There’s nothing special about this BMW’s interior. An XtraBoost function is accessible in sport mode, too, which makes the car noticeably quicker when you nail the accelerator, providing a 40-hp increase for up to 10 seconds. Sport delivers greater speed and heightens the car’s reflexes, noticeably stiffening the dampers if you’ve opted for the $1,400 Dynamic Handling Package, which includes an Adaptive M Suspension along with swanky blue calipers for the M Sport brakes and variable sport steering. In this mode, the powertrain is well-sorted, smooth and servile, seamless, blending internal combustion and electric power as dictated by conditions. Hybrid is the default setting, providing a nice blend of efficiency and performance. Each is accessible via a row of buttons on the center console.
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To fully enjoy the 330e and properly take advantage of its electric-only abilities, you really need to install a 240-volt charger in your garage or parking space.Īllowing you to choose how the 330e behaves and manages its energy reserves, several driving modes are offered, including sport, hybrid, electric and adaptive. DC fast charging is, unfortunately, not supported. A 240-volt Level 2 charger can do the deed in just 3.5 hours.
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Level 1 charging (hooking the car to a standard, 120-volt household outlet) can take the battery from zero to full in a languid but entirely typical 11.5 hours. This powertrain melds the efficiency and responsiveness of an electric motor with the all-season versatility and quick refueling of internal combustion. In mixed use, taking full advantage of the electric-only range, I’m averaging about 48 mpg, which is pretty damn impressive for a reasonably sporty luxury car.
If you operate this sedan exclusively on the gasoline engine, it should average 28 mpg. Run the 2021 BMW 330e solely on electricity and it should return 75 mpge combined. And the car feels every bit that quick: Acceleration is sprightly and smooth, all you could really ever need on the street. Add everything up, and the 330e is endowed with 288 hp and 310 lb-ft of twist, enough for it to hit 60 mph in a claimed 5.6 seconds. Beyond that, a separate electric motor provides 107 hp, 77 lb-ft and near-silent operation. On its own, that four-cylinder engine provides 181 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, which flows to the rear wheels (or the front, too, if you opt for all-wheel drive) through an eight-speed automatic transmission.
And if your employer hasn’t yet installed vehicle chargers, a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine ensures you can get home after clocking out. Sure, more would be great, and I wish the 330e offered at least twice that amount, but this is probably enough to get a lot of folks to work in the morning without burning a drop of gasoline. With a 12-kilowatt-hour (9.1-kWh net capacity) lithium-ion battery pack mounted underneath the rear seat, this BMW provides a decent 22 miles of electric-only range.
With a foot in each camp, the 330e offers quiet, emissions-free motoring and the ability to go on a cross-country road trip without having to worry about charging. Plug-in hybrids bridge this chasm, however, and they often do it very well. But until battery technology advances and charging infrastructures expand, EVs simply aren’t a viable option for many drivers. You could argue that plug-in hybrids are nothing more than a stepping stone between the old way (burning dinosaur juice) and a much brighter future (all-electric vehicles), and there’s merit to this. By offering decent all-electric range, strong acceleration and admirable efficiency, the 2021 BMW 330e makes a strong case for itself and, more importantly, its entire breed. They meld the efficiency, refinement and responsiveness of an all-electric powertrain with the quick-refueling and proven performance of internal combustion. Like a supermodel with multiple Ph.D.s, plug-in hybrids offer the best of both worlds. The grille hasn’t taken over the entire front end of this BMW… yet. Melding the efficiency of an electric powertrain with the convenience of internal combustion results in a car that’s better than the sum of its parts. When you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Roadshow editors pick the products and services we write about.
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