Sorry to say, but I think you guys are completely missing the point here. Hybrid cars like the BMW 330e are very economic in everyday commute and still fun to drive. I currently own a Passat GTE and will get a 330e in a few weeks. I live well within the electric range and can drive zero emission to the office and back every day and charge it with the solar panels on my roof every day. On days I have to drive further i still have the luxury of 40 liters of gasoline which enables me greater range then full EV cars. This makes the car for me more practical then a EV and more sporty and economical compared to smaller gasoline engines. If you do lots of miles every day and have to rely on public chargers then forget about a hybrid, but if you can charge at home and office a sporty hybrid like the 330e is an awesome everyday drive beating any diesel and gasoline car on fuel economy.
That guy is clearly missing the point. Total range is a non-sense, ok 330i will go further on a single tank but you still have to stop before to eat/go to the restroom/rest/let the kid play/... So if you need a car to drive 500mile straight, the 330i is the best choice? Any other day, you will go further with the 330e because you will only have to go to the gas station once a month and the 330i will have to be there once a week. I'm also confused with the pure electric range of only 22miles. This is the range of my 4 year old 225xe with a battery pack of 7,7kwh (when it was new). I test drove the 330e for a weekend and the range was more like 40 miles. You need to learn how to drive the thing. I was really dissapointed with that review because the guy had really no idea what he was driving,
@Naughtysauce It actually does around 37 miles electric max. (when driving on cruise in eco mode) Normal driving would be around 27 miles minimum. when you enter the destination in the navigation it calculates optimal usage mix batterie/gasoline. When driving to office and home in every day comute thats great. traffic at those times is to dense to do sporty driving. And it's not ment to first empty you batteries and then continue on gasoline, using the smart computer enables to you to use it efficient. And after rush hour in less dense trasffic on the back roads or when maken a sprint at the traffic lights a flip of the switch changes it to a machine as fast as the 330i. And here it costs less then bolth the 330i and 330d (the netherlands) . My point is that a hybrid car is for sure not everone's kind of car, but it should be reviewed and driven as hybrid. Even if you commute in double the electric range your fuel economy and local emission would be a lot better compared to a gasoline or diesel. (at least with my local fuel prices) if ypu drive a lot every day then it makes no sense.
@Naughtysauce i have posted a pic on bimmerpost doing 70km total on a highway driving 100kmh (so over 60mph) with airco blasting fully on in a 34c heat. so clearly US EPA rated range is way off. In Europe 70km range is plenty to get you through not just 1 way, but 2 way commute for 90% of people. and if you need to go further - you actually have 40 liters of gasoline, which will get you at least 600km range in this car. so MPG on the ICE is also waaaaay off. this car is amazing
You’re right. This car makes sense here in The Netherlands where we have to pay an absurd $8,- per gallon.The 330i is hardly sold here. Everyone picks the 330e as it is cheaper in road taxes as well.
My thoughts exactly. Wife is getting one as a company car (much less benefit in kind tax than a petrol alternative). Her work is about 23 KLM distant and she gets free charging at work and we'll overnight charge on cheap rate electricity at home. She'll be all electric commuting during the week and we'll run it in hybrid mode over the weekend just to make sure the engine doesn't seize up through lack of use. For the annual holiday I think we can put up with an extra fill here or there during the 2 weeks we get. Expecting an overall average of about 130 mpg equivalent.
I've owned this car for almost a year now, and I think your review is extremely simplistic and shows that you don't know much about the technology nor the target buyer for such car. You probably only had the car for a day or two, and never got to perform proper tests either, that's why most of what you say is pretty inaccurate. 1. Usage: You correctly used the electric mode, but then proceeded to floor the pedal. Dude, do you really think that's what most people do? I drive it every day, and I almost never floor it, it's just not necessary at all! 2. Efficiency: The other day I checked and after 19000 Kms/11800miles, my average consumption is 25Km/l or 58mpg. This includes city driving and a lot of weekend trips at highway speeds and long summer trips as well. 3. Range: As other cars using EV technology, this car regenerates energy. This means that under a normal long distance driving your overall total electric range is a lot higher than what you get by driving from 100-0 in electric mode. I once started a trip with the battery at 0% and after 500Kms/310 miles I had driven 180Kms/111miles in electric mode. 4. Daily driving: The overall electric range is more than enough for most people's daily driving needs, and you don't need to worry about having to stop to charge when you're on a long trip. 5. Boot space: Is true the boot is smaller, but nowadays you can get it with a towbar and you can certainly install a roof box if you need more cargo space. In addition, in Europe you ca get the Touring version as well, which helps a bit. 6. Driving: The car can be spec'ed with adaptive suspension, and it works great. The standard dumpers are set at the sport mode, so it's a bit stiff, but the adaptive dumpers fix it. When you have these, the Adaptive mode does wonders at both regulating when you use the electric motor vs gas, and at continuously adapting the steering, dumpers, transmission and motor. 7. Tech: The overall tech of the car is awesome, without being intrusive as in a Model 3, for example. You can get adaptive laser headlights, which make driving in any kind of road a breeze, and increase security quite a lot when driving in twisty roads where animals can become a hazard. 8. The batteries: It's true that the batteries add weight to the car, but you never feel it. I used to own a 530e from 2018 and you could really feel the extra weight in that car. In the G20 you'd never really imagine you're carrying batteries in the back unless someone told you. In the Touring version, moreover, the weight distribution is actually exactly 50/50. 9. The reported range: That reported range in the dash is based on the last trip, so if you hammer it, it'll show a lower range. If you drive it normally, it'll show a higher range. It also depends on the temperature outside and that of the battery. Next time, try to get it for at least a week, drive it as normal people would, and then come up with conclusions. It's certainly not a car for everyone, but I'm sure it would fit most people's needs as long as they have the possibility to charge at home and/or work.
@@davewright732 I have a 330e and charging the battery from the ICE would be very inefficient you would be trying to drive it like a hybrid not a plug in hybrid. You would get very poor fuel consumption. I mainly do short journeys and the only petrol I have used is when I have been trying out what driving on the petrol engine is like. Since I bought the car in September this year I have driven over 500 miles and only used 5 litres of petrol. My last car was a 2 litre diesel Mercedes C class and was costing me around £50 a month, now electric is costing me around £20 a month. ICEs do not like short journeys, on long runs I could get over 60mpg in the Merc and around 30 mpg around town. Because of lock down I have not done a long journey in the BMW but the mpg would be less than the Merc.
I have owned a BMW 330e since June 2020 and I love it. I get an electric range of around 32-36 miles. In August with a combination of electric and fuel I averaged 146mpg. When my battery is depleted I get around 48mpg so I'm not sure where get 28mpg from.
I'm going to guess you're in the UK or outside the USA? They get lower battery range. Also they have different gallon sizes so the mpg isn't the same about 20% difference in the size of their gallons.
@@VSS1 smaller gas tanks would not affect the range. The electric range could but is it the same battery/motor or not? If it’s the same battery/motor and regardless of tank size the car should do the same MPG/MPGe. Range is entirely different. If 2 gallons gets 200 miles and 3 gallons get 300 miles the MPG has not changed. Of the motor and battery are the same it would seems the programming of the modules do more to the overall range/output.
I've had my 330e for a year and my ACTUAL consumption, charging every night, is 125 mpg, not 28. Anyone who drives it with battery flat all the time is a fool who has missed the point of this car. And it's great to drive because you have the extra dimension of selecting drive mode to suit the occasion, in each mode the car performs differently, and it's fast and beautiful in red.
@@genjioto I've had the car for 14 months now and that's my average over that time. I use the electric only mode as my default, and switch to hybrid if I'm going further or run out of battery. I hardly ever use sport mode. The aim is to use electric only as much as possible, it's easy and it works.
@@TheophilusPWildbeest I drive about 150 miles a day, im guessing if I am driving hybrid, I would need to fill my gas every week if it is a 10 gallon tank? Im really trying to avoid driving a Tesla or i3.... you think this would be possible?
@@genjioto A hybrid will be better, depending on the battery size you will get your first 30 miles or so on electric and the rest on petrol/hybrid, so at a guess you will use 25% less fuel. But you are carrying extra weight, and over distance that will slow you down a bit, and hybrids cost more to buy. So with that much daily driving it's a benefit but at some extra cost. I only drive 9 miles to work through heavy traffic so I am on electric power most of the time, it seems your driving profile is very different to mine.
I drive a 330e and my wife drives a Mini Cooper S Electric. For the most part I drive around town in EV mode. I only have to fill up the tank typically once a month. Depending on how often I drive out of town. It’s super fun in Sport Mode with XtraBoost. You get instant torque thanks to the electric motor that slams you into your seat.
