That does decrease significantly when all-wheel drive is added, to 46 km/29 miles. The EPA estimates that the rear-wheel drive model will travel up to 21 miles on electricity or up to 18 miles for a 530e xDrive, which is much closer to the actual range of the 530e.
The lower range estimate relates to my tester, a very well-equipped 530e Luxury Line that did have all-wheel drive. As I discovered during the steady 70 mph highway test that made up the first portion of my range test, the EPA’s projection for a rear-wheel drive vehicle was nearly accurate (check out the video above for the exact results)
However, even though I anticipated getting better mileage out of the vehicle on the urban range test, it ultimately fell far short. I must point out that the weather was below freezing, it had snowed the night before, and the roads were either wet or still covered with some snow. Had I tested the car in warmer weather, I’m sure the results would have increased by 10 to 15 percent.
Because the 530e can only charge at a maximum rate of 3.7 kW, charging the car required a considerable amount of time—nearly 4 hours.
In This Article...
The BMW 530e plug-in hybrid is faster, but will it travel farther on electricity?
The plug-in hybrid BMW 5-Series sport sedan, the 530e, may no longer be the vehicle in the U.S. 5-Series lineup with the slowest acceleration in 2021.
That may come out as petty, but it’s a crucial step toward demonstrating the value of a format that the carmaker has a lot riding on. BMW has high standards for PHEVs and EVs, and it even envisions a completely electric 7-Series as the fastest vehicle in the future.
The 530e accelerates from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 5.7 seconds, which is 0.1 to 0.2 seconds faster than base 530i cars. Even if the 540i and M550i versions are faster, it’s still not the fastest in the lineup, which fixes at least one of the problems with the plug-in hybrid. However, it’s still not a strong advocate for the performance advantages of going electric.
The 181 horsepower inline-6 engine and the 107 horsepower electric motor, which is housed inside the transmission and clutched between the engine and eight-speed automatic transmission, are what power the 530e. The hybrid system’s maximum power is increased to 288 hp and 310 lb-ft of peak torque with the inclusion of XtraBoost, which electrically provides 40 extra horsepower when needed when the accelerator is depressed in Sport mode.
BMW increased the battery’s capacity from 9.2 kwh to 12.0 kwh last year without changing the pack’s physical size. That continues into this year (rated at 9.09 kwh usable capacity). The 3.7-kw inbuilt charger on the 530e can fully charge it in three hours (or 11.3 hours with a 120V AC outlet).
Regarding the 530e’s fully electric range for 2021, BMW’s specification sheet only states “TBD” at this time. The EPA estimated the 2020 530e’s all-electric range to be 21 miles.
The battery upgrade and XtraBoost improvement are also included in the price of the 2021 BMW 330e, the equivalent plug-in hybrid version of the 3-Series. Recent ratings put the distance at 20 or 22 miles, depending on the model.
Will the 5-Series plug-in hybrid model get better gas mileage than the standard model? We don’t yet know the solution to that serious question, despite the possibility that it will make people chuckle. The 330e obtains a poorer gas-mileage rating than either the preceding 330e or the non-hybrid 330e once its charge is depleted.
The efficiency data we saw indicate that, despite recent drive reviews of the 2020 BMW 745e plug-in hybrid, the EPA test may not be kind to the BMW hybrid system.
The updated 530e is one of several ways BMW is modernizing the current portfolio of BMW 5-Series vehicles, nicknamed by brand aficionados as G30.
That includes a new face, represented by a larger grille. This year’s improvements inside include a new 12.3-inch infotainment system as well as other smaller details in paint and trim to help it all stay current.
Both the 530e and 530e xDrive will start at $58,195 in 2021, inclusive of the $995 destination charge. The redesigned 5-Series lineup is anticipated to begin deliveries in July 2020.
Range, MPG, and CO2 emissions for the BMW 530e hybrid
The official pure-electric range of the BMW 530e is between 32 and 37 miles, which is comparable to most plug-in hybrid competitors (depending on particular specifications). In practice, cooler weather or traveling on the freeway will likely result in you seeing roughly 25 miles, while warm weather will cause that distance to increase.
The BMW can keep the battery’s charge until you’re ready to use it, like the majority of plug-in vehicles. Furthermore, it includes a unique feature that enables you to hold a particular amount of energy. On quicker highways, when the gasoline engine will provide the highest fuel economy, it makes sense to do this. For city driving, where electric motors are most effective, you can then revert to the all-electric “Max eDrive” mode.
After the charge is gone, the fuel economy you get can disappoint. With varying usage, the 530e only achieved 29 mpg (excluding electric running). You won’t perform much better in the Mercedes E 300 e than that.
The Outcomes
The 530e estimated an EV range of 19 miles when fully charged. This is largely predicated on the driving patterns of previous drivers, and the car extrapolates what you can expect over the following few miles based on those patterns. I managed to travel somewhat more than 19 miles and a good deal more than the recommended 21 miles. I was able to travel 28.4 miles in the 530e in variable driving circumstances after switching to the electric-only mode of the vehicle. It’s a fantastic result for the vehicle, and if your commute falls within that range, you could be able to operate the 530e primarily in electric mode while saving the gasoline engine for long-distance journeys and highway driving.
