BMW's Sensible Sedan With A Plug | 2023 BMW 330e Review
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ก.ค. 2023
- Don't get me wrong, I love the M430i, but if I were to buy a 3-Series today... I'd probably get the 330e. BMW's aggressive pricing and low lease rates make the plug in hybrid a no brainer for most folks shopping for a 330i. For only a few bucks more a month you can add the convenience of the short EV range. How is that convenient? Well on my commute no only would I save a little cash, but I'd stretch out those gas station stops from weekly to monthly.
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I have a 2022 330e and my commute is 12 miles each way. I charge at home for $1 per full battery and at work for free. I can also do a 400 mile trip without ever needing to worry about my battery level. I have 7000 miles on the car and 4500 miles were EV only. It’s a great option for a situation like mine.
What is your l/km when you do those 400 mile trips? are they on highway?
Charging $500 for heated front seats on a vehile with a $45k sticker price is not sensible, it's shameful. Especially when they come standard on a $26.2k Civic.
Most luxury buyers shouldn’t even consider BMW and look elsewhere now that they did that
It’s available on the Versa too even though it’s the cheapest car in the US
Wait until you find out that “standard” is another word for hidden price. You don’t think Honda is charging you for those seats? Yea, BMW is going to have a higher margin, but that’s part and parcel of buying a luxury vehicle. “Standard” is purely a marketing term. It is meant to make you think you are getting a deal, when in reality, standard equipment is often some of the HIGHEST MARKUP options for the company and marking them as “standard” just forces you to buy all of their high margin options just you can get one or two of your must-have options.
@@chriss6356I think the point that person is trying to make is that for that kind of money, it should be standard. It's a compact sedan. It's basically the same size as a civic. For that kind of money, it should come better equipped.
My HR-V came with them at $24k.
As always, an incredibly comprehensive, helpful review that puts each car in a proper context to its competition. The level of pertinent detail and stats you provide is so helpful for us car enthusiasts / buyers.
And just a side shout out to you and your team. TY for the hard work putting these YT videos together for us... for free, I might add. Coming from the design / branding / marketing side, there's an incredible amount of pre- and post-production work that goes into these videos that we just don't see, and it's all very well done. Keep up the great work, now as ABG! (I will say, it's great to see the former "Alex on Autos" still in the titles-there's lots of brand equity there, hint, hint 😉.)
Absolutely loved this review!! Great preparation, concise comments and comparisons. I always appreciate content to be understandable, complete and coherent. Kudos!
I have a 2021 330e for 15 month now, it was a dealer demo. The versatility the electric system adds to the car was my reason to get a plugin hybrid. On hot days parked in the sun I can run the AC 5 or 10 minutes before starting a trip from my smart phone to cool the car down. In winter here in Canada I can warm the car without idling the engine for extended times. The transition from electric to gas is very smooth and the drive feels just like a regular BMW. The high torque acceleration off the line from the E Motor makes the car feel sporty and dynamic giving the driver confidents. On a 1000 kilometre road trip into the Mountains without charging I got 6.2 L/100KM what I found was impressive with the added weight. My regular trips to work and shopping with 75% electric drive gets me around 2 L/100KM. Great review from Alex like always, his last review of the 330e made me aware that the car existed.
Maybe this is part of what Alex was saying, but my guess is that one of the things that is likely exacerbating the effect of the transmission hump intrusion into the cabin is that the related componentry is shifted rearward...by the fact that there is the electric motor sandwiched between transmission and the engine - effectively taking up more space longitudinally than the non-hybrid versions' transmission.
Very pretty garden there you've got at the end of the video!
Now THAT intro works.
Plug in hybrid is the way to go. We have a Grand Cherokee 4xe and Honda Clarity in family.
We only use gas for road trips, barely use a drop in city.
This 3 series looks so good, keep the large kidney grills for 4 series.
Absolutely adore my Honda Clarity. Plan to drive it to the ground.
It’s sad that many PHEVs don’t get better fuel economy than they’ve gas counterparts
@@chezzyperson3339 Because they are heavy compared to their gas versions, the 13-17Kw battery pack and the electric motor added weight is no joke.