@@voltspc9394 I actually had a Model 3 before I got the 330e lol I think each car has its pros and cons, but unfortunately for me the Model 3’s cons outweighed the pros in my situation.
Love your review. We ordered a 22. We just bought a 530e…no disappointments. Super quiet, very chill. This is a great way to wait for a ton of all electric offerings. We got rid of a Tesla Model 3 after just 6 months. Horrible ride quality, you couldn’t land a finger on the pad! Dangerous car, blind spots, no blind spot lights on mirrors, what a mess!
I wasn't keen on the review...you listed all the positives of the car and your negatives were based on driving it how nobody would drive it. Nobody would use either motor and deplete one in regular driving to capitalize on the inefficiency of the other.... Everything I need is 5-10 miles down the road...(how towns work) I could use the battery and never have to use gas and charge it overnight. For the rare time that I need to go 20 miles or further...I would use hybrid mode and let the car maximize its efficiency...e power for city driving and gas for hwy cruising... That's the whole point of the car...to use both, not focus on the negatives of either powertrain....So. it handles like a 3 series, costs as much or less with credits, is decently fast, gets 25 miles of electric range, latest luxury tech...negatives were you intentionally drained the battery then complained about efficiency. I don't get it.
I had a 330i for several months and then a 330e now for some 6 months. 330i handles better, yet 330e is for me a much better car. I use it in the city as well as for some 100-200km trips. In the worst case scenario with battery depleted i am getting 30-50pct better fuel efficiency vs 330i. You just forgot to mention regeneration - so you dont fully waste energy when braking, and you can coast with engine off. So it allows you to get here and there a couple of electric miles when batt is depleted. Therefore, at least in my case, I get much better fuel efficiency vs 330i. Just think about MHEV, where battery is constantly depleted so to speak (yet with less weight of course...)...
Right? His review is t the only one to review that way. It makes zero sense. I just bought one and think I'll be able to go long stretches of time without getting gas. My wife will be driving it for a bit and does have a long commute but still hoping gas consumption is decreased!
A lot of people live in a house in the 'burbs and commute to work. The battery will cover most of that commute for a lot of people. Some are even lucky enough to charge at work, even if its a regular 120v socket. Then plug in overnight. The weekend shopping at the grocery store and mall will be covered by electric. For the weekend skiing or long summer road trip the gasoline will take care of that.
this car is perfect for those who can commute up to 15 miles in EV mode and have a home where they can keep the car plugged in overnight. good gas/hybrid backup for those needing longer range
I have had a 330e Touring xDrive for 1 year now. I can charge at home and have no petrol consumption on my daily commute (2 times 10 miles). On the other hand, I'm traveling from Paris area to south of France once every two months or so. My average consumption over 1 year/20000km (12500 miles) is 5.53l/100km (51.1mpg). Much better than my previous petrol car (Skoda Octavia) from which I got over 8.3l/100km (33.9mpg) in the same conditions. The longer distance I've achieved in full electric mode with one single charge has been 54km (33.6 miles). Worst consumption I got was in winter, with winter tyres, no initial battery charge and with a roof case: 8.5l/100km (33.2mpg) Usually i'm around 7 to 7.5l/100km (40.4 to 37.7mpg) on highways (at around 90mph). That's the most fun car I have had since I started driving in 1985. I'm driving quite often in small roads in the Pyrenées mountains. About the additionnal weight, I'd say this is felt only in very particular conditions, such has braking hard or curves taken at (too) high a speed. And btw, it's not that much heavier compared to a 330d. Overall, so far, I'm fully satisfied with the car. I forgot to mention: 1 full battery charge of 13kWh costs around 1.6€, here in France. (Note: take care, mpg I mention here are Imperial UK mpg)
What an odd review. It's like reviewing a sportscar and complaining about how it doesn't have good rear seats and can't store anything. If you're in CA, this vehicle qualifies for the HOV lane. I'm going to guess once we get back to daily commute mode, we'll see these in the carpool lane with little stickers on them.
I have one of these in touring guise and its averaged 60.4mpg over its 67,000 miles so far. If you use it properly and it suits your use case it is an excellent car.
Had mine for a couple of weeks now and it's great if your mileage doesn't involve long motorway trips. I get around 30 miles on a full (80% charge) battery and around 45mpg on petrol only. As a company car in the UK, it saves you HUGE sums (personally it's £900 per year as opposed to around £3.5k in a 320d).
It all comes down to what kind of driving you do. I own the previous gen 330e (new in 2017) and my lease is up in July. I intend to get this next G20. Things I like ... well it drives like a regular 3 for starters. Next If you have a short commute to work, you will use very little gas. I average about 3 liters per 100 km. Things I don’t like, lack of storage in the trunk. Android app NEVER works for setting preconditioning etc. I hope they resolve the app issue. Good review IMO.
20 mile EV range plus 300 miles of gas range is perfect. in normal use you will put about 2/3 of your mileage on the EV range so you will be doing close to 1,000 miles between gas station visits or about double the miles compared to regular 330i. if the gas tank was bigger you would actually risk the fuel in the tank going bad - yes gasoline can actually go bad if it just sits in the tank forever and never gets used which is a real possibility with some plug in hybrids. most PHEVs will have some kind of algorithm that will begin to use gasoline eventually even when the battery is full simply to deplete the tank before the fuel goes bad - in this scenario having a smaller tank is actually a benefit. for comparison Honda Clarity PHEV only has a 7 gallon fuel tank though due to being more efficient it still gets about the same 300 miles of gas range as 330e. 300 miles is about 4 hours of driving on the interstate - you will probably want to get a break after 4 hours anyway to visit a bathroom and grab a snack or a cup of coffee.
A 30 mile electric range would be nice but overall still a great car with lots of positives, best PHEV I’ve seen besides maybe the i3 but that was more like an electric car with a bike motor ducktaped to the back
@@voltspc9394 i have a very similar car right now and what i noticed is the EV range in summer is double that in winter. in summer i finish my commute with about 40% battery left. in winter my battery dies at about 2/3 of the commute ( round trip ). huge difference. there is also a big difference in European and American ratings for the range as well. basically you will not know how it works for you until you try it. but you can be sure the winter range will be a lot less than the rating.
@@voltspc9394 sure but it's not just about energy used to heat the cabin - it's also about capacity loss when battery is cold - of course batteries can be heated as well - but in a PHEV range isn't so crucial that some of these methods are not fully utilized ...
A lot of people below, including myself, are saying this is a rubbish review and does not reflect the reality of the car. This is one example of a youtube expert out there trying to be clever, but not being so.
Get my 330e next week. As others have said, it's a very simplistic review and doesn't discuss some of the very clever tech which makes the real world figures a lot better than you suggest. American reviews for this car seem to be slightly less enthusiastic than those from Europe for example. My guess is that typical journey distances will be longer in the US so a hybrid might have to depend on the ICE more?
actually driving this car as a loaner and it is brilliant. Your own test shows longer range of over 400 miles when driving 25 miles electric and something like 365 miles hybrid, that's 400 miles total.
Half of the comments talk about reliability. That's the typical TFL watcher and I don't like it. If you are leasing a brand new car like this reliability doesn't matter.
True it doesn't matter, it is just comical how BMW people like to buy such expensive cars and then sell after a few years to avoid those reliability issues and just enjoy the depreciation in general
@@Alviniscute Yes that is true but I understand why they do that. German cars and European car in general are better in almost every thing else aside from reliability
I've had a 2020 330e since August. It does 28-30 miles on a full charge. My daily commute is 22 miles in total. I can charge at work for free. MPG is 48-49 which considering its performance is brilliant. Only downside is the boot. You do loose a fair amount of space due to the batteries.
@@VanquishMediaDE the battery may be the same but they've locked it down to give less range then. Look at the X5 45e and 330e electric only range in America and in Europe. Its considerably smaller in the US.
I leased a Volvo S60 T8 for this very reason. (long term reliability) Add a supercharger to the mix and it just seems crazy. Granted I love the car both in terms of power and range (granted I would want double the range). But I get 60mpg on average once I use all of the electric battery. However I recharge it while driving and then use the battery again when I’m close to my destination. That and the power is much better than this one.
We love our 2018 CT6E with it's 40 miles of battery bwfore the 2.0T fires up for 38 mpg hwy/40 mpg city in hybrid mode. When the battery is depleted and on only engine the battery is still used up to 28 mph before engine kicks on again.
Norm T I’m looking forward to these performance EV’s. As much as I love V8 rumbles, I also have loved having an EV for the instant acceleration. Just need to leave 2020 behind.
I ain't knocking your decision or anything, but I think it's kinda funny that you would LEASE a Volvo S60 T8 for the reason of "long term reliability" - the whole point of a lease is that you don't need to worry about long term reliability!
