BMW 330e 2016 Review

BMW 330e

Quick Spin

What’s it all about?
The 330e is a petrol-electric plug-in hybrid version of the popular BMW 3 Series compact luxury sedan.

On-sale since May it sits at the higher-end of the comprehensive 3 Series range, which also includes turbo-petrol and turbo-diesel engines.

The 330e combines a 135kW/290Nm 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine with a 65kW/250Nm synchronous electric motor for a combined output of 185kW/460Nm.

Driving the rear wheels by an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission with standard shift paddles, BMW claims a 30km-plus EV-only range, a 0-100km/h acceleration time of 6.1 secs and a combined fuel consumption average of 2.1L/100km with the aid of start/stop.

BMW claims the 330e can be recharged via a standard domestic plug in about three hours. A $1750 BMW iWallbox will do the job in two hours.

The Manufacturer Listed Retail Price of the 330e is $71,900 (before on-roads and other costs). The low claimed fuel consumption means it qualifies for a Luxury Car Tax exemption.

Forgetting about the M3 high-performance sports sedan, that MLRP makes it the second-most-expensive 3 Series sedan behind the $86,548 in-line six-cylinder 340i, but just $2000 more than the 185kW/350Nm 2.0-litre turbo-petrol 330i.

Standard safety equipment includes six airbags, stability control, cruise control with brake, approach control warning, lane departure warning, pedestrian warning/approach control, low-speed autonomous emergency braking, lane-change warning, front and rear park-distance control and a surround view and reversing camera.

There’s also an acoustic pedestrian warning that operates at up to 30km/h when driving electrically.

Other features include 19-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, keyless access, cruise control, electric seats, Dakota leather upholstery, Teleservices via BMW ConnectedDrive and the upper-spec Professional Navigation operating via an 8.8-inch colour (non-touch) screen.

One touted feature was standard LED headlights, but to be honest they weren’t very impressive.

The 330e also features a hybrid-specific version of the BMW Remote app, eDrive Services, which allows checking the battery status and locating public charging stations, along with instrument cluster and control display information tailored to the hybrid drive.

Being a BMW, our test car was loaded down with options including a $2920 sunroof, $2444 ‘Innovations’ package, a $2600 M Sport package and $2366 ‘Visibility’ package.
While there is Bluetooth connectivity for smartphones, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are not offered, which is a significant oversight.

The 330e comes with a three-year/unlimited warranty and a conditions-based servicing plan that covers the cost of parts and labour for all recommended oil services and inspections. Three-years of roadside assistance is also part of the plan.

The lithium-ion battery pack has a six year/100,000km warranty.

Why should I buy it?
The 330e provides a ‘having your cake and eating it too’ argument.

The combined outputs provide enough grunt to deliver energetic performance if you’re driving on an appealing road, while running EV-only mode around town cuts fuel costs and emissions.

The system is so well integrated it is pretty much seamless, although you can choose from three different modes to run the hybrid system:

>> AUTO eDrive is the default setting and this allows the petrol engine and electric motor to work together

>> MAX eDrive is a pure electric mode

>> Battery Save allows the driver to save or regenerate the battery’s energy level for when needed. It was noted time and again during this test how quickly the 330e did regenerate electricity on the run

There are also three different ‘driving experience control’ modes to tailor other aspects of the car’s on-road behaviour such as throttle, auto trans response and steering.

But the combination of optional M Sport suspension (which added a fourth Sport+ mode) and run-flat tyres did exacerbate ride harshness and the amount of road noise in the cabin – something especially noticeable when only running on electricity.

There was also a sense of steering vacancy when the electro-hydraulic assist was turned just off centre. Meanwhile, the added 165kg kerb weight generated by the rear-mounted lithium-ion battery pack, did tend to impact a little on performance when relying on the petrol engine alone.

Inside, the 330e is familiar up-front, which means it’s not as plasticky as even recent 3 Series efforts, but still not quite there with rivals such as Audi.  You get to choose from three different interior trims as standard; Luxury Line, Sport Line or M Sport trim.

Rear-seat space is not impeded by the battery pack although it does eat into the boot, which measures more than 100 litres down on the standard car at 370 litres.

When is it available in Australia?
The 330e is on-sale now and includes the various styling and equipment updates first introduced to the range in October 2015.

Who will it appeal to?
The 330e is a little more expensive than most 3 Series models, but it does combine clever new-gen tech and traditional BMW spirit into an enjoyable and economical experience.

This is a car that could comfortably fit four adults and their luggage for a weekend away.

It’s also a great buy for the eco-conscious executive looking to make a statement without sacrificing image or too many creature comforts.

It won’t hit that 2.1L/100km claim, but we managed fuel economy of around 6.0L/100km using the system properly.

The 330e fits with the rest of the mainstream 3 Series range in the medium passenger car over $60,000 market.

It also belongs in motoring.com.au’s recommended cars Prestige cars under $100K category.

It’s most relevant rivals include the Mercedes-Benz C350e, Lexus IS300h and Infiniti Q50 Hybrid Sport.

2016 BMW 330e pricing and specifications:
Price: $71,900 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 135kW/290Nm (petrol); 65kW/250Nm (electric); 185kW/460Nm (combined)
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 2.1L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 49g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star (Euro NCAP)

Also consider:
>> Mercedes-Benz C350e (from $75,300 plus ORCs)
>> Lexus IS300h (from $61,200 plus ORCs)
>> Infiniti Q50 Hybrid Sport (from $72,900 plus ORCs)

Related reading:
>> BMW 330e 2016 review
>> BMW OZ to offer three 300e variants
>> BMW 330e 2016 review