BMW X5 45e longterm test. Why I've gone from electric to a plug-in hybrid for the family car

This BMW X5 45e can travel up to 50miles on electric, making it one of the longest range PHEV on sale today. Having run an electric car as the main family car for 11 months now, I've decided to change it for to this X5 45e. This video explains why.
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[NotJanine]

We have an X5 45e on loan from BMW at the moment and love it.

Usually get around 47 miles on a full charge and if you use the sat-nav when going somewhere the hybrid mode works out the route so that it maximises the battery use so that you arrive at your destination with zero battery left.

If you want to keep 50% of the battery for the return journey then you just dial it up on the i-drive when you set off and jobs done. You can also get it to charge the battery whilst driving but that does have an impact on the MPG.

It takes about 6-7 hours to fully charge on a 7.2kw charger, although it only draws 3.5kw, or so. Haven’t tried it on a standard house plug yet so can’t comment on that.

Our car has the laser head lights at £1, 500 (which I wouldn’t bother with - just get the adaptive headlights instead) and the LED sunroof at £2, 500 (which, again, I wouldn’t bother with - too expensive for what it is and the opening it quite small).

It has the Tech Pack which has the head-up display, etc and that’s great. This pack also gives you the surround camera system which I would say is a necessity - it’s quite a big car to negotiate around a Starbucks drive-thru or park in a supermarket and the cameras make it manageable. The car also has the TV’s in the back at £2, 500 which we haven’t even switched on. Again, very expensive for what they are plus they can get in the way when you fold the seats down.

The boot, although smaller than the non-hybrid version, is fine for our family of five plus dog. The kids love being high up and you get a very commanding view of the road.

Also, it really shifts if you put your foot down but then the MPG drops down to low-teens (12-13!!!), which is eye-opening.

As an average, we seem to be doing about 70% of our driving on the battery and the petrol use overall seems to be around the 80 MPG mark, which is great for such a large car. One good thing is that you really can’t tell whether the engine is on unless you look at the display - you never feel or hear the engine start - it’s so smooth.

Overall, we are really pleased with it and would thoroughly recommend it to anyone in the market for this kind of car.

[iantownsend]

Watching Harry’s videos is like sitting under the learning tree. The man knows his stuff & in my eyes talks complete sense

[sambagogo]

"It's not exactly farmer spec"

Priceless comment!

[modernschoolatlas]

Exactly my conclusion last year, 5 years of Nissan Leafs then changed to a BMW 330e Sport Pro (G20 model) because the infrastructure was the limiting factor. If I wanted to go a distance I had to use another car (the wife's car) because charging points were often either occupied, out of order, incompatible, or nowhere to be found. Now I get 125 mpg because 75% of my mileage is on electric, and it's smooth and fast and has enough gadgets for me. I spent half the amount that Harry did here, and ignored the M sport because I don't want to pay thousands extra for badges and different shaped bumpers (even though the marketing people tell me I should) and it would make the list price over £40k so cost me a lump extra in road tax for five years. But my car could be improved if they put a bigger battery in it, but it doesn't fit hence they put it in the X5, very sensible if you can afford it, if not the 330e for half the money gives you most of what you want.

[ted_maul]

I too often find myself looking at leases when suddenly BMW ring up and offer me a free car for 6 months :D

[matthewbannister]

Hi Harry, I'm 100% with you on the diesel powered PHEV theory; if the Diesel engine never needs to start up in town then the particulates disperse on longer runs and it's like having an EV in town. As a BMW diesel driver, the mpg returned on motorways and long journeys is second to none. Of course, that does rely on the users of them charging regularly and actually using the electric motor like you are doing (rather than taking the reduced BIK tax rates and just driving on the combustion engine the whole time, as I understand many do)... Thank you for the continued wisdom and great videos!

[andyb]

I enjoy all of Harry's vids...but i get more excited when he is holding a sheaf of paper.
It's going to be informative and interesting.

[brettb]

"of course, I haven't tried that because it would be highly illegal in the UK..." Keep it up Harry, another great and informative video.

[thesluce]

One of the beauties of these PHEVs is the remote function for the HVAC. So lovely to get into a perfect temperature car no matter what time of year it is.

[waynealderesq]

Wife just got the x5 hybrid. Loves it. 50 miles per gallons in hybrid

Great around town electric.

Great car all around

[TeamAtterz]

I love how your most economical car other than the Ipace was a Project 8 😂

[emcgrath]

Did you notice the interior of the Espada lit up, in the background, with its new glass roof? Congrats on the Concours win!

[WilliamStevens]

Agree with your comments on Diesel totally, A diesel Plug-in hybrid would be my choice If I had one. But I haven't so will carry on with my 17-year-old diesel estate.

[richardbrayshaw]

As usual, a superb piece of automotive journalism. Nice to have a change from the drag races and 0-60 times and get down to some real world motoring discussion. Thanks Harry!

[mikpiece]

Probably the best car review ever done in the history of cars - thank you Harry

[dleetr]

"No plug-in point at Gordon Murray Automotive". God bless that man.

[johnhaynes]

As ever Harry, totally interesting not just the car but your thoughts around the whole issue.

[Domenico]

I like this review. All the considerations you made in this video make so much sense: the incentives, the diesel, the infrastructure... in my opinion you are definitely right.

[mikecook]

We've had a Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV for 4 years now. I absolutely agree with all of your points, especially the ease of driving in traffic.

[rorycronin]

I can honestly say this is the best, most realistic car review I have seen. Real world driving, very well presented. Keep up the good work!