2017 BMW 530e iPerformance Very first Drive Review | Combining Large Car Luxury And Plug-In Tech Minus The Price Penalty
Fresh BMW 530e Prices and Specifications
From $120,252 Price: $110,500
Dealer Delivery: $Trio,995
Stamp Duty: $Four,825
Transfer costs: $32
In a somewhat surprising budge BMW has brought its latest plug-in hybrid iPerformance model to market in Australia at exactly the same price point as the identically-equipped petrol-powered 530i model.
That`s a budge that goes without precedent in Australia, where the extra cost of hybrid hardware traditionally gets passed onto consumers thanks to Australia`s lack of subsidies or incentives for buying a so-called green vehicle.
Surely corners have been cut to get to that point? No, not at all. Apart from minor difference centres around the hybrid vehicle`s operations, the 530e matches its petrol-only sibling for specification, which in the case of the latest-generation five Series, makes it a rather lavish eco-offering.
Vehicle Style: Prestige large sedan
Price: $108,900 plus on-road costs
Engine/trans: 185kW/420Nm Two.0 4cyl petrol-electric hybrid | 8sp automatic
Fuel Economy Claimed: Two.Trio l/100km
OVERVIEW
Unlike BMW`s flagship eco cars, the i range, which use high-tech construction materials and bespoke engine and construction systems, the iPerformance range is far more mainstream, based on regular BMW models, but powered by a plug-in hybrid powertrain rather than a traditional petrol or diesel engine itself.
In the case of the 530e that means that while there is a Two.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine under the bonnet, there`s also a battery pack at the rear and an electrified motor inbetween the engine and transmission that can either power the car by itself over limited distances, or be used to boost spectacle while still aiming to reduce the 530`s thirst for petrol.
At $108,900 plus on-road costs the 530e certainly sits at the elite end of the green-market, but with spectacle that matches the 530i, and superior fuel economy with no financial penalty Australian buyers might once and for all look more favourably upon plug-in hybrids as something more than an eco-oddity.
THE INTERIOR
- Standard Equipment: Leather seat trim, Sensatec-covered dashboard, dual-zone climate control, head-up display, wireless charge pad, electrically adjustable front seats and steering column, heated front sports seats, adaptive LED headlights, 12.3-inch instrument cluster keyless entry and begin, cruise control with speed limiter, speed limit information, illuminated sill plates, 19-inch alloy wheels
- Infotainment: Ten.25-inch touchscreen display, iDrive controller, DAB+ digital radio, satellite navigation, ConnectedDrive online services, Bluetooth connectivity, 16-speaker Harman Kardon audio
- Cargo Volume: four hundred ten litres
BMW has gone for a low-key treatment to the 530e, so apart from a few extra badges and an extra fuel filler flap in the front guard (to cover the electrified charge port) it looks the same on the outside as any other five Series.
The interior similarly wedges closely to the design and specification of the other five hundred thirty models, the 530i and 530d, with the usual leather trim, colour head-up display, digital instrument cluster, LED headlights, powered front seats and steering column, and keyless entry and embark.
The 530e also shares its Ten.25-inch iDrive infotainment system with the rest of the range, with a touchscreen display plus rotary control, 16-speaker Harman Kardon audio, satellite navigation, digital radio, plus a suite of ConnectedDrive services to let you pick when to embark and stop charging, pre-ventilate the cabin, and more.
While seating space and convenience matches the rest of the range, the 530e does suffer a cargo penalty – with a battery pack where the fuel tank would usually sit, and a slightly smaller fuel tank shifted to behind the rear seats, boot capacity takes a hit from the regular model`s 530-litre capacity down to a more compact four hundred ten litres.
ON THE ROAD
- Engine: 135kW/320Nm Two.0-litre fur-cylinder turbo petrol plus 83kW/250Nm electrical motor (185kW/420Nm combined)
- Transmission: Eight-speed automatic, rear wheel drive
- Suspension: Wishbone front, multilink rear with adaptive dampers
- Brakes: Four-wheel disc brakes
- Steering: Electrically assisted power steering, 12.05m turning circle
With combined outputs of 185kW and 420Nm the BMW 530e seems a fair match for the petrol 530i (with 185kW and 350Nm) and almost comes close to the six-cylinder 540i`s 450Nm.
Violated down a little further the 530e runs a 135kW/320Nm four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine alongside an 83kW/250Nm electrical motor permitting the 530e to match the claimed 6.2-second 0-100 km/h acceleration time of the 530i yet with fuel consumption as low as Two.Trio l/100km – less than half that of the already frugal 530d.
The 530e can also be driven solely on electrical power, albeit for a limited range – officially it`ll cover forty three kilometres before asking for assistance from the petrol engine, however BMW concedes that in real-world driving that`s more likely to be about thirty kilometres.
That`s still enough to cover the so-called ‘average` Australian commute without needing a drop of petrol, with the added convenience of being able to lightly cover long distances without needing to do a thing with the petrol engine ready to chime in at almost imperceptibly when battery charge runs low, or if a burst of rapid acceleration is called for.
