2016 BMW X5 xDrive40e review

Is a plug-in hybrid version of the sharply dynamic X5 nothing but dead wood when it comes to BMW’s green cred?

WHAT IS IT?
A petrol-electric plug-in hybrid version of BMW’s large SUV

WHY WE’RE DRIVING IT
BMW’s COTY-winning BMW i3, and the BMW i8 supercar show that the company is at the cutting edge in terms of hybrid and electric powertrain technology, so we’re keen to learn if the transfer of this tech to its conventional models continues the form.

MAIN RIVALS
Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid. From the third quarter of 2016 there will also be the Audi Q7 e-tron and the Mercedes Benz GLE500e (which adds plug-in hybrid tech to a twin-turbo petrol V6).

THE WHEELS VERDICT
The BMW X5 xDrive 40e is a mostly convincing execution of conventional plug-in hybrid technology, and it's also priced keenly compared to, say, Porsche's Cayenne S E-Hybrid. Its main shortcoming is the limited driving range on battery power alone, but for the target market this is unlikely to be a deal-breaker.
PLUS: Seamless switching between electric and petrol power sources, excellent overall powertrain refinement, roomy cabin
MINUS: Short electric-only range, loss of third-row seating option, heavy

THE WHEELS REVIEW
THE main issue with cutting-edge technology, as best as I can tell, is how quickly its once-gleaming edge can become dulled. What was yesterday’s Brilliant Bright Shiny Thing is today’s discontinued obsolescence, and tomorrow’s landfill.

So where, we wonder, does that leave BMW with its relatively late-to-the party X5 xDrive40e, the plug-in hybrid variant of what was last year’s top-selling premium SUV?
The tech fundamentals are fairly familiar. The xDrive 40e takes the company’s 2.0-litre turbo four cylinder petrol engine and integrates an electric motor between it and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The underfloor area in the boot loses the space-saver spare tyre and rises 40mm to accommodate a 96-cell, 9kWh lithium-ion battery pack. Load space with the seats folded remains vast at 1720 litres.

The company claims much of the tech that coordinates the outputs of the petrol and electric power sources is lifted from the ground-breaking i8 supercar, but anyone with an understanding of what Audi has done with its Q7 hybrid, or Mercedes with its E-Class hybrid, won’t find anything to far from the norm here. There’s no ground-breaking battery tech, or induction charging, for example.

In operational terms, it typically goes like this: You plug the car into a conventional domestic power supply and allow it five hours to reach maximum charge. This charging time is roughly halved if you have an installer fit a high-output wall box, or halved again if you plug in at a public charging station. That full charge will give you, according to our test loop, around 24km of electric-only propulsion if you select the MAX eDrive mode, which bars assistance from the petrol engine unless the throttle is kicked to the firewall. If 24km doesn’t sound like much result for five hours tethered to a wall, that because it’s not. Depending on traffic and speed limits, it typically equates to less than 30 minutes of driving time. But BMW points out that most city dwellers only commute 32km each day, and half of people drive just 20 or so. The message is that the XDrive 40e has mostly enough EV capability for most people’s commuting needs. But it’s not exactly what you’d call a generous electric-only range.

More encouraging is the seamlessness with which the two power sources merge or decouple when the car is operated in the default Auto eDrive setting. Here it uses the most efficient combination of available power; more electric (if the battery is sufficiently charged, of course) around town, and mostly petrol power for highway cruising. Naturally there’s a Save mode to preserve battery power; if you’re leaving your charging point and heading straight onto a highway, for example, it makes more sense to preserve the battery’s power until you’re back in stop-start city driving.

So left to its own devices, xDrive40e moves away virtually silently, and the refinement of the petrol engine is so good that you really have to focus on what’s going on to be aware of it kicking in to assist with the task of muscling this 2230kg SUV around town. That weight figure is 120kg heavier than the identically priced xDrive40d, with its 230kW/630Nm 3.0-litre turbo-diesel six, but here in the hybrid there’s no still shortage of shove. The combined system output is quoted as 230kW/450Nm, which is sufficient for a swift 0-100km/h figure of 6.8 seconds, and it’s hard to imagine any owners bemoaning a lack of performance. More relevant than the 0-100km/h figure is the car’s rolling response and overtaking ability, which is thrusty and lusty. There’s virtually instantaneous response to a wide-open throttle, and the petrol engine feels even smoother and more refined in this installation than it does it the 3 Series. Only in its final lunge for the 6500rpm redline is there a very distant, muted yet quite appealing snarl; otherwise it’s extremely quiet. Once the battery’s power has been depleted, charge can be regained via the regenerative effects of off-throttle coasting and braking, which works most effectively when the Sport mode is selected. The only issue with this is Sport also firms up the dampers and the steering, which takes a further toll on the ride. However, you can configure the Sport setting to the powertrain only, leaving Comfort for the dampers and steering. It’s (marginally) less complex than it sounds, and helpfully, your preferences for possible combinations can be saved to Favourites buttons that normally operate the radio presets.

So, as you’d expect from BMW, the powertrain, for all its complexity and weight, does exactly what you’d expect of it, and there’s sophisticated unobtrusiveness about its operation that has plenty of appeal. Beyond that, though, there are well-documented pros and cons of this third-generation X5 generally. First up, despite the standard fitment of adaptive dampers to the xDrive40e, deemed essential due to the extra weight, the ride is well short of plush or cosseting. There’s an abruptness to its vertical motions, especially over sharp edges or traffic-calming infrastructure, which was exacerbated on our test car thanks to the optional 20-inch wheels running massive 305/35 rear and 275/40 front rubber.

Then there’s the steering, which never feels entirely feelsome or natural no matter what the setting. The overall upshot is that the X5 isn’t particularly fluid or relaxed in its driving character; which is a shame, because that’s what you so often want from a large SUV. On the upside, the cabin is roomy, and with some well-considered options, supremely comfortable and visually appealing.

In terms of fuel use, the xDrive40e claims an official and miraculous-sounding 3.3L/100km, but real-world figures will depend hugely on driving use and distances between charges. Short trips and constant plugging in could theoretically see you better this number, but once the battery’s charge is gone, you’re left with a big SUV and a hard-working turbo petrol four burning at least 10.0L/100km in general driving. It’s also worth remembering that a full charge using green electricity will cost around $2.

On balance, it leaves the xDrive40e as a keenly priced and worthwhile addition to the X5 line-up, but one that will only appeal to a select customer; someone who can see environmental merit in the limited EV range, who doesn’t mind the nightly plugging-in process, who doesn’t need the third-row seating (about a third of X5 customers do) which is nixed by the battery pack, and who geeks out joyously using the smartphone app to remotely check the battery’s charge status. For everyone else, that leaves the $16,000 cheaper xDrive30d as the default choice, and still sweet spot in the X5 line-up.

SPECS
Model: BMW X5 xDrive40e
Engine: 1998cc 4cyl, dohc, 16v, turbo + electric motor
Max system power: 230kW
Max system torque: 450Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Weight: 2230kg
0-100km/h: 6.8sec
Fuel economy: 3.3l/100km
Price: $118,900
On sale: Now