BMW X5 xDrive45e
Plug-in hybrid SUV arrives with six-cylinder petrol engine
PLUG-in hybrid power is back on the menu for the BMW X5, but this time with a key difference. The firm is aiming to make the new xDrive45e version of its long-running Audi Q7 and Volvo XC90 rival more than just a niche choice.
Compared with the previous-generation X5 xDrive40e, the addition of two more cylinders is the biggest change. A 3.0-litre turbocharged six-cylinder petrol engine now sits under the bonnet and it links up with an electric motor attached to the eightspeed automatic transmission.
Total system power stands at 389bhp, but of more interest is the 24kWh battery pack, located under the rear bench, which feeds the electric motor. That’s a large battery for a plug-in hybrid car. For context that’s as big as the pack found in the previous-generation, fully electric Nissan Leaf, but in the BMW there’s sixcylinder shove to fall back on if necessary.
The comparatively large battery means that the X5 xDrive45e has a decent pure-electric range: between 42 to 54 miles is possible at up to 83mph, according to WLTP standards. Those numbers easily beat the maximum electric ranges of other large plug-in SUV rivals such as the new Audi Q7 TFSIe and the Volvo XC90 T8. Only the upcoming dieselpowered Mercedes GLE 350 de, with its enormous 31.2kWh battery and 61-mile claimed range, looks like it’ll outgun the BMW for pure-electric running.
Beyond that one key metric, the rest of the new plug-in X5 package shapes up well. At £63,165, it sits in the middle of the range, although it’s slightly more expensive than the mainstream xDrive30d diesel. Still, with a Benefit-in-Kind tax rate of
16 per cent compared with the diesel’s 37 per cent banding, this should be the go-to option for company car buyers.
With the hybrid tech essentially stacked on top of the petrol engine, this is a heavy SUV, weighing more than two-and-a-half tonnes. Thankfully the instant torque of the electric motor assists in disguising the car’s weight, and throttle response feels strong. The X5 xDrive45e operates in hybrid mode by default every time you start the car, so you’ll move off silently and need to prod the throttle to coax the petrol engine into life.
BMW has also focused on making the way the hybrid switches between electric and petrol power as intelligent as possible. The car uses the mapping data from the navigation system to work out which power source makes the most sense for the road you’re driving on. For instance, head through a village and it’ll prioritise battery power. Hit the motorway and the X5 will rely on the engine. The shifts between electric and petrol are seamless, while the six-cylinder engine is silky-smooth in action. It’s an impressive set-up.
Charging is the only weak point. BMW hasn’t equipped the X5 45e with any fast-charging capability, so topping up the battery at 3.7kWh through a typical household plug takes seven hours.
The battery pack removes 150 litres from overall boot space, too. However, the X5 is a large car – few families will be left wanting for more practicality.
The rest of the interior remains a high point, with modern BMW touches and a typically strong iDrive infotainment system. Twin-axle air suspension is standard on the plug-in X5, so it’s comfortable, too.
“The 24kWh battery pack is bigger than the one in the previous-gen, fully electric Nissan Leaf”