@@henrybrar how come a RAV4 Prime gets 38 mpg
@@chezzyperson3339 I rented a 530e for a week and did 1200 miles. I never charged it but still got 47.1mpg(uk). I would say that is pretty damn good. Only used regen andI also pressed the battery hold button while going on long downhill stretches.
A great video with lots of useful info. Thank you
I have a 2022 330e and routinely get 70+ mpg. If you don’t have a long commute and plug it in every night you can get great efficiency. He’s right about the power, I had a BMW 335 that was really fun to drive and this is not that car. But for those whose commute isn’t too long and still want to take a road trip to the country without worrying about finding a charging station this is a great option.
Do you drive in hybrid mode most of the time? How does it do on mpg once the battery depletes?
@@user-fd6db6ke5h I mostly drive in hybrid mode, which if the battery is charged and you’re going less than 70 mph is basically fully electric. That’s how I’ve gotten 73mpg since the factory. Once the battery is depleted the mpg is not great because you’re now driving a gas powered car with the additional weight of battery and electric motor. If you can’t charge it nightly then don’t get this car. It’s not a hybrid like a Prius, it has to be plugged in nightly to be worth it.
Thanks!
It’s not a fun to drive car? Bummer
Is the reduced trunk space an issue, for those road trips to the country?
Drivers interested in Volvos are not the same drivers interested in BMWs.
This insistence on comparing the BMW 330e to Volvo’s S60 felt a little out of place to me.
The most sensible comparison should be either to Mercedes (300e) or Audi (A4 MHEV).
Hi Alex. Adding my usual comment: The hump in the trunk is the gas tank, not the battery. The HV battery goes under the car.
Volvo is passing along the $7500 EV credit for S60 Recharge leases, but that really only makes it close to a wash with the 330e when factoring in Volvo's far weaker residuals.
I rented a 3 series on vacation a few years back and there was way more leg room even for me sitting in the back. Im 6'3" and was surprised by it. I think it was a 335 though anyone know what happened to them?.
Fanstastic indepth review!
i did buy a 330e...
pretty simple: try both, try turning, and if you value a joyful driving sometimes, you stick to the BMW (either 330i / e or even 340 if tending to be insane :D )
Can you comment on Variable Sports Steering (VSS) option, would it make the Steering wheel less stiffer when driving/turning?
not just gas with hybrid mode how long can I go? I undersand with only electric 22 miles so with hybrid how long? and also without electricity power with just gas what is MPG? city and mix? thanks
Am I the only one very disappointed in that MPG? Not anti-hybrid at all but 28 seems really low for a 4 cylinder hybrid sedan, especially considering a Powerboost F150 which is huge and weighs a lot more gets low-mid 20s.
I’m with you. The fuel economy is very disappointing. So disappointing that I’d get the 330i instead.
You’re not wrong. Absurd MPG.
If you drive it on only electric you'd save about $15 on gas which isn't worth it for the added weight, less cargo space, and insanely slow 0-60 time. The mpg estimate seems really strange considering other all gasoline BMWs get better mpg.
We picked the BMW 330e over the Volvo S60 Recharge. We liked the BMW ride quality much better than the Volvo.
You can get M sport package to get M front seats on 330e
Alex, sir you should be a mentor of professional speaker. Your speaking skills is amazing.
I always thought the new BMW grilles look like spider mandibles. Pretty cool.
Alex, Why can't rear seat passengers 7:25 have leg AND head room? 🤨
I too love the beaver
The 340i is the one I’d get. Still decent gas mileage, but it has the best engine. I’d get the 330e over 330i for the carpool stickers, even though I drive mostly highway and won’t benefit from the electricity as much.
I like the 330e, but I drive pretty aggressively with about 80% highway driving and still average 34mpg with my 2020 330i. Probably can't go wrong with either.