To test that out BMW began us out in the 530e at the Bondi Junction shopping centre – one of ten Westfield complexes around the country where BMW has installed electrified vehicle charging stations – to let it demonstrate its abilities around Sydney`s Eastern Suburbs.
To the uninitiated the 530e would feel just like a normal car, yet three driving modes- Auto eDrive mode, which uses the electrical motor as much as possible but taps into the petrol engine when needed, Max eDrive mode where it uses the electrified motor only, Battery Control mode where it switches off the electrical motor when the battery reaches a predetermined state of charge – are the only real giveaway that this particular five Series is any different from the rest.
Albeit it may not sound over-endowed, the 83kW/250Nm electrified motor is strong enough to shift the 530e from standstill with vigour, permitting it to poke about town in near-silence up to eighty km/h.
If you`re more enthusiastic with the accelerator pedal, or encounter an incline, the petrol engine will provide extra assistance, but the changeover is hardly noticable free from any stimulation or stuttering as it starts up and shuts down.
Following a 30-minute wander through Sydney’s beachside suburbs, the tour meter showcased twenty five kilometres of travel had resulted in a fuel consumption figure just below BMW`s claimed Two.Trio l/100km and around forty percent battery remaining – all without ever feeling like anything other than a fully normal car.
Should you happen to deplete the battery entirely the Two.0-litre petrol engine is able to run as efficiently as your average petite hatch at around 6.6 l/100km, – not bad and not far off with the official claimed figure for the more powerful 530ia figure that’s around the same as a puny hatchback.
TMR VERDICT | OVERALL
With parity pricing that matches the equivalent 530i, the 530e will become Australia`s test case for fuel efficient vehicles and plug-in hybrids. When introduced with a car that has an identical price, but better green credentials and lower fuel consumptions, will motorists pick the efficient option, or stick with what they already know?
After our introduction to the 530e, the plug-in five Series makes a compelling case for itself. In some cases the smaller boot might matter to some customers, but in most situations that`s not a deal breaker.
From the outside, with 19-inch wheels, and the standard M Sport styling package of the 530i there`s little about the 530e that says ‘eco warrior` and that in itself might be the ideal incentive for buyers looking for a more subtle treatment than something like the BMW i3 and its It Came From Outer Space styling.
Only time will tell how warmly the 530e will be received, but on very first impressions BMW`s newest plug-in hybrid has the potential to do well for itself.
2017 BMW 530e iPerformance Very first Drive Review, Combining Large Car Luxury And Plug-In Tech Minus The Price Penalty
2017 BMW 530e iPerformance Very first Drive Review | Combining Large Car Luxury And Plug-In Tech Minus The Price Penalty
Fresh BMW 530e Prices and Specifications
From $120,252 Price: $110,500
Dealer Delivery: $Three,995
Stamp Duty: $Four,825
Transfer costs: $32
In a somewhat surprising stir BMW has brought its latest plug-in hybrid iPerformance model to market in Australia at exactly the same price point as the identically-equipped petrol-powered 530i model.
That`s a budge that goes without precedent in Australia, where the extra cost of hybrid hardware traditionally gets passed onto consumers thanks to Australia`s lack of subsidies or incentives for buying a so-called green vehicle.
Surely corners have been cut to get to that point? No, not at all. Apart from minor difference centres around the hybrid vehicle`s operations, the 530e matches its petrol-only sibling for specification, which in the case of the latest-generation five Series, makes it a rather lavish eco-offering.
Vehicle Style: Prestige large sedan
Price: $108,900 plus on-road costs
Engine/trans: 185kW/420Nm Two.0 4cyl petrol-electric hybrid | 8sp automatic
Fuel Economy Claimed: Two.Three l/100km
OVERVIEW
Unlike BMW`s flagship eco cars, the i range, which use high-tech construction materials and bespoke engine and construction systems, the iPerformance range is far more mainstream, based on regular BMW models, but powered by a plug-in hybrid powertrain rather than a traditional petrol or diesel engine itself.
In the case of the 530e that means that while there is a Two.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine under the bonnet, there`s also a battery pack at the rear and an electrical motor inbetween the engine and transmission that can either power the car by itself over limited distances, or be used to boost spectacle while still aiming to reduce the 530`s thirst for petrol.
At $108,900 plus on-road costs the 530e certainly sits at the elite end of the green-market, but with spectacle that matches the 530i, and superior fuel economy with no financial penalty Australian buyers might once and for all look more favourably upon plug-in hybrids as something more than an eco-oddity.
THE INTERIOR
- Standard Equipment: Leather seat trim, Sensatec-covered dashboard, dual-zone climate control, head-up display, wireless charge pad, electrically adjustable front seats and steering column, heated front sports seats, adaptive LED headlights, 12.3-inch instrument cluster keyless entry and commence, cruise control with speed limiter, speed limit information, illuminated sill plates, 19-inch alloy wheels
- Infotainment: Ten.25-inch touchscreen display, iDrive controller, DAB+ digital radio, satellite navigation, ConnectedDrive online services, Bluetooth connectivity, 16-speaker Harman Kardon audio
- Cargo Volume: four hundred ten litres
BMW has gone for a low-key treatment to the 530e, so apart from a few extra badges and an extra fuel filler flap in the front guard (to cover the electrical charge port) it looks the same on the outside as any other five Series.
