-in hybrids provide the best of both worlds, much like a supermodel with several doctorates. They combine the quick refilling and tried-and-true performance of internal combustion with the effectiveness, refinement, and responsiveness of an all-electric engine. The 2021 BMW 330e establishes a good case for itself and, more crucially, for its entire breed by providing a respectable all-electric range, powerful acceleration, and impressive efficiency.
clinically acceptable
Look, the BMW 330e is a perfectly capable car in principle. It’s built to a high standard, quite fuel-efficient due to the plug-in hybrid technology, quite fast, well-behaved in the corners, practical, and unoffensive to look at (not a given with BMW these days). However, when it comes down to it, it feels a little too clinical. Driving it or riding in it gives you the impression that individuals in charge of making it happen are, without a doubt, excellent at what they do. However, it also seems as though they weren’t all that concerned with making the 330e fun to drive.
The BMW 330e appears to be the end result of the automaker’s efforts to meet the EPA’s CAFE rules, a 67-mpg checkbox that must be checked before the automaker can proceed to install twin-turbo V8 engines in 5,400-pound, high-performance SUVs. I’d like to kindly remind you that plug-in luxury vehicles of this general class may be good and have character before you launch into the comments section and ask, “It’s a gray German plug-in hybrid car for aspiring dentists and new MBA graduates, what did you expect?” Ask Volvo, please.
Despite being inoffensive in and of itself, I just couldn’t get into the 330e. I may have had unrealistic expectations for a non-M BMW, but considering the history of this company, I needed more from the 330e’s driving performance. I desired a lower driving position for it. Even in driving circumstances and modes that are not performance-oriented, I wanted the steering to feel more accurate and pure. Its brake pedal needed to feel more natural to use and be more responsive to little adjustments. A Kia Stinger was what I had in mind.
BMW provided its customers with the gas-saving, plug-in life and one of the greatest infotainment systems in the industry with the 330e. But the alleged “sheer driving enjoyment” it brags about so loudly was conspicuously missing. It has been replaced by an automobile that is adequate in manners and will carry out your requests—but not one that will make you happy. It’s difficult to help but wonder if that thrill was saved solely for the more potent and gas-guzzling M cars.
If that’s the case, it begs the question of why anyone would want to purchase the 330e in the first place.
Does the BMW plug-in hybrid make sense?
One of the most affordable plug-in hybrids available is the BMW 330e. Along with having a ton of standard amenities, it also has impressive acceleration and fuel economy. Even the standard BMW 3 Series can’t match the 330e’s advantages. You can purchase an automobile that is faster and more enjoyable to drive for a small price.
Are BMW hybrids dependable?
In the 2021 Driver Power owner satisfaction poll, the BMW 5 Series placed a respectable 49th out of the top 75 vehicles. Even though a higher-than-average percentage of owners (20.8%) reported a problem in the first year of ownership, reliability received a good rating. While the engines offered to 5 Series buyers received some criticism for their high running costs, owners praised them.
Is the hybrid BMW 3 Series dependable?
330e BMW’s dependability The assessment found that overall reliability and build quality for the 3 Series were barely above average. Owners also reported dissatisfaction with the outward design, practicality of the inside, and safety features of their vehicles.
Are there greater issues with hybrid cars?
A hybrid car typically experiences more maintenance concerns with the hybrid battery than a gas-powered vehicle. The life of the hybrid battery is not always consistent and can end earlier than anticipated. Hybrid batteries typically have very high replacement costs, including both maintenance and replacement. On our blog, we have already talked about a number of hybrid battery-related concerns, as seen here (P3030 or P3009) and here.
Can a hybrid car handle long distance travel?
Certainly, your hybrid is capable of handling long travels with ease. There are several things to remember, though. A hybrid performs better when driven at speeds under 50 mph. So driving in cities is a more effective form of transportation. The EPA fuel economy will be less than if you opt to go in the city if you decide to take the highway. Simply keep this in mind while you make travel arrangements. Nevertheless, even if your hybrid is fully charged and the tank is full, it might still be worthwhile to drive it. Why not use your hybrid as long as you can fit all of your supplies and your passengers are comfortable?