I rented a 2021 and loved it. The e engine acts like a booster, and this car can fly . I drove aggesivly in north west NJ and still got 34 MPG. The 8 speed slap or paddle shifter worked amazingly well . I would buy this car -
The rear end has a lot going on, almost like a mix of parts from other cars. The exhaust tips are nice to have but they seem to look a bit out of place.
I am very interested in the 330e. I'm just unsure whether I'll still be able to sell it in 5 or 6 years' time because the battery will no longer be fresh. That's why I'm wavering between the 330e and 330i. My driving profile is perfect for the hybrid, mostly short distances.
The amount of money you will save over 5 to 6 years is something to consider as well
I wouldn't worry about long-term battery health, honestly. Even though the batteries are deteriorating over time and with use, technological innovation between now and then will be working in your favor. 5-10 years ago, the quality of batteries in a 330e today were much more expensive. In 5-10 more years, the same batteries will be cheaper, and equivalently-priced batteries will be more efficient. Not to mention the battery pack in the 330e isn't a large monolith, it's composed of a number of cells. You probably wouldn't need to replace the whole thing, just a failed cell or two.
Not much is talked about regarding the reduced trunk space. Wouldn't that be a dealbreaker for a lot of families?
both cars have cons and pros. i say this having test driven both ( not current version, but 2 years ago ). either try both and see which one you like or just get the brand that appeals to you more. also you may get better deal on one or the other so shop around. i have crazy torque steer on my S60 Recharge because i don't have same tires on left and right in the front after busting a tire on a pothole, but the main grievance with my 2021 S60 Recharge is horrible infotainment. the new S60 has improved infotainment but i tend to believe that BMW probably still has a better one. really i don't think one is better than another - both are solid plug in hybrids. Volvo is a bit more on EV side while BMW a bit more on ICE side.
RIP, 11s in electric mode. I wish more cars were like the Clarity or Volt that behave almost identically in EV vs hybrid mode...
How would would this compare against the Volvo S60 Recharge T8 Polestar Engineered version, price be damned? Would the Polestar handle similar to this or maybe a smidge better? Also you didn’t mention the sound systems, I understand that the Bowers & Wilkens system blows everyone else out of the water. That is a major consideration for me along with the quickness and extra electric range that you mention and I’m leaning towards the S60 but wonder if the Polestar Engineering adds enough oomph to rival BMW in handling.
I liked it until I saw the gosh-awful video game dash. Can they give an option to have a decent dashboard? It’s up there with Honda’s pushbutton shifter, cylinder deactivation, and non-defeat-able stop-start.
It would be interesting to know if you convert the kilowatt charging cost the battery charge to cost per gallon and, if it really does make sense charging the car. I did this analysis and it only works if you have lower charging costs overnight by your utility if you don’t gas is still cheaper in my area.
If you do have lower overnight charging cost(in my area they call it time of use rates) then you’re paying a lot more to run run your home air-conditioning and other things during the day. No one really talks about this. They just think electricity is free and cheaper than gas.
From what I’ve read, the drain on your home electricity is negligible.
@@teeheeteeheeish it’s about converting the cost of electricity to miles per gallon. The average person pays somewhere around $.20 per per kilowatt which converts to about five dollars a gallon depending on the efficiency of the vehicle. So, in other words, electric eagles can be more expensive than gas vehicles. Not saying and not good. Just trying to make a point about it’s not free to drive an electric car.
As far as negligible electric use, that’s absolutely not true because these batteries could be 100 kW I need to be charged every day which adds up
I only wish it actually jut recharged itself no plug in like the Ford Fusion hybrid they dont make anymore that got 500 miles a tank my 330E only gets about 350 a tank with charge full and charge drains after about 20 miles..
I'd get the 330e for better driving experience
I just leased the 2023 530e and so far am very impressed. The power delivery in all electric or hybrid is seamless and it produces acceleration in a very satisfying manner. It gets the same 21 miles in all-electric, but with the AWD it is reduced in most cases to 17 miles which for my driving needs is still fine, although I wish it did have a bigger battery. I really wanted an EV, but the i4’s beaver toothed grill just wasn’t to my taste.
