The 330e plug-in hybrid is the exact same as the 330i in terms of both basic and optional features. Under the hood, where an electric motor and battery pack are connected to the 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, the two vehicles can be distinguished from one another.
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BMW 330e
In the not-too-distant future, electrification will undoubtedly become the norm, starting with hybrid vehicles that combine internal combustion engines (ICE) with electric motors and batteries and progressing to fully electric vehicles (EVs) and finally hydrogen-powered EVs.
The 330e lies between the 320i (starting at $68,900) and 330i (starting at $74,900) on that spectrum.
It is made in Germany and costs $81,900 (before on-road expenses) in either the sporty M Sport or somber Luxury trim levels. It has an electric motor and battery pack for up to 60 kilometers of pure electric propulsion before switching to a four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine for an official range of more than 1800 kilometers. Range phobia, damn you.
However, the 320i with the same engine but no electrification weighs over 300 kg less. You may blame all the added electrical gizmos like the 10.3kWh lithium ion battery, 83kW synchronous motor, and five-meter 1.8kW charging connection.
Being a PHEV, it can take up to six hours to fully recharge from a standard 10-amp household plug, but only about 3.5 hours on average.
A non-plug-in, series-parallel hybrid, such as the Lexus IS 300h, only manages a meager 2.0 km of sub-40 km/h electric driving range before the ICE kicks in to recharge a much smaller battery pack, relegating the electric motor to merely performance and/or economy boosters. The Lexus is about $20,000 less expensive as a result.
The only vehicles that truly compete with the BMW are the Mercedes-Benz C300e and Volvo S60 T8 Hybrid, which are PHEVs as well and are available for $82,300 and $84,990, respectively.
Although both promise a slightly lower EV range than the 330e, the latter is more of a Swedish hot-rod, blitzing all for pure power while also gaining all-wheel drive. The former is comfort-biased.
However, keep in mind that the mouthwatering Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus RWD will cost you from $75,425 (before tax and on-road expenses) (rear-wheel drive). The Yank has broken his ICE habit as a pure EV with a silent and ferocious thirst for speed.
Space Internal Combustion
The 330e has less cargo space than the 330i because the battery is behind the back seats and the gasoline tank is now above the rear axle. How little less? While the 330e has 13.2, the 330i has 17.0 cubic feet. The good news is that there is room for a golf bag because part of the hybrid’s cargo floor can be lowered. But take care—the rest of the trunk is rather constrictive.
Compared to the other 3 Series models, the plug-in hybrid loses around 4 cubic feet of volume.
While I’ve already done a trunk capacity test on the BMW 3 Series and found that it falls far short of the 17 cubic feet that BMW claims it has, there is one member of the most recent 3er family that doesn’t apply to those first results. In the past, that might have meant a wagon or the short-lived Gran Turismo, but in the present, it refers to the BMW 330e plug-in hybrid vehicle, which has less trunk space since its battery takes up more space.
It has almost 4 fewer cubic feet of room than the 330i and M340i, per BMW’s specifications. Even if the official capacity measurement of 13.2 cubic feet is still wholly incomparable to the volume measurements of other brands, this time everything checks out.
On the left is the M340i, and on the right is the 330e. In the plug-in hybrid, the floor between the wheels is unmistakably taller.
To make more room or to create a standard flat floor, the floor panel bends and lowers. This is incredibly simple to accomplish, and the panel was thoughtfully designed.
The lower location appears to be slightly lower than the M340i’s, if anything. There is no getting past the fact that this puts the plug-in hybrid at a considerable disadvantage, even if only marginally.
Moving on to the bags. As with every baggage test, I use two midsize roller suitcases (26 inches long, 16 inches wide, and 11 inches deep), two roll-aboard suitcases (24 L x 15 W x 10 D), and one smaller roll-aboard that fits comfortably (23L x 15W x 10D). I add my wife’s expensive overnight bag as well to dress things up a little (21L x 12W x 12D).
First off, it is challenging to carry luggage due to the odd floor, especially given the hill in the center. To find the most of my luggage, I had to play a few rounds of Tetris.
What makes a difference, then? The five largest bags could fit in the M340i, but the smallest (fancy) bag had to be left behind. The five smallest bags, including the expensive one, could fit in the 330e, but the largest bag had to be left behind. In each, there was still room for a huge shopping bag and other extras.
The 4-cubic-foot differential makes sense despite the fact that the difference isn’t particularly large. That’s more than you would have found in the previous generation of 3 Series sedans and coupes (E46 and E90/92), which, as I later learned, only differed by 1 to 3 cubes.
Additionally, the volume I could squeeze within the 330e is identical to that of the 10.9 cubic-foot Cadillac CT4. That number vs the 330e’s official 13.2 number seems more appropriate for the space (which is probably what the M340i and 330i have when using a more common measuring method).
Is The Upgrade To The BMW 330e PHEV From The 330i Worth It?
BMW began taking orders for the 330e and 330e xDrive plug-in hybrid 3-Series with rear- and all-wheel drive, respectively, two months ago.
Prices start at $44,550 and $46,550, respectively. This places them between the $54,000 M340i, which utilizes a 3.0-liter inline-six rated at 382 HP, and the $40,750 330i, which has a 2.0-liter four-pot with 255 HP.
