BMW 3 Series 330e M Sport
List price £42,545 Target Price £40,047 Target PCP £431 0-62mph 5.2sec Top speed 142mph Official economy 201.8mpg CO2 31g/km
IF THERE’S ONE car that does everything for everybody, this is it. The BMW 330e plug-in hybrid is pure electric commuter, petrol-powered thrill-seeker and luxurious executive saloon all rolled into one.
The official electric range of up to 37 miles is on a par with rivals such as the Mercedes-benz C300e and Volvo S60 Recharge. It’s smooth, hushed and peachy to drive even if you skip on to the motorway for a few miles on electric power. When the 330e’s 2.0-litre petrol engine kicks in to join the electric motor and deliver the full, combined 288bhp, you get even punchier acceleration to better enjoy the handling.
The 330e sets the benchmark for being the best driver’s car in the class, and that’s saying something, given the competition it faces.
The S60 Recharge is faster and has four-wheel drive (you can add BMW’S xdrive four-wheel drive to the 330e), but the 330e with rear-wheel drive is sharper and more engaging than the S60 on a good road.
It’s composed everywhere else, too. The optional adaptive suspension is worth it if you want the most comfort without compromising on handling verve, but even on standard suspension the 330e is easygoing in an across-town muddle and effortless on a motorway.
It’s not just about the way it drives, of course. If you’re buying a posh saloon car, you want a posh interior, and the 330e doesn’t disappoint. The driving position is near-perfect, with a seat that holds you snugly in place and has a good range of adjustment. There’s also decent visibility in all directions.
The M Sport version we favour gets clear digital dials, plus a 10.3in colour touchscreen you can control with a dial that’s really easy to use when you’re driving. We rate it as the best infotainment system around.
Maybe an Audi A4 has the 330e licked for the finer degrees of interior quality, but the general ambience in the 330e is still one of precision and lustre; it’s likely to deliver all the premium executive finish you want.
The whole family will be well catered for, too. There’s plenty of room for two adults in the back, even if front seat occupants are tall, and a third person will be able to squeeze in if necessary. Bear in mind, though, that the boot is smaller than it is in regular petrol and diesel versions of the 3 Series because of the space taken up by the battery.
Overall, it’s hard to find fault with the 330e and it really is the epitome of an all-rounder. It’s super-affordable for company car tax, competitive on purchase price and monthly costs, and cheap to fuel, yet also brilliant to drive, sit in and live with. You really can have it all with the 330e.
THE I-PACE CAPTURED the Jaguar ethos brilliantly by looking so gorgeous that everyone immediately wanted one. Indeed, it looks as good today as when it was launched in 2018.
The only problem was that it cost quite a lot to buy. Now, though, there are many examples of this highly desirable car on the used market, offering decent savings on the price of a new one.
You can expect to pay between £40,000 and £45,000 for an early car with a reasonable mileage from a franchised dealer.
The I-pace isn’t just good looking and reasonable value used; it also has a huge, 90kwh battery that provides power to all four wheels through two electric motors for a total output of 395bhp.the performance is colossal, and the 292-mile official range is longer than most rivals can manage.
The I-pace is almost as impressive inside.the driving position is low for an SUV, but the seats look great while offering plenty of support.there’s a slick digital display in front of the driver and a partly touch-sensitive panel that sits lower down on the centre console.
Space is plentiful, with room for two tall individuals to sit behind occupants who are equally lofty. Rear boot space is reasonable and there’s also a small front boot in place of a conventional engine.
All in all, the I-pace beats its Audi E-tron and Tesla Model X rivals convincingly. It can go farther between charges than the former and is sweeter to drive and feels more upmarket than the latter, plus it’s better value than both.