BMW X5 45e 10,000 mile review. Why PHEV beats EV for our family car

This BMW X5 45e arrived at HG 6 months ago and we've now done nearly 10k miles in it. This video explains what we've learnt about running a plugin hybrid after living with a pure electric car during the previous 12 months.
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[kk.]

Harry, the only person who will say out loud that charging is slow, and the engine in the front starts and spins ice cold. That's what we called a proper review!

[Kelveron]

Very useful real world experience on the use of a PHEV. Top clip, as usual, Harry.

[DouglasChrystall]

Word of the day “ACE”, just like this channel.

[modernschoolatlas]

In the last 18 months I've done 9707 miles in my 330e and used 73.9 gallons, that's 131 mpg. I reckon at least 75% of my miles are electric. It's refined and fast and I'm very happy with it.

[bigprocrastinator]

Harry's praises and quibbles hold value. The best car reviewer on YT

[johnohare]

Wife just asked if I wanted to spice our life up a little by introducing some electric toys. I told her that Harry says PHEV is the way to go rather than EV. She gave me a dirty look and stormed off. I don't understand women sometimes.

[OC]

I am also an actual farmer in CA and this review was a massive help. I'm debating between this and the Defender and I think I can confidently make a decision now. Thank you!

[flippy]

I think PHEVs are the perfect daily, you can use it to go to shops and short trips on EV mode and still go on a cross country trip without fearing your battery runs out

[GlobetrotterZ]

We’ve had ours for three months now and are really loving it! Refined is definitely the right word to describe its long distance comfort. At the same time it’s very happy to be pushed a little harder on some alpine roads.

[larryhazlett]

Harry, thanks for the top notch review. I purchased ours in October 2020. I’m still amazed at and in love with this car. I just found the manual mode and used the paddle shifters for the first time. What an absolute blast! Rides like a dream. Incredibly refined and quiet. Love it! Thanks again.

[EnarcMail]

The X5 45e is a superb car. I’ve had mine since June 2020. 9, 000 miles covered with 6, 800 on pure electric. Indicated 87 MPG ave over that period. Most journeys are sub 40 miles. Yes the charging is very slow but if you are considering one of these I would highly recommend!!

[peterball]

Owner of a Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV for 4 years and very similar experience. Love driving in electric mode and no range anxiety for long trips. It's the journeys that are just too long to do on electric that are annoying. Either maximise electric capacity or use more petrol to warm the ICE system properly (first world problem). I try to avoid overtaking until the engine has been running a while but spirited pulling out of junctions can cause the engine to fire up when not really required. Overall very happy and will keep it until long range EVs are affordable.

[phillippearl]

I love your reviews. They feel so honest and real.

[DoctorSkillz]

I wish Harry could review more mainstream cars. His honesty and experience is supremely informative. Keep it up!

[samcarter]

I know this video is a year old now but I really want one of these. Love your detailed review in both videos. Thankyou

[tiguanman]

I know one owner of a 4-series BMW hybrid who got it because the company accountant stated it was good for tax reasons. Drives everywhere in Sport mode with engine running. Doesn't care about mpg, the environment or "virtue signalling". Harry has been meticulous in gathering the data for us enthusiastic viewers but, lets be honest, does anyone who can afford a £70k car reallyu care about mpg? Cold start from zero to 3000 rpm at -10degC is going to trash an engine but BMW trust it will be OK throughout the warranty period. German charging infrastructure is an important point. If EV's really increased on UK roads, we couldn't charge them all either. A really excellent, thoughtful, independent video. Still, my diesel Mondeo estate would do the Brands Hatch trip at 47mpg and hardly depreciates so I'm not envious though I wouldn't mind a free BMW for six months.

Brilliant video. Thank you. I was thinking to buy one and now, the decision is made. I will buy it.

[jan-hendrikbussmann]

I would like to comment on the "lack of power capacity" in German homes. That is simply untrue. There are regulations in place in Germany that demand a symmetric three-phase power draw when exceeding 4.6 kilowatts. Private charging points must not charge more than 20 amps single-phase, which is 4.6 kW at 230 volts. Cars like the Range Rover are therefore not able to fully utilize their 7.2 kilowatt single-phase onboard chargers on those charging stations at home. If you want to have more than 4.6 kilowatts, the car has to be equipped with a three-phase charger. Then you can do 11 or even 22 kilowatts at home, but the latter does have to be approved by the power company first. Standard household supply in Germany is 44 kilowatts (three-phase at 63 amps). 7.2 kilowatt single-phase chargers are just very attractive from a cost point of view for the car manufacturer because you can sell this onboard charger worldwide and it will fit most market needs, like in the US (where there is no three-phase for EV charging) or China (where single-phase 32 amps is standard although they do have three-phase power). Many of today's EVs started with 7.2 kW, but have now been upgraded to 11 kW three-phase (like the Jaguar I-Pace or the Hyundai Kona) to comply to European charging standards. So BMW just has to upgrade that damn old charger in the X5, which they have used for several years in the former PHEV models as well. That's just old stuff. Put an 11 kilowatt charger in it, and you will be able to relatively fast-charge that car in Germany and the rest of Europe.

[Starfighter.]

I love my X5 45e. I typically get around 51 electric miles on one charge (ignore the predicted electric range on the driver's screen its alway wrong!). Mix of long distance commuting and local journeys has returned 55mpg combined. It's incredibly quiet inside, iDrive is fab, as Harry says virtually zero body roll and is a delight to drive; infact we think its even nippier than the 330e we have. A super-comfortable family car.Thanks Harry, another great review.

[richardhale]

Harry, this complete series of reviews has been terrific. I now know more about this car than many owners!