BMW is always excellent performance-wise. It’s their reliability that concerns me. Otherwise, this is an excellent good looking car. Not sure I can say the same about the new TLX that’s supposed to compete with this.
@@insayn7995 its not pointless to find even the smallest ways to avoid more emissions when racoons and whales are liter pleading with passers by, and whales are braking ships to stop them from stealing their food... but no worries impervious white guy I'm not surprised just regularly disappointed 😕 in how dismissive you all can be at times sigh...
Had an option to buy one about a year ago as a sedan. Went for the touring (station) 330i for multi reasons. First is the bagage space which is compromised a lot, weight and the touring (G21) was not available before summer of 2020 as a hybrid. Went for the 330i station in Portimau blue, own it now for almost a year. (Living in the Netherlands where the M340i is about 25.000 euro’s more expensive unfortunately.
It really is going to depend on use case. A commuter with a medium daily distance who also takes road trips would get the most value, and most people buying a new or even CPO BMW non-M sedan have no intention of keeping it a decade so the complexity is not likely to matter.
All the other Great Cars (you have had until Last week) in the us are Not available in Europe because tax is extreme . I think this is the Future now, Good for our nature. Greetings from Austria
Hmm. I read on bimmerpost that it’s not possible to re map and use the electric motor in sync. I have the euro version of this car and a home charge point. Combined with Xtra boost the car develops 292 BHP without turbo lag for pretty impressive performance if you have the right tyres.
@@pamelaramdat8321 Am I? If I build it they will come eh? So which system do you have? The 330e has the B48 A engine developing 181bhp not the B variant and 254bhp. Mapping typically achieves an extra 20% increase. No mapping changes the electric 100bhp element. So around 230bhp can be achieved with the 320i and 330e ICE. Add the 100bhp for the electric motor of the 330e and you get 330bhp and nothing like 400 (whp whatever that is?) Give us some details please.
The reason the car is shifting gears in electric only mode is because the motor is placed at the back of the engine before the gearbox, unlike some other vehicles where the electric motor directly drives the wheels. You’ve completely missed the concept of the 330e in this video, in multiple ways as others have noted. The car learns driving behaviour which is why it estimated 16mi for range - it’s basing it on what happened before you got it. Then you drove it differently and got more range out of it. About to replace my very economical Golf GTD company car with a high spec 330e (listing at over £20k more!) and will end up paying approximately half the amount of company car tax each month compare to the “Flog” due to low BIK rates because, when used correctly, it has very low fuel consumption. The government have yet to realise that many people don’t use them properly... I’m 15 miles from office and have the option of charging there if necessary, with overnight in front of my garage with socket nearby, so this car is perfect.
Even if you don't give a damn about electric driving, like me, it's still cheaper due to tax incentives, faster due to instant torque of the electric part and cheaper due to the opportunity to ride electric and recharge from braking. It has every advantage over an 330i.
Our Bay Area Rapid transit trains use motors on each wheel and they all have transmission too ..its weird to hear the electricity shift. The noise it makes.. and that's 40 plus year old technology
Great review. I’m interested in the 330e or the 330i. But cannot seem to decide. I’m assuming engine noise in that 330i is more like the annoying 4 cylinder sound. And the 330e would offer between 35-40mpg combined in hybrid mode. So maybe a good choice. As long as your religious about charging it! Thoughts ??
I have a 2022 330E and when you look at the Bmw web site. It says 20 mile range on electric, same as the 530E, same as the X3 30e. So I wouldnt go from the Bmw web site specs, I think that BMW under promises and over delivers. I can easily get 24-26 miles depending on the ambient temperature. I know people with a 15-20 mile commute that are averaging 200mpg plus. Try that with a 330i. With plug in Hybrid systems you cant look at the EPA or factory mpg numbers, because they dont factor in plugging it in every day. I think auto reviewers need to spend a couple of weeks with the car and plug it in every night and see what the mpg is at the end of 2 weeks. I average better fuel mileage than a Toyota Prius and Id rather drive this beautiful car!
What I want to know is if I don't use pure electric but hybrid mode how much will my range be?how long does the battery stay charged in hybrid mode? How many mpge in hrlybrid modem. Every video I watch I can't find this information
I'm driving a 2021 loaner while my 535i is having maintaince done and they are pretty nice. I find them very jumpy in sport mode that combines the battery and motor. A step in the right direction though
it's not for everyone. i drive may be 5-10 miles per week, just to grab groceries mostly, i work at home. when i go on a road trip i know i don't have to have range anxiety and gas is a great..
Where would you put all your stuff on those road trips, unless you're a light packer. That trunk is not a trunk...it looks like a slot! You can't even lower the floor because you'd need to store the cable underneath. The small trunk is my one big concern. Sure, if this were a small 2-series coupe, I could live with a small trunk (I currently own an M2).
There is a huge confusion between parallel and serial PHEVs. Parallel ones like Toyota RAV4 Prime or Ford Escape PHEV or Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid PHEV are indeed MORE efficient after the battery is "depleted" having better MPG than their ICE counterparts by far. On the other hand most luxury PHEVs from BMW, MINI, Audi, Porsche, Volvo, Lincoln Aviator PHEV are serial hybrids as well as classical Mitsubishi Highlander PHEV. The serial ones DO not combine well both powertrains thus lagging along one powertrain while using another i.e. providing less MPG than their gasoline counterparts. These PHEVs require regular charging overnight to have them making any sense of buying and using them in the first place unless the owner is interested in performance boost vs pure ICE version which is present in most cases. In todays market a sedan makes little sence overall let alone an inefficient PHEV like one from video. The BMW X3 and X5 PHEVs make much much more sence.
Awesome this car proves how nice compact executives are I’m sick and tired of people calling this endless money pit if you treat the car like trash ofcourse it won’t last long I’m just saying stick on your boring car if you like but the G20 is definitely an amazing ride
Love the new G20 currently own last generation F series works well for my shorts commutes and still have some fun when I’m ready..but you could pass on that’s G20 I’ll gladly take it
We have a 330i, x5 and i3. The i3 gets used 90% of the time as it is such fun to drive. I am still waiting for an all-electric 3 series. Why is BMW holding back?
You've just convinced me NOT to trade my BMW 320d in on a BMW 330e. I can drive from my home north of Newcastle, NSW to my friend's house south-west of Melbourne, Vic, a little more than 1,000 km (about 600 miles), on ONE tank of diesel. Neither the 330e nor the 330i can do that.
330e is way cleaner in the city (you can tell a diesel car went by you if you're a pedestrian, you can smell it) and faster outside of the city than 320d. 330e is also quieter and more relaxing to drive because of that. In hilly places, the diesel really shows it doesn't have any energy recuperation. I had a diesel before and I like the new PHEV Plug-in Hybrid EV better. My [Volkswagen] PHEV got me a maximum of 1424 km (885 miles) out of 47 liters (71 mpgUS or 3.3 L/100km). A hybrid car is also easier on the brake pads and discs because it always uses the regenerative braking first to stop the car, so they will last at least 2 times as much. Brake dust looks bad on the rims and is bad for people's lungs. The one-pedal driving with regenerative braking also is easier to drive than the diesel because you don't have to move the foot to and from the brake pedal that much.
Unless there's no gas station on the route, what's the advantage of that other than saving maybe 5 minutes? I can never understand why people care about gas range all that much.
You did acceleration in the electric mode and the extra boost mode. Why didn't you test acceleration in just normal Hybrid mode??? I can't believe no one has posted a video with such as test (nothing that I've been able to find).
I enjoyed reading through the debates below but maybe I`m missing the point here. Charge it every day to maximise MPG. But electricity isn`t free for most of us, so to charge it up must be very cheap indeed. Edit to add: did the guy say it took 1.8Kw to charge it? If so then my current rate for leccy is 33.8 pence per Kw, so approx 50p to charge it?. Is that about right? Or 75 cents for my Euro friends since we have a few Dutch guys commentating below.
test drove this car - off the line it feels like it's going to snap your neck with the torque but then as you get up to speed you realize it isn't much faster than something like a Camry Hybrid - it just has this crazy launch and very hard shifts when the pedal is floored. if you back off the pedal a bit it shifts smoothly as you would expect. the main difference between this car and Camry Hybrid is this car is much more premium and fun. it isn't really all that much faster or more efficient. basically if you want a sensible choice - get Camry Hybrid, but if you think you can afford to deal with reliability issues down the line the 330e can be a lot of fun *IF* you're looking for these crazy hard shifts and like to take corners at the limit of tire grip. most importantly if you get the 330e you have to get the AWD version because there is simply too much torque for 2 wheels. suspension is really firm - nothing like last generation 3 series which drove like an old cadillac.
