A hulking five-seater luxury SUV with a claimed fuel consumption that’d make a small diesel hatchback blush. Seems a little far-fetched, doesn’t it?
Well, BMW reckons not. Sure, the public generally places virtually no trust in manufacturers’ fuel economy claims – and rightly so – but there’s something to be said for a mid-size SUV with at least the prospect of returning something close to the quoted 3,3 L/100 km.
Real-world numbers, naturally, are not nearly as impressive. In fact, drive it like you would any other X5 and you can expect a figure of around eight. But, with a little restraint and a pinch of forward-thinking, there’s certainly the potential to whittle that down.
How does it all work?
So, how does the BMW X5 xDrive40e – the first plug-in hybrid SUV from the Munich-based automaker – go about its dual-power business? Well, an electric motor is smartly integrated in the eight-speed Steptronic transmission, and draws its power from a 9,0 kWh lithium-ion battery pack housed beneath the luggage compartment floor.
This cleverly arranged electric setup works hand-in-hand with a 2,0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, for a total system output of 230 kW and 450 N.m. With all components singing the same tune, the sprint from standstill to 100 km/h is seen off in a claimed 6,8 seconds.
Indeed, thanks to the electric motor’s oodles of instant torque, the BMW X5 xDrive40e feels positively sprightly off the line, belying its substantial 2 170 kg kerb weight. Of course, the permanent all-wheel-drive system also helps in this regard. And ride quality is impressive, too, with the eDrive model built alongside its regular siblings in Spartanburg in the United States and featuring the same rear air suspension as standard.
Under the radar
Interestingly, to onlookers, there’s not much to give away that this is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). In fact, other than the flap on the front fender concealing the charging port and the subtle badging plastered to the rump, there’s nothing setting the eDrive model apart from its purely fossil-fuelled siblings.
Inside, it’s a similar story: there’s another understated badge on the centre console, hybrid-specific information readouts, and a small eDrive switch located next to the gear-lever. And it’s via this button that three distinct driving modes (over and above BMW’s usual EcoPro, Comfort and Sport settings) can be brought into play.
With Auto eDrive engaged, the four-pot mill’s power is effectively complemented by electric drive when required, such as during sudden bursts of acceleration. Max eDrive mode, meanwhile, allows the X5 to run in near-silence on electric power alone, for up to 31 km on a fully charged battery (and up to speeds of 120 km/h). Finally, the Save Battery setting allows the driver to conserve battery power for later use, and even top up the charge via energy recuperation.
Forward, charge
Of course, the high-voltage battery can also be charged via the few public charging stations dotted around South Africa (including the new solar carports), BMW’s home-installed i Wallbox and, finally, standard domestic power sockets. Hooked up to the latter, BMW says a fully depleted battery can be fully recharged in just short of four hours. Take note, though, that due to the small size of the battery, there’s no rapid DC-charging option.
I managed to sample this particular model for one night a few weeks ahead of the local launch, tackling my usual hour of heavy traffic in the pouring rain. The bumper-to-bumper stuff was easily dealt with on electricity alone, and I required petrol power with only a couple of minutes of my 25 km commute remaining.
One thing that stands out is the seamless transition between the two sources of power. Indeed, such is the level of refinement of BMW’s modern internal combustion range, that I’d venture many ordinary motorists plonked in the driver’s seat of the eDrive-badged X5 wouldn’t be the wiser to the hybrid happenings beneath their right foot.
Little compromise
And, ultimately, this ability to pass itself off – with very little compromise at all – as an “ordinary” X5 is perhaps one of the eDrive model’s greatest strengths. The all-electric range is admittedly modest and the luggage capacity slightly handicapped by the presence of the battery, but other than that, it’s essentially as complete a package as any other X5.
Of course, it’s not alone in our market, with the Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine AWD Inscription having launched at virtually the same time (pick up a copy of our June issue to read a comparative test of the two).
Thing is, in South Africa, where long-distance driving is the norm, any one of the BMW X5 xDrive40e’s frankly superb (and properly frugal) diesel siblings may well make more sense to many plug-doubting buyers. Unless, of course, those buyers seldom stray too far from their homes.
