On the road in new BMW 330e
FIRST DRIVE Plug-in mixes efficiency and performance
COULD the new BMW 330e be the 3 Series of choice? That’ll depend largely on your needs, but remove any preconceptions about what this kind of car should be, and you’re left with a dynamic, engaging sports saloon that’s capable of up to 41 miles on electric power alone.
That sounds enticing, and that’s the impression we got when we drove a late pre-production model back in March (Issue 1,565). Now that we’ve been for a run in the finished article, we can confirm that this is a 3 Series with serious mainstream appeal.
First of all, the numbers. Prices start from £37,875 and rise to £39,980 for the rangetopping M Sport car driven here. It’s only a few hundred pounds more than the 330i, spec for spec, which means that many potential 320d or 330i buyers can now afford to go plug-in. And we think many should, too, if they’ve got a driveway to keep the batteries topped up overnight.
For private buyers, it’s still hard to overlook the fact the ever-dependable 320d is cheaper to buy outright, but there’s no competition when it comes to Benefit -in-Kind tax. The new 330e chalks up a rate of just 16 per cent, compared with the 30-32 per cent spread for the 320d. Whatever your tax contributions, the 330e could slash a serious amount off your annual bill.
The 330e uses a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine in combination with an electric motor, and they both send power to the rear axle. The engine delivers 182bhp, with the electric motor adding an extra 67bhp for a total output of 249bhp.
However, the car also arrives with a new XtraBoost mode, which is accessed when the 330e is toggled into Sport on the drive selector. This allows the electric motor to run in overdrive for limited bursts, taking total system power up to 289bhp and 420Nm.
Combining as much petrol and electric shove as possible, the XtraBoost function reveals a different edge to the 330e. Throttle response is fantastic; regardless of gear or revs, the torque fill of the electric motor is instantaneous and it reacts immediately to inputs. The noise is a little strained, however, and the augmented sound produced by the speakers is less inspiring.
Leave it be and this is a very civilised 3 Series to drive, but you can’t avoid its hybrid underpinnings. With the electronics managing energy flow, the 2.0-litre engine drops out and leaves the car to operate on electric power, working seamlessly and with a fair amount of regularity. The 12kW battery under the rear seats is calibrated to rely on electricity as much as possible, and while that 138mpg maximum remains optimistic, if you plug in regularly, there’s nothing to suggest this car isn’t capable of matching a 320d for economy.
Many could commute on battery power alone. That 41-mile range will equate to the mid-30s in reality, but the Electric setting means just that. Top speed is limited to 68mph, but that’s fine for short motorway trips. You have to burst through the throttle’s kickdown step before the engine fires up.
The 330e is around 200kg heavier than a petrol-powered 3 Series, but by and large the extra weight keeps itself hidden. And while the low rolling-resistance tyres aren’t the grippiest, this can’t spoil the experience.
The brakes give away more. The pedal is a little inconsistent at the top, and braking hard unearths trademark hops and skips as you come to a stop, rather than offering totally smooth deceleration, like a 320d.
Elsewhere the 330e retains the high quality of the 3 Series package, with only some minor tweaks, such as the odd trim piece to remind you that it’s a hybrid.
“Left to its own devices, the engine drops out and leaves the car to operate on electric power”
“The 330e is around 200kg heavier than a petrol 3 Series, but the weight is well hidden”