The problem with this car is that in its price bracket you could get a Tesla model three, which is going to give you a lot of savings for maintenance and a better 0 to 60 time
tesla is not even close to level of BMW. This is premium car and tesla is just a tesla. and stop comparing car with real gas engine which can deliver about 300hp after chiptunning plus 115 electric to tesla... its so stupid
@@adamsky7544 if you said that a couple years ago I would agree, but go sit in a 2021 model three with the new interior, it doesn’t look fancy with 1 million buttons, but what is there is very quality, real wood, lots of leather, in the few areas they do use plastics they’re all very high-quality, And performance wise you can’t even question that the Tesla‘s are way better, faster, they can pull more, that’s not even an argument, they went on paper, and that’s with any car you compare them to in the same price category, BMW still probably has a better interior, but it’s a lot closer than it was five years ago, and for the better performance and the savings, Tesla is easily the better choice. The expensive maintenance and premium gas prices alone would deter me from any BMW, whereas a Tesla doesn’t even need service by the dealership ever, unless there’s something that you need fixed (sent with voice dictation so sorry for any bad spelling)
@@voltspc9394 still you can not compare car that have real combustion engine (the same as 330i with chip I have 300HP only from combustion engine. And 330E is not more expensive then 330i) and you can go 2000km with only 2 minutes brake in fuel station to EV car that can be used only in city. sorry but 300km range with average speed 120km/h and after that charging battery for an hour, planning, all logistics is pure stupidity. Tesla is not a real car. Rather a toy for sombody who have money for tesla for fun and city and real car for longer journey. And maintenace: yeah... no cost. For example you can have a little accident for example with a rock and damge your battery. cost: 20 000 dollars. Nice no cost...
@@voltspc9394 Tesla‘s are way better, faster, LOL XD. TEslas are being overtaken by a trucks and buses on a highway :) if you want a constant speed of 160km/h like in real car you will have a range 100kilometres with your tesla. This car is usless as only one car. this is melex for city tour
@@adamsky7544 you’re full of shit, you can easily go at least 250 miles going at 80 miles an hour, most people just sent auto pilot to the speed limit and don’t even think about driving, that’s why they would be getting passed, most owners aren’t speed deamons
330e makes sense for those that are dedicated to “the game”. It’s maybe a niche group that are willing to do this. For your average consumer, it’s not the right car as there is work involved to optimize. Just like Tesla is the greatest until you own one and then a large number of owners get over them and go back to gas. Unfortunately, a lot of people want convenience over everything else. Once you can charge without having to plug in (at a reasonable price point), people will really embrace the technology more, but that goes for all EV. When you go from having to be religious about plugging in every chance you can to not having to plug in, it’s oddly stress relieving. Great review though! Keep up the great work!
This seems like a car to lease and not buy. BMW's already have enough expensive issues, but with an electric motor in between the engine and the transmission, what will that cost to fix when things go wrong? If you do buy one instead of lease, probably a good idea to purchase BMW's extended warranty.
So Tommy, I guess I’d end up just as well if I get a base 330, stop by Goodwill on my way home and pick up an e-Machine computer for the backseat...j/k. Your review of the 330e reminds me of the Honda CR-Z I had. It was fun, but the hybrid part didn’t bring much, if anything to the table. But mine had a 6-speed manual...
I agree with you! I honestly don't even know why the developed this car. They could've just waited to release a full electric vehicle just like everyone else
Even if you sold it, the combined ownership would still likely be over 10 years. Hopefully. Got my Prius for 8 years already and I am looking forward to the next 20-30 years. Again, hopefully.
No way would I spend money on a highbird As it constantly more for the time the I keep my care this will never pay off between the extra costs of the electric charging and gas. The combination for me means a lot more costs than a gas only car.
The engine needed to be the larger 330i engine in hybrid, then we are talking a competitor to the hybrid sector. Quite a way off BMW with their hybrids, bar the BMW x e45. BMW just pair up the wrong engines regarding hybrid. Why no 3.0 hybrid in the 5 series as an example, etc etc.
I could not agree more with your point of view on the Hybrid 330e. Why lug around a large battery just for 25 miles on pure EV. The long term benefit, as your closing comment states, will probably come true....ten years from now, that E-system will be non-serviceable and you did not help the global warming issue at all. BMW needs a better PHEV.
Because it is not a big battery? The range is not ideal, but for some people, it would cover their entire commute. A BEV would lug around a huge battery that is heavier than the ICE. A gas car would not be able to get the MPGs. (It is super weird for this car to have lower MPG than the gas version. The Rav4 prime for example, is about 25% more efficient than the gas version despite lugging around a battery). So for certain people, PHEVs are the best of both worlds. For other people, they are probably the worst of both worlds.
Really? Is this first hand experience or are your just winging it? I have had 3 BMW'S over the past 15 years. 2 made it well over 165,000 miles and didn't require anything major or expensive. One needed a water pump at 120k and it only cost $800 at an independent European repair shop. Hardly an expensive repair.
Chad Pattyson same, we own a few as well and reliability is great. My oldest one is 15 years old and still on original water pump, radiator, etc. I honestly believe the upfront price is worth it due to the quality of parts/engineering used.
The only people that complain about a car's maintenance are the ones who neglect them. Change the oil regularly, replace consumables before they have a knock on effect on the rest of the car. I don't know what's not clicking...
![30 ชั่วโมงคนเดียว บนรถไฟชั้น 3 โซเวียต [Around The World Ep. 2]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/MlE9boAVqDA/mqdefault.jpg)
![ค้างคืนโรงเก็บกระสวยอวกาศร้างกลางทะเลทราย [Around The World Ep. 3]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/E5bWZQhABJE/mqdefault.jpg)
Sorry to say, but I think you guys are completely missing the point here. Hybrid cars like the BMW 330e are very economic in everyday commute and still fun to drive. I currently own a Passat GTE and will get a 330e in a few weeks. I live well within the electric range and can drive zero emission to the office and back every day and charge it with the solar panels on my roof every day. On days I have to drive further i still have the luxury of 40 liters of gasoline which enables me greater range then full EV cars. This makes the car for me more practical then a EV and more sporty and economical compared to smaller gasoline engines. If you do lots of miles every day and have to rely on public chargers then forget about a hybrid, but if you can charge at home and office a sporty hybrid like the 330e is an awesome everyday drive beating any diesel and gasoline car on fuel economy.
That guy is clearly missing the point. Total range is a non-sense, ok 330i will go further on a single tank but you still have to stop before to eat/go to the restroom/rest/let the kid play/... So if you need a car to drive 500mile straight, the 330i is the best choice? Any other day, you will go further with the 330e because you will only have to go to the gas station once a month and the 330i will have to be there once a week. I'm also confused with the pure electric range of only 22miles. This is the range of my 4 year old 225xe with a battery pack of 7,7kwh (when it was new). I test drove the 330e for a weekend and the range was more like 40 miles. You need to learn how to drive the thing. I was really dissapointed with that review because the guy had really no idea what he was driving,
@Naughtysauce It actually does around 37 miles electric max. (when driving on cruise in eco mode) Normal driving would be around 27 miles minimum. when you enter the destination in the navigation it calculates optimal usage mix batterie/gasoline. When driving to office and home in every day comute thats great. traffic at those times is to dense to do sporty driving. And it's not ment to first empty you batteries and then continue on gasoline, using the smart computer enables to you to use it efficient. And after rush hour in less dense trasffic on the back roads or when maken a sprint at the traffic lights a flip of the switch changes it to a machine as fast as the 330i.
And here it costs less then bolth the 330i and 330d (the netherlands) . My point is that a hybrid car is for sure not everone's kind of car, but it should be reviewed and driven as hybrid. Even if you commute in double the electric range your fuel economy and local emission would be a lot better compared to a gasoline or diesel. (at least with my local fuel prices) if ypu drive a lot every day then it makes no sense.
@Naughtysauce i have posted a pic on bimmerpost doing 70km total on a highway driving 100kmh (so over 60mph) with airco blasting fully on in a 34c heat. so clearly US EPA rated range is way off. In Europe 70km range is plenty to get you through not just 1 way, but 2 way commute for 90% of people. and if you need to go further - you actually have 40 liters of gasoline, which will get you at least 600km range in this car. so MPG on the ICE is also waaaaay off. this car is amazing
You’re right. This car makes sense here in The Netherlands where we have to pay an absurd $8,- per gallon.The 330i is hardly sold here. Everyone picks the 330e as it is cheaper in road taxes as well.
My thoughts exactly. Wife is getting one as a company car (much less benefit in kind tax than a petrol alternative). Her work is about 23 KLM distant and she gets free charging at work and we'll overnight charge on cheap rate electricity at home. She'll be all electric commuting during the week and we'll run it in hybrid mode over the weekend just to make sure the engine doesn't seize up through lack of use. For the annual holiday I think we can put up with an extra fill here or there during the 2 weeks we get. Expecting an overall average of about 130 mpg equivalent.
