BMW is a known player in the field of plug-in hybrid vehicles or PHEVs. After having debuted its super fabulous i8 super car in the year 2014, the bars have certainly been raised and now its time to perform better. Its 2016 and the market demands more, owing to change in the trends and preferences, the company has launched the X5 xDrive40e series that also happens to be BMW’s 1st non i-brand PHEV. This also entails upon the German automaker’s entry into the small yet expanding luxury PHEV SUV segment. Albeit it’s new entry, the xDrive40e is built on the tried and true X5 car platform.
This is reminiscent of the X5 that was one of the first luxury SUV’s that had debuted around 17 years ago and now the X5 xDrive 40e takes the same tradition that involved combining sophisticated utility along with fun, performance along with standard all-wheel drive together in one fat and luxurious package. BMW adds to this limited electric-only operation via a lithium-ion battery pack and emission-free operation—but it all comes at a premium price.
What powers this machine?
The 2016 BMW X5 xdrive 40e comes with a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder gasoline powered engine that has 240 HP power and an additional 111-horse power electric motor. The total power generated by this beast is 308 Hp and that’s no joke. Power is sent to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission with Sport and Manual shift modes.
Interiors and features:
In terms of features, this vehicle comes equipped with xenon adaptive headlights with dynamic auto-leveling along with Corona rings, LED fog lights, hill descent control, adaptive cruise control, power-folding and heated side mirrors, four-way power-adjustable front seats with lumbar support and driver’s seat memory functions, keyless entry and ignition, a sliding panoramic moon-roof with a power interior sunshade, front and rear parking sensors, and interior ambient lighting. On the tech side, you get the BMW Assist tele-matics system, Bluetooth for phone and audio, BMW Online and BMW Apps connectivity, the iDrive infotainment interface with a touchpad controller, a navigation system with a 10.2-inch display and real-time traffic information, 3D maps, and a 200GB hard drive.
The standard audio system features CD/DVD, AM/FM HD Radio, satellite radio, USB, aux-in, and 20GB of storage for audio files. Special PHEV tech includes BMW eDrive with range and charging-status display, charging station search, charging timer, and cabin preconditioning via the My BMW Remote app.
The M Sport trim adds 20-inch M wheels, an aerodynamic kit, special exterior trim, an M steering wheel with paddle shifters, aluminum roof rails, multi-contoured front seats, interior wood trim, and an anthracite headliner.
How technically sound is this car?
The biggest technical advantage of the BMW X5 x Drive 40 e is the PHEV technology that comes on board. An eDrive button in the center console is used to click through the power train settings. The default Auto mode allows the gas engine and electric drive systems to work together, while Max locks the vehicle into all-electric mode until the battery is depleted. There’s also a Save Battery setting that conserves the battery’s energy for Max use later. There is an iDriver controller and a touch pad on top that although takes some getting used to but it’s a nice and convenient management option. As with all BMWs, the xDrive40e uses hybrid connectivity, so some features are available via an embedded SIM card, such as online search, while others, like several streaming music services, are delivered through the BMW Apps platform and your smart phone.
Pricing:
Getting onto the most essential part of this article, the pricing. In terms of pricing, the 2016 BMW X5 xdrive 40e comes with an introductory price of $ 62,000 and comes available in various trims. Pay an extra $ 1100 and get the luxury line, while the xLine is priced at $ 2000 extra. The Sports costs $ 4350 more. The additional accessories carry a separate price tag in case you require any of them.
Performance:
In terms of performance, the xDrive40e offers superb spirited performance that comes with quick acceleration and incredible handling. A point to be noted is that this car only has a minimum of 14 miles of electric-only range and has a fuel economy of 25 mpg on highways. It takes around 3 hours to charge the battery with the 3.6 kW onboard charger with 240-volt. While the factory-supplied 120-volt charging cord that plugs into any standard wall socket takes about seven hours to recharge a completely depleted battery. That’s sadly a turnoff for electric cars.
Bottom Line:
The main question arises that is this vehicle worth the money and is the worth spending 60K+ on? Well, if you take plenty of short trips in electric-only mode, the vehicle would be a safe bet.