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BMW X3 xDRIVE30e Mid-sized SUV borrows the plug-in hybrid powertrain from the excellent 330e
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o one can accuse BMW of failing to offering sufficient choice. Not with the X3, at least. With the addition of the X3 xDrive30e to its line-up, the German brand now provides buyers with four different types of powertrain for its mid-sized SUV: petrol, diesel, electric and, as seen here, a combination of petrol and electric. It’s an impressive achievement that has been made possible through the inherent versatility of the CLAR platform – a structure developed from the outset to support all four types of propulsion. It also brings the X3 into line with the Audi Q5 and Mercedes-Benz GLC, both of which offer the same number of drivetrain choices when you count the related E-tron and EQC electric models within their respective line-ups. The latest plug-in hybrid BMW is based around the conventional petrol X3 xDrive20i. However, some significant engineering changes have taken place to allow it to offer electric-only running
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for up to 32 miles, together with combined fuel consumption on the WLTP test cycle of between 117.7mpg and 134.5mpg – figures that qualify it for company car taxbusting average CO2 emissions of between 49 and 54g/km.
Up front, the turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine delivers the same 181bhp and 221lb ft as it does in the X3 xDrive20i. It’s supported by an electric motor, mounted within the front of the standard eight-speed automatic
With no rapid charging capability, top-ups will take more than 2.5 hours
gearbox, giving 107bhp and 195lb ft. This makes for a total system output of 288bhp and 310lb ft, which is channelled to each wheel via BMW’s xDrive four-wheel drive system. To put this into perspective, the rival Q5 55 TFSIe delivers quite a bit more power (362bhp) but less torque (273lb ft), while the GLC 300e offers 316bhp and 516lb ft. Nevertheless, these outputs are sufficient, claims BMW, to provide the 1990kg X3 xDrive30e with a rather pacey 0-62mph time of 6.1sec and a top speed of 131mph, including a maximum of 84mph on the motor alone. The electrical energy used to run the motor is sourced from a 12.0kWh lithium ion battery running at 354V and mounted underneath the rear seats, with the petrol tank relocated to a position beneath the luggage compartment at the rear. This means that boot capacity is put at 450 litres – some 50 litres less than that offered by conventionally powered X3 models.