The 530e’s excellent feature is that it still has a BMW-like appearance, feel, and driving. Excellent ride and handling balance, a sporty-yet-comfortable feel, and quick access to more enjoyable driving fun in Sport mode are all strengths of the steering. Regenerative braking is the sole questionable difference between the 530e and a regular 5 Series. The brakes on the 530e operate similarly to those on other hybrid vehicles: they are good up until the last few feet of a stop, at which point they become numb and mushy, making smooth stops challenging and generating some head bobbing in the passengers.
However, the 530e meets your expectations for a 5 Series sedan in terms of features, amenities, interior quality, and other factors. Even the basic price of $58,195 for a very well-equipped FWD variant isn’t that outrageous. My test car’s price was increased by unneeded amounts of $2,500 for a white leather interior, $550 for Phytonic Blue Metallic paint, and additional packages for the M Sport, Luxury Seating, Shadlowline, Driving Assistance, Parking Assistance, and more.
The 530e’s true intended use doesn’t exactly align with U.S. usage because no American city (yet) has implemented a congestion charge program, but given its excellent observed EV range and normal-feeling operation under most driving circumstances, it would be an intriguing option for someone who isn’t quite ready to fully commit to a pure EV like a Tesla Model 3.
I dislike
For a total of 288 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque in the 530e, BMW combines a four-cylinder gas engine and an electric motor, which is 40 more than in the previous model year. The 530e has an eight-speed automatic transmission that sends power to the rear wheels, but you can also purchase it with BMW’s xDrive all-wheel-drive technology.
I appreciate plug-in hybrids’ dual functionality since it allows me to go short distances in the comfort of a gas engine while still cruising around town in electric mode. It’s unfortunate that the 530e’s EPA-rated all-electric range is only 21 miles (the xDrive model lowers that rating to 18 miles). The smaller 330e, which employs the same powerplant, has a slightly greater range. While the bigger X5 PHEV has a longer driving range and more power.
What is a BMW plug-in hybrid car’s electric range?
The size of the battery, together with the weight, aerodynamics, and tire type of a plug-in hybrid car, all affect its electric range. The EPA-rated electric ranges for 2020-2021 BMW plug-in hybrid electric vehicles are:
- Sports Activity Vehicle(r) BMW X5 xDrive45e: 30 kilometers
- 30 kilometers, BMW X5 xDrive45e SAV
- 22/20 miles for the BMW 330e/330e xDrive Sedan.
- 20/18 miles for the BMW 530e/530e xDrive sedan.
- 16 miles for the BMW 745e xDrive Sedan
When using both the electric motor and the BMW TwinPower Turbo engine, the combined driving range is much larger and can be tailored based on driving and charging habits.
Economical and Environmental Performance of the BMW 530e M Sport Saloon
The BMW 530e M Sport iPerformance Saloon’s combined official NEDC fuel efficiency rating ranges from 141.2 to 148.7 mpg, or 44.0 to 46.0 g/km CO2. The official combined NEDC fuel economy is worthless, as regular readers of Green Car Guide’s plug-in hybrid evaluations are aware, because in practice it entirely depends on how much driving you perform on electric power. The ideal situation would be to only operate your vehicle on electric power, which would require no fuel. The worst-case scenario, or when the 1800kg car is solely using its 2-liter petrol engine, is 30mpg at highway speeds with the battery charge set to stay at 100%. There will actually be a sliding scale between these two extremes as long as you begin your trips with the car fully charged. We averaged 50 mpg on 40–50-mile motorway trips when driving in hybrid mode, which enables the car’s gasoline engine and electric motor to cooperate as efficiently as possible, and when using Eco Pro mode with its coasting function. The 530e is unquestionably more aerodynamic than the majority of plug-in hybrid SUVs on the market, making it more effective for highway driving with a cd of 0.26. Overall, the BMW 530e averaged 47.1 mpg after a week of mixed driving (albeit with more local, electric driving than our regular week).
Officially, the BMW 530e has a 31-mile electric driving range. The best we could get out of the 530e during our test drive in the winter was a “displayed” electric range projection of 19 miles, but as we were driving, this swiftly dropped to approximately 17 miles.
Just a quick note on the wide range of fuel consumption numbers BMW provides for the 530e: 141.2 mpg/46 g/km CO2 and a 30 mile electric range are based on the largest wheel and tyre size available, while 148.7 mpg/44 g/km CO2 and a 31 mile electric range are based on the smallest wheel and tyre size available (18-inch wheels with 245/45 tyres all around) (19 and 20-inch wheels, or 18-inch wheels with wider tyres). When winter tires are installed, the electric range is slightly reduced once more.
Of course, you need to charge the 530e in order to enjoy from its reduced emissions and improved fuel efficiency. At 3.7 kW, it takes slightly under three hours to charge completely. It can be difficult to plug the cable into the charging socket in the dark because there is a light next to it but it doesn’t illuminate the socket itself.