PHEV-Y metal

Like many a diehard petrolhead, I’m sure, I wasn’t quite ready to go fully electric when changing my car recently.

I live rurally, where the charging infrastructure is… let’s be kind here and call it ‘sparse’, so I decided to research PHEVS

Then I thought, to hell with it,

I’ll get a 300-odd bhp BMW, with their iconic straight-six 3-litre petrol engine up front.

But wait: they do one that marries the above with a 100bhp electric motor? Really?

Yes, I now own an BMW X5 xdrive45e PHEV. It has nearly 400bhp (combined) and last month I averaged just over 85mpg. It will also do around 55 miles on a single charge. I’ve done many journeys on electric only, and haven’t yet received an irate email from Greta Thunberg. As an aside, an online car reviewer has also recorded a sub-5 second 0-62 time, so there’s plenty of performance too.

Anyone else reckon that sounds pretty good as a halfway house until we’re all forced by legislation to give up what we love? Well, none other than Harry Metcalfe agrees after he reviewed the car on his Harry’s Garage Youtube channel. It’s safe to say he was a big fan.

Something like an X5 might not be to everyone’s taste, but don’t despair, there is performance to be had without totally giving up

Ice-only cars, for now anyway. I’m struggling to see a downside.

Right, must dash, I’m off out into the lashing rain and howling wind to plug it in.

Euan Gibson, St Abbs