I've owned this car for almost a year now, and I think your review is extremely simplistic and shows that you don't know much about the technology nor the target buyer for such car. You probably only had the car for a day or two, and never got to perform proper tests either, that's why most of what you say is pretty inaccurate.
1. Usage: You correctly used the electric mode, but then proceeded to floor the pedal. Dude, do you really think that's what most people do? I drive it every day, and I almost never floor it, it's just not necessary at all!
2. Efficiency: The other day I checked and after 19000 Kms/11800miles, my average consumption is 25Km/l or 58mpg. This includes city driving and a lot of weekend trips at highway speeds and long summer trips as well.
3. Range: As other cars using EV technology, this car regenerates energy. This means that under a normal long distance driving your overall total electric range is a lot higher than what you get by driving from 100-0 in electric mode. I once started a trip with the battery at 0% and after 500Kms/310 miles I had driven 180Kms/111miles in electric mode.
4. Daily driving: The overall electric range is more than enough for most people's daily driving needs, and you don't need to worry about having to stop to charge when you're on a long trip.
5. Boot space: Is true the boot is smaller, but nowadays you can get it with a towbar and you can certainly install a roof box if you need more cargo space. In addition, in Europe you ca get the Touring version as well, which helps a bit.
6. Driving: The car can be spec'ed with adaptive suspension, and it works great. The standard dumpers are set at the sport mode, so it's a bit stiff, but the adaptive dumpers fix it. When you have these, the Adaptive mode does wonders at both regulating when you use the electric motor vs gas, and at continuously adapting the steering, dumpers, transmission and motor.
7. Tech: The overall tech of the car is awesome, without being intrusive as in a Model 3, for example. You can get adaptive laser headlights, which make driving in any kind of road a breeze, and increase security quite a lot when driving in twisty roads where animals can become a hazard.
8. The batteries: It's true that the batteries add weight to the car, but you never feel it. I used to own a 530e from 2018 and you could really feel the extra weight in that car. In the G20 you'd never really imagine you're carrying batteries in the back unless someone told you. In the Touring version, moreover, the weight distribution is actually exactly 50/50.
9. The reported range: That reported range in the dash is based on the last trip, so if you hammer it, it'll show a lower range. If you drive it normally, it'll show a higher range. It also depends on the temperature outside and that of the battery.
Next time, try to get it for at least a week, drive it as normal people would, and then come up with conclusions. It's certainly not a car for everyone, but I'm sure it would fit most people's needs as long as they have the possibility to charge at home and/or work.
The European BMWs have larger batteries than American BMWs. But I agree over simplified simple review, I think its more aimed for American viewers.
Great to read your details. Will get my company car in December and cannot await after 12 years Audi
Good to read this, about how fast do the batteries charge from the ICE from 0% ?
@@davewright732 I have a 330e and charging the battery from the ICE would be very inefficient you would be trying to drive it like a hybrid not a plug in hybrid. You would get very poor fuel consumption. I mainly do short journeys and the only petrol I have used is when I have been trying out what driving on the petrol engine is like. Since I bought the car in September this year I have driven over 500 miles and only used 5 litres of petrol. My last car was a 2 litre diesel Mercedes C class and was costing me around £50 a month, now electric is costing me around £20 a month. ICEs do not like short journeys, on long runs I could get over 60mpg in the Merc and around 30 mpg around town. Because of lock down I have not done a long journey in the BMW but the mpg would be less than the Merc.
What he said. The car is great and adapts to my driving mood
I have owned a BMW 330e since June 2020 and I love it. I get an electric range of around 32-36 miles. In August with a combination of electric and fuel I averaged 146mpg. When my battery is depleted I get around 48mpg so I'm not sure where get 28mpg from.
I'm going to guess you're in the UK or outside the USA? They get lower battery range. Also they have different gallon sizes so the mpg isn't the same about 20% difference in the size of their gallons.
@@VSS1 smaller gas tanks would not affect the range. The electric range could but is it the same battery/motor or not? If it’s the same battery/motor and regardless of tank size the car should do the same MPG/MPGe. Range is entirely different.
If 2 gallons gets 200 miles and 3 gallons get 300 miles the MPG has not changed. Of the motor and battery are the same it would seems the programming of the modules do more to the overall range/output.
@@iNeedMorePSi no it's not the same range. I don't really understand why you can't understand this, it's pretty simple.
same here , shopping is around 8 miles away. gas is rarely used
how is the driving experience so far, I am planning to buy my first car as 330e
I had a Mercedes C-Class 350e. That car was ok but now I own a BMW 330e and it is the BEST car I have ever driven.
I've had my 330e for a year and my ACTUAL consumption, charging every night, is 125 mpg, not 28.
Anyone who drives it with battery flat all the time is a fool who has missed the point of this car.
And it's great to drive because you have the extra dimension of selecting drive mode to suit the occasion, in each mode the car performs differently, and it's fast and beautiful in red.
So what mode gives you 125 mpg? how long can you drive on 125 mpg for?
@@genjioto I've had the car for 14 months now and that's my average over that time. I use the electric only mode as my default, and switch to hybrid if I'm going further or run out of battery. I hardly ever use sport mode. The aim is to use electric only as much as possible, it's easy and it works.
@@TheophilusPWildbeest I drive about 150 miles a day, im guessing if I am driving hybrid, I would need to fill my gas every week if it is a 10 gallon tank? Im really trying to avoid driving a Tesla or i3.... you think this would be possible?
@@genjioto A hybrid will be better, depending on the battery size you will get your first 30 miles or so on electric and the rest on petrol/hybrid, so at a guess you will use 25% less fuel. But you are carrying extra weight, and over distance that will slow you down a bit, and hybrids cost more to buy. So with that much daily driving it's a benefit but at some extra cost. I only drive 9 miles to work through heavy traffic so I am on electric power most of the time, it seems your driving profile is very different to mine.
How has been overall to date? Also, do the tax incentives apply here?
I actually really like the 330e. I feel that is suits a very specific type of buyer very well.
Yeah the kind of buyer who likes to get pegged
@@Kungpl0w as a buyer I agree 😩
I drive a 330e and my wife drives a Mini Cooper S Electric. For the most part I drive around town in EV mode. I only have to fill up the tank typically once a month. Depending on how often I drive out of town. It’s super fun in Sport Mode with XtraBoost. You get instant torque thanks to the electric motor that slams you into your seat.
This is so true, I almost got one but ended up getting a model 3 instead
@@voltspc9394 I actually had a Model 3 before I got the 330e lol I think each car has its pros and cons, but unfortunately for me the Model 3’s cons outweighed the pros in my situation.
Love your review. We ordered a 22. We just bought a 530e…no disappointments. Super quiet, very chill. This is a great way to wait for a ton of all electric offerings. We got rid of a Tesla Model 3 after just 6 months. Horrible ride quality, you couldn’t land a finger on the pad!
Dangerous car, blind spots, no blind spot lights on mirrors, what a mess!
Tesla is pure shit, I still wonder how stupid people are buying that junk
In terms of aesthetics, I do find this one looks better than the 2 new ones coming that look like they have their jaws on the floor.
I wasn't keen on the review...you listed all the positives of the car and your negatives were based on driving it how nobody would drive it. Nobody would use either motor and deplete one in regular driving to capitalize on the inefficiency of the other.... Everything I need is 5-10 miles down the road...(how towns work) I could use the battery and never have to use gas and charge it overnight. For the rare time that I need to go 20 miles or further...I would use hybrid mode and let the car maximize its efficiency...e power for city driving and gas for hwy cruising... That's the whole point of the car...to use both, not focus on the negatives of either powertrain....So. it handles like a 3 series, costs as much or less with credits, is decently fast, gets 25 miles of electric range, latest luxury tech...negatives were you intentionally drained the battery then complained about efficiency. I don't get it.
I had a 330i for several months and then a 330e now for some 6 months. 330i handles better, yet 330e is for me a much better car. I use it in the city as well as for some 100-200km trips. In the worst case scenario with battery depleted i am getting 30-50pct better fuel efficiency vs 330i. You just forgot to mention regeneration - so you dont fully waste energy when braking, and you can coast with engine off. So it allows you to get here and there a couple of electric miles when batt is depleted. Therefore, at least in my case, I get much better fuel efficiency vs 330i. Just think about MHEV, where battery is constantly depleted so to speak (yet with less weight of course...)...
Right? His review is t the only one to review that way. It makes zero sense. I just bought one and think I'll be able to go long stretches of time without getting gas. My wife will be driving it for a bit and does have a long commute but still hoping gas consumption is decreased!