I had a 2021 530e. I traded it in a few months ago for a BMW IX. I averaged 90mpg for the 2 years I had the vehicle. The vast majority of my driving was under 20 miles so was almost always electric with no gas. I think i filled up with gas about 4 times. I get 2 years of free charging at Electrify America. But if I had to pay for the charging, it would be more expensive than gas. The 2024 530 is going to have a bigger battery with a longer range. I wish I had waited for it instead of getting the IX.
@@sporla3 Initially I was just going to charge it with the 120v charger included with the car, but the 12+ hour charge time persuaded me to have a level 2 charger installed ($850) so now it takes 1.5 - 2.5 hours and since I will eventually be going EV I’ll need it in the future. I also have solar panels so all my electric usage is free.
@@jameswohlsen6754 I have a level 2 charger also. But since BMW gives me 2 years of free charging, I take it to Electrify America. I wouldn't if I had solar. Charging at home is about 1/3 the price of what it would be at electrify america (48c per kwh vs 15 cents at home). Of course, solar would be better still.
The Volvo s60 does qualify for $7500 Fed tax credit, dealer takes it off the top so they discount it right away, Feb 2024
Cost to replace battery after 4 years? There are already lots of bmw 3 plugin hybrid report battery failures.
After 4 years? Free. There is an 8 year guarantee on the hybrid battery.
Since we moved to Lithium Ion Batteries we don’t have to replace the batteries very often and definitely not within the 8-years or 10 year warranty
I'm driving a 2017 330e with the Li-Ion battery pack - and the battery is still giving me more than the full advertised range. It has been fantastic.
I'd get the S60 as well, but it's damn close. My wife loves her 530e.
The 2 in comparison here are BOTH made in North America, so hopefully at some point their battery partners/supply chain will get worked out to the point where they'll qualify for at least half the tax credit.
Just a small comment, the 530e is not produced in North America, it is produced in Dingolfing Germany and in China but, the 330e it's made in Mexico and in Germany.
@@botalbertrdz6998 I could have worded it more clearly, but I wasn't referencing where the 530e was produced. Just mentioned it cause it's a similar vehicle. "The 2 in comparison" refers to the 2 being compared in the video which is the s60 T8 and the 330e.
The S60 does get the federal credit of $7500 ! Ive been pricing and it comes right off the top!
I'd probably pick a 5 series due to the limited back seat legroom.
Don’t think 5 series back seat is much better. Check legroom spec
@@Travler-xr Good point. I guess the German sedan back seats are kind of like 3-row SUV back seats (3rd row.)
@@Travler-xrI used to own a G30. The leg room isn’t bad. 6 foot myself.
Nice review! I would skip it because it only has 21 miles of EV range. If I were to burn money on a BMW, I'd go with the M2 to get the true "Ultimate Driving Machine." Otherwise, what's the point?
I think the 21 miles is decent, because your commute might be about that and basically commuting on all electricity is a nice proposal. Needs to work for your situation though.
I realy hope bmw brings back the i3 as an i2 or i1
Man, BMW missed an opportunity.
They should have engineered the 330e to have 33 miles of EV-only range.
I'm glad I got the '21 330e with physical HVAC controls. You'd probably have to pull over and stop to go through 5 screens of menus just to turn on the A/C.
Also it would be nice to see pricing in these reviews because they are always press cars that have all the options added. Start with base MSRP and then price as tested.
I live in a very flat region with literally no curvy roads so having the M sport option makes no sense. I think it was almost 10k for that in '21.
I opted for the Sunset Orange paint - the only one I've ever seen - and complete strangers openly compliment how good it looks.
Cool color choice!
He always talks about pricing at the end of every video he makes.
I think just MSRP not what he paid.
@@Wisdom7I I will tell you - then you can covert it
$45,9550 Canadian dollars
The grill is taking on Kia's Tiger Nose shape.
Wait- its a hybrid but only gets 26 combined???