The interior similarly jams closely to the design and specification of the other five hundred thirty models, the 530i and 530d, with the usual leather trim, colour head-up display, digital instrument cluster, LED headlights, powered front seats and steering column, and keyless entry and begin.
The 530e also shares its Ten.25-inch iDrive infotainment system with the rest of the range, with a touchscreen display plus rotary control, 16-speaker Harman Kardon audio, satellite navigation, digital radio, plus a suite of ConnectedDrive services to let you pick when to begin and stop charging, pre-ventilate the cabin, and more.
While seating space and convenience matches the rest of the range, the 530e does suffer a cargo penalty – with a battery pack where the fuel tank would usually sit, and a slightly smaller fuel tank shifted to behind the rear seats, boot capacity takes a hit from the regular model`s 530-litre capacity down to a more compact four hundred ten litres.
ON THE ROAD
- Engine: 135kW/320Nm Two.0-litre fur-cylinder turbo petrol plus 83kW/250Nm electrical motor (185kW/420Nm combined)
- Transmission: Eight-speed automatic, rear wheel drive
- Suspension: Wishbone front, multilink rear with adaptive dampers
- Brakes: Four-wheel disc brakes
- Steering: Electrically assisted power steering, 12.05m turning circle
With combined outputs of 185kW and 420Nm the BMW 530e seems a fair match for the petrol 530i (with 185kW and 350Nm) and almost comes close to the six-cylinder 540i`s 450Nm.
Violated down a little further the 530e runs a 135kW/320Nm four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine alongside an 83kW/250Nm electrified motor permitting the 530e to match the claimed 6.2-second 0-100 km/h acceleration time of the 530i yet with fuel consumption as low as Two.Trio l/100km – less than half that of the already frugal 530d.
The 530e can also be driven solely on electrical power, albeit for a limited range – officially it`ll cover forty three kilometres before asking for assistance from the petrol engine, however BMW concedes that in real-world driving that`s more likely to be about thirty kilometres.
That`s still enough to cover the so-called ‘average` Australian commute without needing a drop of petrol, with the added convenience of being able to lightly cover long distances without needing to do a thing with the petrol engine ready to chime in at almost imperceptibly when battery charge runs low, or if a burst of rapid acceleration is called for.
To test that out BMW commenced us out in the 530e at the Bondi Junction shopping centre – one of ten Westfield complexes around the country where BMW has installed electrified vehicle charging stations – to let it demonstrate its abilities around Sydney`s Eastern Suburbs.
To the uninitiated the 530e would feel just like a normal car, yet three driving modes- Auto eDrive mode, which uses the electrical motor as much as possible but taps into the petrol engine when needed, Max eDrive mode where it uses the electrified motor only, Battery Control mode where it switches off the electrified motor when the battery reaches a predetermined state of charge – are the only real giveaway that this particular five Series is any different from the rest.
Albeit it may not sound over-endowed, the 83kW/250Nm electrical motor is strong enough to shift the 530e from standstill with vigour, permitting it to poke about town in near-silence up to eighty km/h.
If you`re more enthusiastic with the accelerator pedal, or encounter an incline, the petrol engine will provide extra assistance, but the changeover is hardly noticable free from any stimulation or stuttering as it starts up and shuts down.
Following a 30-minute wander through Sydney’s beachside suburbs, the journey meter showcased twenty five kilometres of travel had resulted in a fuel consumption figure just below BMW`s claimed Two.Three l/100km and around forty percent battery remaining – all without ever feeling like anything other than a totally normal car.
Should you happen to deplete the battery entirely the Two.0-litre petrol engine is able to run as efficiently as your average petite hatch at around 6.6 l/100km, – not bad and not far off with the official claimed figure for the more powerful 530ia figure that’s around the same as a petite hatchback.
TMR VERDICT | OVERALL
With parity pricing that matches the equivalent 530i, the 530e will become Australia`s test case for fuel efficient vehicles and plug-in hybrids. When introduced with a car that has an identical price, but better green credentials and lower fuel consumptions, will motorists pick the efficient option, or stick with what they already know?
After our introduction to the 530e, the plug-in five Series makes a compelling case for itself. In some cases the smaller boot might matter to some customers, but in most situations that`s not a deal breaker.
From the outside, with 19-inch wheels, and the standard M Sport styling package of the 530i there`s little about the 530e that says ‘eco warrior` and that in itself might be the ideal incentive for buyers looking for a more subtle treatment than something like the BMW i3 and its It Came From Outer Space styling.
Only time will tell how warmly the 530e will be received, but on very first impressions BMW`s newest plug-in hybrid has the potential to do well for itself.