I’m a retired person. Somehow I think would work great me because most of my driving is rural and usually less than 15 miles
A lot of people live in a house in the 'burbs and commute to work. The battery will cover most of that commute for a lot of people. Some are even lucky enough to charge at work, even if its a regular 120v socket. Then plug in overnight. The weekend shopping at the grocery store and mall will be covered by electric. For the weekend skiing or long summer road trip the gasoline will take care of that.
this car is perfect for those who can commute up to 15 miles in EV mode and have a home where they can keep the car plugged in overnight. good gas/hybrid backup for those needing longer range
I have had a 330e Touring xDrive for 1 year now. I can charge at home and have no petrol consumption on my daily commute (2 times 10 miles).
On the other hand, I'm traveling from Paris area to south of France once every two months or so.
My average consumption over 1 year/20000km (12500 miles) is 5.53l/100km (51.1mpg). Much better than my previous petrol car (Skoda Octavia) from which I got over 8.3l/100km (33.9mpg) in the same conditions.
The longer distance I've achieved in full electric mode with one single charge has been 54km (33.6 miles).
Worst consumption I got was in winter, with winter tyres, no initial battery charge and with a roof case: 8.5l/100km (33.2mpg)
Usually i'm around 7 to 7.5l/100km (40.4 to 37.7mpg) on highways (at around 90mph).
That's the most fun car I have had since I started driving in 1985. I'm driving quite often in small roads in the Pyrenées mountains.
About the additionnal weight, I'd say this is felt only in very particular conditions, such has braking hard or curves taken at (too) high a speed.
And btw, it's not that much heavier compared to a 330d.
Overall, so far, I'm fully satisfied with the car.
I forgot to mention: 1 full battery charge of 13kWh costs around 1.6€, here in France.
(Note: take care, mpg I mention here are Imperial UK mpg)
What an odd review. It's like reviewing a sportscar and complaining about how it doesn't have good rear seats and can't store anything. If you're in CA, this vehicle qualifies for the HOV lane. I'm going to guess once we get back to daily commute mode, we'll see these in the carpool lane with little stickers on them.
I have one of these in touring guise and its averaged 60.4mpg over its 67,000 miles so far. If you use it properly and it suits your use case it is an excellent car.
Had mine for a couple of weeks now and it's great if your mileage doesn't involve long motorway trips. I get around 30 miles on a full (80% charge) battery and around 45mpg on petrol only. As a company car in the UK, it saves you HUGE sums (personally it's £900 per year as opposed to around £3.5k in a 320d).
It all comes down to what kind of driving you do. I own the previous gen 330e (new in 2017) and my lease is up in July. I intend to get this next G20. Things I like ... well it drives like a regular 3 for starters. Next If you have a short commute to work, you will use very little gas. I average about 3 liters per 100 km. Things I don’t like, lack of storage in the trunk. Android app NEVER works for setting preconditioning etc. I hope they resolve the app issue. Good review IMO.
20 mile EV range plus 300 miles of gas range is perfect. in normal use you will put about 2/3 of your mileage on the EV range so you will be doing close to 1,000 miles between gas station visits or about double the miles compared to regular 330i. if the gas tank was bigger you would actually risk the fuel in the tank going bad - yes gasoline can actually go bad if it just sits in the tank forever and never gets used which is a real possibility with some plug in hybrids. most PHEVs will have some kind of algorithm that will begin to use gasoline eventually even when the battery is full simply to deplete the tank before the fuel goes bad - in this scenario having a smaller tank is actually a benefit. for comparison Honda Clarity PHEV only has a 7 gallon fuel tank though due to being more efficient it still gets about the same 300 miles of gas range as 330e. 300 miles is about 4 hours of driving on the interstate - you will probably want to get a break after 4 hours anyway to visit a bathroom and grab a snack or a cup of coffee.
A 30 mile electric range would be nice but overall still a great car with lots of positives, best PHEV I’ve seen besides maybe the i3 but that was more like an electric car with a bike motor ducktaped to the back
@@voltspc9394 i have a very similar car right now and what i noticed is the EV range in summer is double that in winter. in summer i finish my commute with about 40% battery left. in winter my battery dies at about 2/3 of the commute ( round trip ). huge difference. there is also a big difference in European and American ratings for the range as well. basically you will not know how it works for you until you try it. but you can be sure the winter range will be a lot less than the rating.
@@g1981c heat pumps significantly help with that
@@voltspc9394 sure but it's not just about energy used to heat the cabin - it's also about capacity loss when battery is cold - of course batteries can be heated as well - but in a PHEV range isn't so crucial that some of these methods are not fully utilized ...
I think this is good stepping stone car to move in to full ev, I would run in hybrid mode most of the time
This is actually the first time I’ve heard of this. I like that they are trying electric tech in the 3 series, but I do agree, BMW could do better.
Yeah BMW has hybrid versions of a lot of their cars : X1 25e, X2 25e, X3 30e, X5 45e, 330e, 530e, 545e, 745e
@@kristians2704 and 225xe in Europe, IX3 is now available as weel
A lot of people below, including myself, are saying this is a rubbish review and does not reflect the reality of the car. This is one example of a youtube expert out there trying to be clever, but not being so.
Get my 330e next week. As others have said, it's a very simplistic review and doesn't discuss some of the very clever tech which makes the real world figures a lot better than you suggest. American reviews for this car seem to be slightly less enthusiastic than those from Europe for example. My guess is that typical journey distances will be longer in the US so a hybrid might have to depend on the ICE more?
actually driving this car as a loaner and it is brilliant. Your own test shows longer range of over 400 miles when driving 25 miles electric and something like 365 miles hybrid, that's 400 miles total.
Half of the comments talk about reliability. That's the typical TFL watcher and I don't like it. If you are leasing a brand new car like this reliability doesn't matter.
True it doesn't matter, it is just comical how BMW people like to buy such expensive cars and then sell after a few years to avoid those reliability issues and just enjoy the depreciation in general
@@Alviniscute Yes that is true but I understand why they do that. German cars and European car in general are better in almost every thing else aside from reliability
I've had a 2020 330e since August. It does 28-30 miles on a full charge. My daily commute is 22 miles in total. I can charge at work for free. MPG is 48-49 which considering its performance is brilliant.
Only downside is the boot. You do loose a fair amount of space due to the batteries.
American beemers have smaller batteries.
@@VSS1 the battery is the same size but the mpg rating between the UK and the US is a bit different
@@VSS1 48 United Kingdom MPG is only about 37 USA MPG
@@VanquishMediaDE the battery may be the same but they've locked it down to give less range then. Look at the X5 45e and 330e electric only range in America and in Europe. Its considerably smaller in the US.
@@VanquishMediaDE OK
Who ever edited the sound and stuff or chose it .. great job!! 😍😍😍
As a company car it's the best car I've had I'm now on my 3rd 330e m sport
I leased a Volvo S60 T8 for this very reason. (long term reliability) Add a supercharger to the mix and it just seems crazy. Granted I love the car both in terms of power and range (granted I would want double the range). But I get 60mpg on average once I use all of the electric battery. However I recharge it while driving and then use the battery again when I’m close to my destination. That and the power is much better than this one.
We love our 2018 CT6E with it's 40 miles of battery bwfore the 2.0T fires up for 38 mpg hwy/40 mpg city in hybrid mode. When the battery is depleted and on only engine the battery is still used up to 28 mph before engine kicks on again.
Norm T I never even knew that Cadillac made a plug in hybrid. First I’m hearing of it. Interesting
@@towelies4884 Cadillac made two PHEV's last decade. This decade will be all EV's.
Norm T I’m looking forward to these performance EV’s. As much as I love V8 rumbles, I also have loved having an EV for the instant acceleration. Just need to leave 2020 behind.
I ain't knocking your decision or anything, but I think it's kinda funny that you would LEASE a Volvo S60 T8 for the reason of "long term reliability" - the whole point of a lease is that you don't need to worry about long term reliability!
BMW is always excellent performance-wise. It’s their reliability that concerns me. Otherwise, this is an excellent good looking car. Not sure I can say the same about the new TLX that’s supposed to compete with this.
Get one with i6 and they’ll be reliable, just avoid this pointless hybrid crap.
inSAYn I love the inline 6 in BMWs, thinking of getting a used 340i xdrive even though I’m inching closer to a used c450
@@insayn7995 its not pointless to find even the smallest ways to avoid more emissions when racoons and whales are liter pleading with passers by, and whales are braking ships to stop them from stealing their food... but no worries impervious white guy I'm not surprised just regularly disappointed 😕 in how dismissive you all can be at times sigh...
We currently own three and the reliability is excellent. What model(s) do you own that have issues?