A 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline turbocharged engine with 181 horsepower and an additional 107 horsepower electric motor provide the propulsion. With XtraBoost active, the overall output is 288 HP and 310 lb-ft (420 Nm) of torque, which, depending on the model, is sent either to the rear wheels or the xDrive AWD system.
With a top speed of 87 mph (140 km/h), the 12 kWh lithium-ion battery offers it an EPA-rated 22-mile (35-km) electric range in rear-wheel drive and 20 miles (32 km) in all-wheel drive.
The plug-in hybrid 3-Series has a smaller boot than the standard 3-Series, which will further reduce space if you opt to carry the charging cords. All other aspects of the vehicle are normal 3-Series, with the exception of a special menu and smart sat-nav system that can save fuel by determining when to operate on gas and when to run on electricity in accordance with the intended itinerary.
This translates to a spacious back seat with good head and legroom, plush front seats, a wealth of tech and safety features, and a sporty driving experience even with the increased weight of the powertrain.
Therefore, should you think about choosing the 330e over other models? You must make that decision, but the Irish-shot video review that follows may influence your choice.
Is the engine in the 330e and 330i the same?
The 330e iPerformance has the same 2.0-liter, twin-turbocharged gasoline engine as the 330i M Sport, but the eight-speed automatic transmission now includes an electric motor. When both motors are operating simultaneously, a combined 248bhp is available, and a 6.1-second 0-62 mph performance is feasible. The 330e’s utility around town is maximized by the electric motor’s ability to propel the vehicle to 74 mph on its own when required.
Full electric acceleration is available as soon as you put your foot down since electric motors can create their full power as soon as they begin to revolve. This implies that while the gasoline engine braces itself, the electric motor takes over because turbocharged engines are always a little sluggish in delivering their full amount of power. Therefore, even if more potent models quickly catch up with and pass the 330e, it feels more faster than other 3 Series variants when you first pull away.
When overtaking, for example, the petrol engine alone may not yet be “in its stride,” so the plug-in hybrid system provides a welcome boost to get things moving. The electric motor is always available, ready to supply more power when necessary. The sound of the gasoline engine, which is less thrilling than that from more potent six-cylinder vehicles like the 340i, cannot be changed by the electric motor. At cruising speeds, it’s quiet and unobtrusive.
What does BMW mean by 330e?
The electrified BMW 3 Series is offered in saloon or estate body styles as the BMW 330e plug-in hybrid. In any case, it is a different model in the lineup that utilizes more electric power to achieve cheap operating expenses, particularly for drivers of work vehicles.
The most recent model pairs an electric motor with a 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine under the hood. The batteries offer a 37-mile all-electric driving range and can be charged using a socket at home or at work.
It typically has 249 horsepower, but in Sport mode, that power can be increased to 289 horsepower if the battery has adequate charge. The 330e is more fun to drive than the competing Volvo V60 Recharge Hybrid or Mercedes C 300 e plug-in hybrid cars, which means it is faster than the previous 330e and fits with the sporting ethos of the BMW brand.
The BMW 330e’s CO2 emissions, which range from 30-38 g/km depending on specification and if you choose the heavier xDrive four-wheel-drive option, are its key selling point. However, due to their significantly lower tax ratings than diesel-powered counterparts, all versions are desirable to drivers of company cars. Additionally, compared to the diesel vehicles that formerly dominated the corporate parking lot, this petrol-electric variant is smoother, quieter, and faster.
The SE Pro, Sport Pro, M Sport, and M Sport Pro trim levels of the 330e are available, but even the base models are well-equipped and enjoyable to drive. Although the boot space is decreased to 375 liters due to the 12 kWh battery pack taking up some space, which is normal for plug-in hybrid vehicles, it is spacious inside. Although most people simply plug in overnight, an 80% charge from a home wall box takes two and a half hours.
The BMW 330e is it a hybrid?
The 330e begins in Hybrid Auto mode, and the 2021 model uses its larger battery to achieve a significant increase in range over the previous generation: 23 miles, per the EPA, as opposed to merely 14. The all-wheel drive model loses a little distance, to 20 miles.
A BMW 330e’s dependability?
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.
How far can a BMW 330e travel?
However, in addition to EVs, the EPA also provides a range for each PHEV and internal combustion vehicle on its website. 290 miles is the overall range estimated for our 330e xDrive, providing you start with a full tank and a fully charged battery.
What factory makes BMW 330e?
Is BMW a domestic automaker? I’m interested in learning where my 330E was made because I’m sure it will effect how simple it will be for me to find replacement components.
In less than two minutes, find out if your auto insurance is being overcharged.
BMW is not a domestic automaker! The BMW Group Plant in Munich, Germany, produces the BMW 330E. A few 3 Series models are also made in Shenyang, China and San Luis Potosi, Mexico.
Your BMW will probably either arrive from Mexico directly or be sent from Germany to the United States as a client. Asian clients are primarily served by the BMW facility in China. However, BMW is a pretty well-known automaker. Because the 330E isn’t made in America, you shouldn’t have any trouble finding replacement components for your BMW.
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