Yeah it’s a bit confusing, Hybrid in 68 equivalent but 26 is Highway/City combined gas only… engine and battery are always running for combined torque
"this is certainly going to be more comfortable for taller passengers in the rear as long as their legs aren't too long." lmao
perfect if you're the alien from american dad
Those red blinking led in the gauge cluster is soo annoying
The human eye can't see those lights. They are infrared and used in the driver monitoring suite.
26 mpg combined for hybrid compact sedan with 2.0engine is not an "A", it's not better than a gas car in any way if you don't charge it and go for a long trip. Questionable efficiency.
38mpg without charging on my trip from Bay area to LA. Forums show thats not out of the ordinary.
@@tedpark5146 maybe data is misleading, 38mpg is good enough.
@@tedpark5146 Isn't it the case that the gas only 330i will do high 30s on the highway too?
In regards to plohish's comment I don't think the hybrid fuel economy is really a factor because people won't really drive this thing in hybrid mode often. Most people will charge every night and drive to work the next day, so the fuel consumption over the course of a year is going to be way less than a 330i. If you can't charge overnight there would be no reason to buy this car.
@@bradcomis1066 Not sure what 2023 laws are but when I bought mine in October 2022, there was a $5800 federal tax rebate which made it much cheaper than a comparable 330i even with the $1k higher msrp.
What diet is that?
I like the Volvo S60. I'd prefer the BMW 330e or the I4.
That M visual package looks like a Corolla.
Unsee that.
The totally un-inspired designer who "fathered" the "beaver/kidney grill" of the 4 series ... was kept away from the front grill of this re-freshed 330e ( Thanks, God ! ) ... but managed to mess with both bumpers ... front & rear ... 😔
Love the look but the interior is too digital for my liking.
I get 31 combined mpg on my m340 lmao
I hate the trend of removing physical buttons for touch screens and touch buttons. Who prefers touchscreens??
That’s a good question for Blackberry users
Great review as always, but i’ll take the non hybrid version.
Why though? The 330e gets twice the mpgs
"The best 3 series" is perhaps better than "the best Nissan with a CVT."
If you want a compact luxury sedan that drives well and won't bankrupt you buy a Lexus IS. If you want an eco friendly luxury sedan buy a Lexus ES300h.
I’d get the regular 330i. The fuel economy and range of the 330e is simply unimpressive.
wait until you take that thing for maintenance and repairs 🤣🤣
Between those two l'd get the S60. Better hybrid, more power, better looking IMO.
Though I would just get an EV. Probably a new Model 3
Volvo is Chinese owned, so just for that reason I'd pick the BMW
I'll pass.I'll stick with my 2019 Honda Accord hybrid for a long time.
Good choice. The driving dynamics aren’t too far off a bmw 3 series. I mean there’s a reason the accord is the bmw 3 series of midsize sedans
The Civic is now bigger than your Accord😂… seriously though I’m a Honda owner and my CR-V doesn’t have 400 HP.
People are selling 20 year old BMW M3’s for more than a new Accord or CR-V so I understand the value and reliability of BMW
BMW has the right idea but they’re known to be unreliable. With higher miles add it’s two powertrains this will be the opposite of a used Prius prime in the 1st & second hand market.
Bmws have reliable engines. Their b58 motor especially has been very reliable
Besides most people LEASE bmws not BUY them
Their b58 is a “good” engine but reliable no. They’re also a more high maintenance. The statement of “most people lease it” is the equivalent line of ev owners “we need more infrastructure”
Offer a cooled seat. This is not 2013. Grow up, BMW.
Disappointing but at least it's perforated
There is nothing sensible about not being able to purchase and plug-in your own fault diagnostic computer like most cars.
20 mile EV range is to low. The Rav Prime is double that and hp is also better. This car is old tech that has not been improved.
Good review but tbh I really missed your old intro, please change it back
You have to be out of your mind to buy this. Its not a luxury car by any metric, and has the same feel of a VW interior. Adding the plug in hybrid system makes this car exponentially more likely to break. With BMW they develop and rush to market to try to be first, without much long term testing at all. Toyota found this out when they let them build the supra/ Z4. BMW was pissed because Toyota kept sending them engine parts that were wearing and breaking during testing of the engine and had them redesign the parts before they would sign off on the engine to go in the Supra. BMW is already known for having terrible reliability, so you have to be a fool to consider buying one.