Glen F I don’t currently own a bmw. I own an Acura and looking to switch to BMW, I’m interested in the 340i xdrive. Need that AWD for the winter
Had an option to buy one about a year ago as a sedan. Went for the touring (station) 330i for multi reasons. First is the bagage space which is compromised a lot, weight and the touring (G21) was not available before summer of 2020 as a hybrid. Went for the 330i station in Portimau blue, own it now for almost a year.
(Living in the Netherlands where the M340i is about 25.000 euro’s more expensive unfortunately.
It really is going to depend on use case. A commuter with a medium daily distance who also takes road trips would get the most value, and most people buying a new or even CPO BMW non-M sedan have no intention of keeping it a decade so the complexity is not likely to matter.
All the other Great Cars (you have had until Last week) in the us are Not available in Europe because tax is extreme .
I think this is the Future now, Good for our nature. Greetings from Austria
I tuned my 330e to over 400whp on pump gas and 500 plus torque
Thinking of buying one of these and want a bit more grunt. How did you modify yours?
Hmm. I read on bimmerpost that it’s not possible to re map and use the electric motor in sync.
I have the euro version of this car and a home charge point. Combined with Xtra boost the car develops 292 BHP without turbo lag for pretty impressive performance if you have the right tyres.
@@Six7Films BM3 can do it
@@Lestalad1961 you are mistaken, once you really want it done, it can happen.
@@pamelaramdat8321 Am I? If I build it they will come eh? So which system do you have?
The 330e has the B48 A engine developing 181bhp not the B variant and 254bhp.
Mapping typically achieves an extra 20% increase. No mapping changes the electric 100bhp element.
So around 230bhp can be achieved with the 320i and 330e ICE. Add the 100bhp for the electric motor of the 330e and you get 330bhp and nothing like 400 (whp whatever that is?)
Give us some details please.
The reason the car is shifting gears in electric only mode is because the motor is placed at the back of the engine before the gearbox, unlike some other vehicles where the electric motor directly drives the wheels. You’ve completely missed the concept of the 330e in this video, in multiple ways as others have noted.
The car learns driving behaviour which is why it estimated 16mi for range - it’s basing it on what happened before you got it. Then you drove it differently and got more range out of it.
About to replace my very economical Golf GTD company car with a high spec 330e (listing at over £20k more!) and will end up paying approximately half the amount of company car tax each month compare to the “Flog” due to low BIK rates because, when used correctly, it has very low fuel consumption. The government have yet to realise that many people don’t use them properly...
I’m 15 miles from office and have the option of charging there if necessary, with overnight in front of my garage with socket nearby, so this car is perfect.
Even if you don't give a damn about electric driving, like me, it's still cheaper due to tax incentives, faster due to instant torque of the electric part and cheaper due to the opportunity to ride electric and recharge from braking. It has every advantage over an 330i.
Every advantage except for its weight and therefore worse handling (and less excitement) on twisty roads.
Interesting trade offs
It makes a lot more sense in other market like Greece where I live
In norway because the 330e is a hybrid it only starts at 60 000 dollars compared to the 75 000 dollar start price for the 330i.
Our Bay Area Rapid transit trains use motors on each wheel and they all have transmission too ..its weird to hear the electricity shift. The noise it makes.. and that's 40 plus year old technology
Great review. I’m interested in the 330e or the 330i. But cannot seem to decide. I’m assuming engine noise in that 330i is more like the annoying 4 cylinder sound. And the 330e would offer between 35-40mpg combined in hybrid mode. So maybe a good choice. As long as your religious about charging it! Thoughts ??
If you do it right, the 330e is way more efficient as any other car in that category.
Tommy didn't hit it out of the park. He struck out on this review. If TFL actually read the comments, they would see it.
Checking speed on the hill :D
I have a 2022 330E and when you look at the Bmw web site. It says 20 mile range on electric, same as the 530E, same as the X3 30e. So I wouldnt go from the Bmw web site specs, I think that BMW under promises and over delivers. I can easily get 24-26 miles depending on the ambient temperature. I know people with a 15-20 mile commute that are averaging 200mpg plus. Try that with a 330i. With plug in Hybrid systems you cant look at the EPA or factory mpg numbers, because they dont factor in plugging it in every day. I think auto reviewers need to spend a couple of weeks with the car and plug it in every night and see what the mpg is at the end of 2 weeks. I average better fuel mileage than a Toyota Prius and Id rather drive this beautiful car!
What I want to know is if I don't use pure electric but hybrid mode how much will my range be?how long does the battery stay charged in hybrid mode? How many mpge in hrlybrid modem. Every video I watch I can't find this information
Real shit effort there on the first video I ever came across for your channel
I'm driving a 2021 loaner while my 535i is having maintaince done and they are pretty nice. I find them very jumpy in sport mode that combines the battery and motor. A step in the right direction though
imagine watching a car review but the person is shown more than the car
it's not for everyone. i drive may be 5-10 miles per week, just to grab groceries mostly, i work at home. when i go on a road trip i know i don't have to have range anxiety and gas is a great..
Where would you put all your stuff on those road trips, unless you're a light packer. That trunk is not a trunk...it looks like a slot! You can't even lower the floor because you'd need to store the cable underneath. The small trunk is my one big concern. Sure, if this were a small 2-series coupe, I could live with a small trunk (I currently own an M2).
@@cpl8168 just buy a touring?
There is a huge confusion between parallel and serial PHEVs. Parallel ones like Toyota RAV4 Prime or Ford Escape PHEV or Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid PHEV are indeed MORE efficient after the battery is "depleted" having better MPG than their ICE counterparts by far. On the other hand most luxury PHEVs from BMW, MINI, Audi, Porsche, Volvo, Lincoln Aviator PHEV are serial hybrids as well as classical Mitsubishi Highlander PHEV. The serial ones DO not combine well both powertrains thus lagging along one powertrain while using another i.e. providing less MPG than their gasoline counterparts. These PHEVs require regular charging overnight to have them making any sense of buying and using them in the first place unless the owner is interested in performance boost vs pure ICE version which is present in most cases. In todays market a sedan makes little sence overall let alone an inefficient PHEV like one from video. The BMW X3 and X5 PHEVs make much much more sence.
Quickness. A quintessentially American word. Like slowness. Tallness. Fastness.
Awesome this car proves how nice compact executives are I’m sick and tired of people calling this endless money pit if you treat the car like trash ofcourse it won’t last long I’m just saying stick on your boring car if you like but the G20 is definitely an amazing ride
Love the new G20 currently own last generation F series works well for my shorts commutes and still have some fun when I’m ready..but you could pass on that’s G20 I’ll gladly take it
Had no idea BMW threw an E of the 330. You rock for keeping me informed! Thanks TFL. :)
like every model in their line-up...
Braze test in a Audi All Road would work good as there is lots of space in the back for him to ride
We have a 330i, x5 and i3. The i3 gets used 90% of the time as it is such fun to drive. I am still waiting for an all-electric 3 series. Why is BMW holding back?
You've just convinced me NOT to trade my BMW 320d in on a BMW 330e. I can drive from my home north of Newcastle, NSW to my friend's house south-west of Melbourne, Vic, a little more than 1,000 km (about 600 miles), on ONE tank of diesel. Neither the 330e nor the 330i can do that.
330e is way cleaner in the city (you can tell a diesel car went by you if you're a pedestrian, you can smell it)
and faster outside of the city than 320d.
330e is also quieter and more relaxing to drive because of that.
In hilly places, the diesel really shows it doesn't have any energy recuperation.
I had a diesel before and I like the new PHEV Plug-in Hybrid EV better.
My [Volkswagen] PHEV got me a maximum of 1424 km (885 miles) out of 47 liters (71 mpgUS or 3.3 L/100km).
A hybrid car is also easier on the brake pads and discs because it always uses the regenerative braking first to stop the car, so they will last at least 2 times as much. Brake dust looks bad on the rims and is bad for people's lungs.
The one-pedal driving with regenerative braking also is easier to drive than the diesel because you don't have to move the foot to and from the brake pedal that much.
Unless there's no gas station on the route, what's the advantage of that other than saving maybe 5 minutes? I can never understand why people care about gas range all that much.
He didn’t show the M technology which is amazing by the way.
From the UK - very interesting review 👍
Love the video
I have a 2021 BMW e and I love it and your review is overly exaggerated .it drives like a charm. Your review is so off base ..
Realistically I can expect about 35 to 40 MPG USA measurement the estimated 75 MPG equivalent is not a genuine measurement system.
You did acceleration in the electric mode and the extra boost mode. Why didn't you test acceleration in just normal Hybrid mode??? I can't believe no one has posted a video with such as test (nothing that I've been able to find).
