The BMW 330e is one of a new breed of BMW plug-in hybrids changing the game for hybrid cars – delivering more electric range, improved economy and lower CO2 emissions than their predecessors, without ever compromising the premium sporty driving feel you expect from a BMW.
Our Autocar road test team gave the BMW 330e a 4.5-star review, while What Car? named it the best Executive Car and best Plug-in Hybrid in the recent 2020 What Car? Awards – with the 3 Series range also picking up a What Car? trophy for its standard-setting safety features.
We wanted to find out what you think about BMW’s pace-setting plug-in hybrid technology, though. So, we invited a group of Autocar and What Car? readers to Goodwood, putting them behind the wheel of the BMW 330e to get their thoughts.
To find out more about BMW’s extensive range of plug-in hybrids, head to BMW.co.uk
Hybrid: the best of all worlds
BMW has expanded and refined its range of advanced plug-in hybrids in recent years. The result is a diverse line-up of electrified models – from the 2 Series Active Tourer, through the 3 Series, 5 Series and 7 Series saloons, to the X1, X3 and X5 SUVs – all offering more electric range, improved economy, lower CO2 emissions and more choice to suit every plug-in hybrid driver’s demands.
The BMW 330e is undoubtedly a star of BMW’s plug-in hybrid pack. Designed to deliver the engaging driving feel of a sports saloon with the efficiency of electric power, it takes all the best bits of the new seventh-generation 3 Series – its stylish looks, dynamic performance and a premium high-tech interior – and adds a plug-in hybrid engine that makes urban and long-distance driving even more efficient.
Blending a 2.0-litre four-cylinder TwinPower Turbo petrol engine with a powerful electric motor and an advanced 12kWh battery, the BMW 330e plug-in hybrid boasts up to 37 miles of whisper-quiet all-electric range that’s perfect for low-cost, low-impact everyday urban commuting.
On longer journeys, electric and petrol power work seamlessly together through the eight-speed Steptronic transmission. Over a mix of electric-only commutes with at-home recharging overnight, and the occasional long weekend drive, that means fuel efficiency of up to 201.8mpg (combined) and CO2 emissions as low as 37g/km.
Crucially it does all that without compromising the BMW 3 Series’ sporty character. Find a challenging B-road, and you can use the full combined 252hp and 420Nm of responsive petrol and electric torque – with XtraBoost mode adding 40hp on-demand – to reach 62mph in 5.9 seconds, with a throaty engine note that feels pure BMW.
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