People are going on about heated seats, while they are standard in the cheapest of cars. Cooled and ventilated seats is what you should be shopping for.
The guy gives it an A for ride while he is being bounced around the cabin.
Without plugging in every day to get the 21 miles of electric power, the hybrid only gets 28mph. The gas 3 series has been claiming to get 28mpg since 2013. You have to be nuts to plug a car in everyday just to get only 21miles on electric power.
No, thank you. This is perfect for someone like me. The B48 has also been shown to be reliable, fixing most of the problems from the N20. I don't care about the luxury part, but for some reason there are few PHEVs with a sunroof. And owners report that plugging in allows them to reach nearly double the estimated MPG, so range isn't the only reason to plug in. You can call me a fool if you want but I bet that we still get to the same place in the end. To me the point of this car in my life would be a responsible, conscious adult recognizing that I want a car that's fun to drive.
I couldn't agree with you more about ventilated seats, though. Just dumb that they aren't even offered.
If it plugs inro electric it's electric, it is not hybred. Work hard with words to get us into electric vehicles. Would take a true hybrid amy day but not electric..
PHEV= Plug in Hybrid Electric Vehicle
Bmw charges $ 10 k more than rhis car is worth. A base Teala 3 or RAV4 hybrid or base VW Jetta 6 MT or Maverick or Prius are just as good in some or all aspects, will avoid the costly repairs BMWs have due to poor parts quality and poor design for maintaince.
Go elsewhere. Both a costly gasolibe and costly electic drive train is a recipe for twice the fun 😢.
Effectively none of your examples are PHEVs. I only want a PHEV because I regularly drive both short and long distances and cannot always guarantee I'll be able to charge it, although I do plan to charge as much as possible. I admit I'm looking at used cars more than new ones, so I'm not paying a premium for the car. I know other people will laugh for considering a used BMW but that's not important to me. Warranties and reading make you way less scared. It's just an ICE with an electric motor, not witchcraft. Plus with two drivelines, that means less overall wear on each. It might show 50k on the clock but only 40k were on the gas engine.
Bottom line is that this fits my checklist better than any other option.
Model 3 Performance please, over both the BMW and Volvo 😊
Intro-NO!
Civic lol d9nt compare lol
Nobody wants electric vehicles, give it up. There's nothing inevitable out them unless they are forced by government and reality. The people didn't want not want them.
Either get full gas, or full EV. Dont bother with something in between
No. I am only interested in PHEVs at this point. I need ONE vehicle to drive both in town and out to rural counties, multiple times a month.
Not to mention you need 10 years in an EV just to match the damage to the environment to dig up all those batteries…🤣
All these new look interior, like slapping on a tablet on landscape mode. Seem like they all copying each others. Nothing unique or special for theirs own brand. Boring design
I still don't understand who really buys this ... Looks cheap,bad quality,unreliable, pricy !!!
You’re wrong on all of those arguments. It looks expensive. The bmw is very high quality as you’d expect for a German product, and of course it’s expensive
Reliability shouldn’t be a concern. If it is you shouldn’t even be commenting here 😂
I'm interested, for one. I admit I'm looking at used so it'll be cheaper but I'll have to spend a little on an extended warranty. And then who cares? Gonna ruin it visually anyway because I actively don't want the badge snobbery.
Doesn't this get the $7.5k federal incentive anywhere in the US?
It use to get a $5k credit but not anymore. Very few cars can qualify for the credits now and the majority go to Tesla’s
@@Bravo1VE Just checked, a BMW X5 50e and multiple other PHEVS still get the tax credit, what weird rules did they come up with?
Mainly to due with where the batteries were manufactured and a whole buch of other details. They went with a relatively lenient rule set to extremely strict and needed to built in the US and not just North America. As the 3 series is mainly made in Mexico and the batteries were not from the US, it killed the credit.