I enjoyed reading through the debates below but maybe I`m missing the point here. Charge it every day to maximise MPG. But electricity isn`t free for most of us, so to charge it up must be very cheap indeed. Edit to add: did the guy say it took 1.8Kw to charge it? If so then my current rate for leccy is 33.8 pence per Kw, so approx 50p to charge it?. Is that about right? Or 75 cents for my Euro friends since we have a few Dutch guys commentating below.
Nice, how long to charge to 80% from the ICE when battery is at 0% ?
test drove this car - off the line it feels like it's going to snap your neck with the torque but then as you get up to speed you realize it isn't much faster than something like a Camry Hybrid - it just has this crazy launch and very hard shifts when the pedal is floored. if you back off the pedal a bit it shifts smoothly as you would expect. the main difference between this car and Camry Hybrid is this car is much more premium and fun. it isn't really all that much faster or more efficient. basically if you want a sensible choice - get Camry Hybrid, but if you think you can afford to deal with reliability issues down the line the 330e can be a lot of fun *IF* you're looking for these crazy hard shifts and like to take corners at the limit of tire grip. most importantly if you get the 330e you have to get the AWD version because there is simply too much torque for 2 wheels. suspension is really firm - nothing like last generation 3 series which drove like an old cadillac.
Guess leasing would be the best option
The problem with this car is that in its price bracket you could get a Tesla model three, which is going to give you a lot of savings for maintenance and a better 0 to 60 time
tesla is not even close to level of BMW. This is premium car and tesla is just a tesla. and stop comparing car with real gas engine which can deliver about 300hp after chiptunning plus 115 electric to tesla... its so stupid
@@adamsky7544 if you said that a couple years ago I would agree, but go sit in a 2021 model three with the new interior, it doesn’t look fancy with 1 million buttons, but what is there is very quality, real wood, lots of leather, in the few areas they do use plastics they’re all very high-quality, And performance wise you can’t even question that the Tesla‘s are way better, faster, they can pull more, that’s not even an argument, they went on paper, and that’s with any car you compare them to in the same price category, BMW still probably has a better interior, but it’s a lot closer than it was five years ago, and for the better performance and the savings, Tesla is easily the better choice. The expensive maintenance and premium gas prices alone would deter me from any BMW, whereas a Tesla doesn’t even need service by the dealership ever, unless there’s something that you need fixed (sent with voice dictation so sorry for any bad spelling)
@@voltspc9394 still you can not compare car that have real combustion engine (the same as 330i with chip I have 300HP only from combustion engine. And 330E is not more expensive then 330i) and you can go 2000km with only 2 minutes brake in fuel station to EV car that can be used only in city. sorry but 300km range with average speed 120km/h and after that charging battery for an hour, planning, all logistics is pure stupidity. Tesla is not a real car. Rather a toy for sombody who have money for tesla for fun and city and real car for longer journey. And maintenace: yeah... no cost. For example you can have a little accident for example with a rock and damge your battery. cost: 20 000 dollars. Nice no cost...
@@voltspc9394 Tesla‘s are way better, faster, LOL XD. TEslas are being overtaken by a trucks and buses on a highway :) if you want a constant speed of 160km/h like in real car you will have a range 100kilometres with your tesla. This car is usless as only one car. this is melex for city tour
@@adamsky7544 you’re full of shit, you can easily go at least 250 miles going at 80 miles an hour, most people just sent auto pilot to the speed limit and don’t even think about driving, that’s why they would be getting passed, most owners aren’t speed deamons
This is a fantastic car.... if it had the 15.6 gal fuel tank that the normal 330i has. The tiny fuel tank is a deal breaker for me.
You 75 mpge I don’t see a downside on that
330e makes sense for those that are dedicated to “the game”. It’s maybe a niche group that are willing to do this. For your average consumer, it’s not the right car as there is work involved to optimize. Just like Tesla is the greatest until you own one and then a large number of owners get over them and go back to gas. Unfortunately, a lot of people want convenience over everything else. Once you can charge without having to plug in (at a reasonable price point), people will really embrace the technology more, but that goes for all EV. When you go from having to be religious about plugging in every chance you can to not having to plug in, it’s oddly stress relieving. Great review though! Keep up the great work!
This seems like a car to lease and not buy. BMW's already have enough expensive issues, but with an electric motor in between the engine and the transmission, what will that cost to fix when things go wrong? If you do buy one instead of lease, probably a good idea to purchase BMW's extended warranty.
you get 8 years on the battery
Can u use it with 100 percent charge on gybrid mode. What would be the mpg like that
With a single full charge would the battery last about 1500km in hybrid mode?
“Amount of power left” makes no sense. Power is energy change rate. Did you mean “amount of energy left”?
This or a used A5?
Comment section is just 330e owners getting mad hahaha
1:39 i hate that the whole pannel move when you push a button, seems so lazy
Totally agree. I have the previous gen 330e and this always irked me. 55k and a cheap flap door lol
Can get a lease at 325 a month on these rn for March
Having only that electric range is a waste of time
So Tommy, I guess I’d end up just as well if I get a base 330, stop by Goodwill on my way home and pick up an e-Machine computer for the backseat...j/k.
Your review of the 330e reminds me of the Honda CR-Z I had. It was fun, but the hybrid part didn’t bring much, if anything to the table. But mine had a 6-speed manual...
test drive the thing, you will really what the phev verson add to the table
Same look, same performance but 70% cheaper to run year on year, yeah, defo worth the couple of K extra cost
I agree with you! I honestly don't even know why the developed this car. They could've just waited to release a full electric vehicle just like everyone else
Dude, Can you please review 530e..?
Anyone knows how much it will cost to charge fully at a charge station
About $22
Dope Colorado shirt! :)))
And thought we could finally purchase a new BMW that didn't develop oil leaks by 45,000 ish...not all electric, oh well
$60k for 4 banger BMW. What? Way overpriced
Sure if you add every options out there.
Brah looks like Mike D LoL 😂
Model 3 > 3 series
LOL. IC engines are not for you. But please don't compare a hybrid to model 3. You clearly aren't a motor head.
So they didn’t knock it out the park because…..(???)
👎👎yeah put more electronics + sensors & batteries etc.. = more expensive BMW repairs 😁🤣😁🤣 no thanks
Dang 60 grand for under 300 horsepower?
Now that's what I call a review.
no
Who keeps his car for 10 years now days? 😆
true
Even if you sold it, the combined ownership would still likely be over 10 years. Hopefully. Got my Prius for 8 years already and I am looking forward to the next 20-30 years. Again, hopefully.
No way would I spend money on a highbird As it constantly more for the time the I keep my care this will never pay off between the extra costs of the electric charging and gas. The combination for me means a lot more costs than a gas only car.
The engine needed to be the larger 330i engine in hybrid, then we are talking a competitor to the hybrid sector. Quite a way off BMW with their hybrids, bar the BMW x e45.
BMW just pair up the wrong engines regarding hybrid. Why no 3.0 hybrid in the 5 series as an example, etc etc.
A 3 series without a i6 is really dumb, just get a 340i.
I could not agree more with your point of view on the Hybrid 330e. Why lug around a large battery just for 25 miles on pure EV.
The long term benefit, as your closing comment states, will probably come true....ten years from now, that E-system will be non-serviceable and you did not help the global warming issue at all. BMW needs a better PHEV.
Because it is not a big battery? The range is not ideal, but for some people, it would cover their entire commute. A BEV would lug around a huge battery that is heavier than the ICE. A gas car would not be able to get the MPGs. (It is super weird for this car to have lower MPG than the gas version. The Rav4 prime for example, is about 25% more efficient than the gas version despite lugging around a battery). So for certain people, PHEVs are the best of both worlds. For other people, they are probably the worst of both worlds.
BMW sedans all look the same year after year. And they only last 50,000 miles unless you do very expensive repairs.
Really? Is this first hand experience or are your just winging it? I have had 3 BMW'S over the past 15 years. 2 made it well over 165,000 miles and didn't require anything major or expensive. One needed a water pump at 120k and it only cost $800 at an independent European repair shop. Hardly an expensive repair.
Chad Pattyson same, we own a few as well and reliability is great. My oldest one is 15 years old and still on original water pump, radiator, etc. I honestly believe the upfront price is worth it due to the quality of parts/engineering used.
BMW's actually are scoring in the top 10 of most reliable car brands and the highest of all German brands.
LOL yet it's slower then even the much cheaper base RWD Tesla Model 3. sad
imagine the maintenance costs, haha, endless money pit
according to a recent survey, maintenance cost of phev is down to nearly 50% compared to an ice version
The only people that complain about a car's maintenance are the ones who neglect them. Change the oil regularly, replace consumables before they have a knock on effect on the rest of the car. I don't know what's not clicking...