Whichever way you swing it, you cannot deny just how prevalent plug-in hybrids are now. The concept provides a solid middle ground between zero emission silent running and internal combustion with the ICE unit coming to play when needed to generate power for the batteries.
BMW is certainly no stranger to this with most of their range containing some form of PHEV option. One of the latest of these is the new Plug-in-Hybrid version of the immensely popular X3 SUV, or to be specific, the X3 30e xDrive Plug-in-Hybrid.
With a starting price of $118,900, it sits a snip under $120,000, sitting between the entry level X3 20 and performance X3 M50 xDrive. Figuratively speaking, it might be the middle child, but it certainly does its utmost to get noticed between its siblings, particularly when it comes to fuel frugality.
The PHEV part of the equation comes in the form of a 2.0L four-cylinder petrol engine mated to eight-speed Steptronic automatic transmission, an electric motor and a 22.1kWh battery pack. Combined power sits at 220kW and 450Nm of torque and BMW’s proven xDrive AWD system sends this grunt to, well, all four wheels. The electric only range for the latest X3 PHEV has improved drastically, up around 50 per cent over the outgoing model, resulting in you able to cover up to 90kms on electric alone.
Supportive of both single and three phase AC charging, you will reimburse the battery with a full charge in around 2 hours and 15 minutes. BMW claim combined fuel consumption of 1.1L/100km and a miniscule 26g/km of CO2.
The current X3 embodies much of modern BMW design language. The large active kidney grill features BMW’s “iconic glow” which illuminates the contours of said grill after dark and remains for a short time even after you park up. Its frowning LED headlights and additional sides scoops and lower air vents which aid in cooling and aerodynamics make for a non-nonsense looking front end.
There are plenty of angles and clean-cut lines fore and aft and the redesigned taillight cluster looks bang up to date and the combo of blacked out 21-inch M-Light Alloys and a rather classy looking Tanzanite Blue paint scheme and you have a bit of a statement in a very competitive segment.
Inside it’s the usual blend of high-grade materials and leather trim, along with other niceties I have come to expect from the brand, like an ideally mounted toggle wheel for the infotainment system and a chunky M-sport steering wheel. Left of this is a pair of decent sized drink holders and space for your smartphone to charge via the wireless charging pad. In fact, storage is half decent all around too with numerous places to store your belongings.
Talking of tech, the X3 30e PHEV comes standard with ambient lighting, (which does a fine job of illuminating the cabin after dark, three zone air conditioning, power tailgate, the latest BMW Live Cockpit Professional with 12.3” digital instrument cluster, head up display, electric memory seating and BMW Connected Drive features.
Options included on my test car included that wireless charging, heated leather seats and a delightful Harman/Kardon Sound System. Also, on hand was a panoramic sunroof and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto.
The X3 30e PHEV’s boot space is larger than the previous generation, sitting at 570L which is very generous indeed. Despite the increase carrying capacity, I found the rear legroom to be not as accommodating. If you are after a plug-in more family-oriented SUV with a BMW badge, then the larger X5 might be your best bet. However, if you are a family of two and the back seats occupants are of the K-9 kind, no problem.
It’s an awful cliché, but to call the plug-in X3’s turning circle “razor-sharp” would be an apt description. It hammers home just how this PHEV mid-sized luxo SUV can change direction in traffic with serious verve.
BMW know how to make a car handle well and have done for generations. With the X3 PHEV, it’s pretty much business as usual. There is the merest suggestion of body roll to allow for what I found to be some supple and forgiving underpinnings resulted in the X3 sporting the kind of balanced handling usually reserved for sporting hatches.
That combined power and torque figure means you have some decent zero-emission (almost) shove off the mark and having that 10 seconds of extra oomph when you hold down the left shift paddle makes it a breeze to slingshot passed the car in front during a motorway run.
Even if you don’t feel like “boosting it” the new plug-in X3 fares well in just about every discipline of motoring, but that motorway run is probably its happy place. Even if you don’t frequent State Highway One daily, you could certainly milk the entirety of that 90kms of electric only range during the week and know that charging up again will occur at fewer intervals.
The latest BMW X3 30e PHEV is a great package and one which is not only frugal, but enjoyable to drive too. While not an out-and-out family wagon, it will serve as a great urban tool with enough space for many daily errands and will reduce those trips to the pump considerably thanks to its mighty impressive EV only range. Definetly give this one a look.
Also, stay tuned for my thoughts on the base model X3 20 xDrive real soon!
RATING: 7.5/10
