BMW ActiveHybrid 3 2013 Review - International

BMW ActiveHybrid 3

It doesn’t matter what your take is on hybrid technology -- or how you cut the figures -- there’s no denying they’re impressive. And believe us, they only tell half the story.

Combining BMW’s renowned 3.0-litre six-cylinder petrol engine (of 335i fame) with an innovative electric drive system, ActiveHybrid 3 outputs a total of 250kW/450Nm, delivered  to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. The electric-only range is roughly four kilometres with a top-speed of 75km/h, with power supplied by a lithium-ion battery pack concealed beneath the boot floor. Coasting mode can be activated up to 160km/h.

Boasting the full suite of BMW’s EfficientDynamics eco-friendly technologies, and losing few of the packaging benefits favoured in the regular 3 Series, ActiveHybrid 3 neither looks nor drives like a hyper-miler... And therein lies its charm…

Sitting in the familiar cockpit you’d be forgiven for thinking this is just another 3 Series, and to the eye, ear and hand it is… at least until you start it up. The layout is identical, and barring a couple of additional buttons, modes and screen displays -- and perhaps to the keen eye the instrument panel -- there’s nothing new to report.

The standard kit list is model-specific and suitably high. Dual-zone climate control, leather upholstery, 17-inch light-alloy wheels, satellite navigation, head-up display, Bluetooth connectivity, park assist, office functions, internet connectivity, real-time traffic updates, and so on… All are standard.

Optionally a selection of BMW’s ConnectedDrive systems sees park distance control, rear-view camera, surround-view camera (bird’s eye), adaptive headlamps, and high-beam assist, speed limit information, parking assistant, lane change and lane departure systems and extended smart phone capabilities.

Power is put to the rear wheels via an eight-speed Steptronic automatic transmission.

Supplying the electric motor (located where the torque converter usually sits, twixt flywheel and gearbox) and the air-conditioning system is a lithium-ion battery pack located between the rear wheel arches and beneath the boot floor. It consists of 96 cells with an effective energy capacity of 675Wh (at 317 volts).

It’s the tip of the iceberg of the German marque’s technology in this field as it seeks to use the ActiveHybrid model as a stepping stone to its fully electrified BMW i brand.

ActiveHybrid 3 can operate solely on either power source and in all-electric mode is capable of travelling up to four kilometres at an average speed of 35km/h, or up to a top speed of 75km/h.

Under combined (petrol/electric) power, the vehicle can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 5.3 seconds and on to an electronically controlled top speed of 250km/h. Combined cycle fuel consumption is rated at 5.9L/100km with a CO2 emission figure of 139g/km.

ActiveHybrid 3 employs the full complement of BMW EfficientDynamics technologies including idle stop-start, brake energy regeneration, coasting and green driving assistant, ECO PRO mode, in-grille air flap control (contributing to a drag coefficient of 0.29Cd), on-demand ancillaries and low rolling resistance (225/50R17) tyres.

Suspension is handled by a conventional 3 Series strut (front) and multi-link (rear) arrangement and steering is all-electric. Braking duties fall to discs all-round.

Unlike its conventionally-powered siblings, BMW ActiveHybrid 3 cannot tow a gram. The only additional carrying capacity coming from a roof rail load limit of 75kg.

There’s no compromise to cabin space but in housing the battery pack where the luggage usually goes means ActiveHybrid 3 offers 90 litres less boot space than its conventionally-powered contemporaries (390 litres versus 480 litres respectively).

On the upside, ActiveHybrid 3 retains its split-fold rear seat (either 60:40 or optionally 40:20:40) and from almost every angle looks just like any other 3 Series. In fact the only differences are small badges on the C-pillars and boot lid, matt-chrome exhaust outlets, satin finish window surround trim and BMW Individual high-gloss Shadowline features (usually reserved for M models) in the side graphic.

Inside, the story is much the same. The cabin is identical in most respects with the only bespoke details being ActiveHybrid 3 lettering on the door sills and shift lever. The choice of upholstery and trim colours is identical to the remainder of the range while in the engine bay ActiveHybrid lettering is applied to the engine cover.

Like all 3 Series models, ActiveHybrid 3 is available with all three Sport, Modern and Luxury ‘lines’ as well as the popular M Sport package. Optionally, ActiveHybrid 3 is also available with 18-inch Streamline alloy wheels.

The hybrid version adds a specially isolated structure, to protect the battery in the event of a collision, to its long list of standard passive and active safety equipment. As a refresher, that list includes stability and traction control, antilock brakes with drying and cornering function, electronic brake-force distribution and start-off assistant.

Dual-stage front, side and curtain airbags, three-point inertia reel seatbelts and anti-whiplash lead restraints are also included as standard, as are ISOFIX and top-tether child seat anchorage points.

The Scandinavians have also hinted that a diesel-electric hybrid is on the radar. Volvo also investing heavily in PHEV technology ahead of petrol-electric hybrid offerings, which leaves us with Lexus and Infiniti as the only ‘premium’ brands likely to compete toe-to-toe with BMW in this arena for the foreseeable future.

At this point in time smaller Hybrid offerings from both prestige Japanese marques are still a blip on the radar. However, both the Infiniti M35h and Lexus GS450h are already in the market and keen to compete with the upper-medium BMW ActiveHybrid 5, slated to go on sale in Australia at the end of this year (2012).

It might seem odd to have all this “go” in an eco-focussed car, but the driveability and all-round normality of the ActiveHybrid 3 is welcome in a field that’s all too often soulless.

Grip and balance are on par with others 3 Series models, the additional weight only noticeable through the infrequent mid-corner divots found on our test route (yes, it’s a little firm).

The steering is light, much like the remainder of the 3 Series range, and could really do with the optional Servotronic unit found elsewhere in the line-up. That said, we’re not so sure ActiveHybrid 3 buyers are likely to care.

Brake modulation is very good with no interruption to a “soft stop”, even when the engine is shutting down. Likewise, moving away from a standstill is equally smooth the electric motor filling in the “gap” before the petrol engine re-ignites.

In fact, the only interruption to power delivery came when the car was requested to quickly accelerate when almost at a halt, or when driving conditions became especially demanding. Here, the transmission became momentarily confused, resulting in a delay in drive to the rear-wheels before quickly correcting its transgression.

On test, we managed a 0-100km/h time of 5.9 seconds and returned a fuel economy average of 7.9L/100km, despite some enthusiastic acceleration during our relatively short road loop, and sampling all four driving modes.

As quick as it is green, the ActiveHybrid 3 deserves the attention of those chasing a competent eco-focussed family car... Specifically, those with a split personality and spare $100K.