Along with the new 330e, BMW also presented the 225xe – and don’t let its ordinary looks deceive you.

That’s because under the unassuming MPV bodyshell is essentially a detuned version of the i8’s powertrain – not bad for a family car, is it?

The hybrid powertrain is comprised by the three-cylinder turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol with 136hp mated to a rear-mounted 88hp electric motor for a combined output of 224hp and 284lb ft (385Nm) of torque. This configuration makes it essentially an AWD vehicle – hence the “x” in its designation.

With all this power, it’s no wonder that the 225xe’s straight-line performance is more than adequate: zero to 62mph (0-100km/h) comes in 6.7 seconds while top speed is rated at 126mph (206km/h).

At the same time, official efficiency figures are impressive, too, with a combined fuel economy between 134.5mpg UK and 141.2mpg UK (2.1-2.0lt/100km) and CO2 emissions rated between 49 and 46g/km. The all-electric range can reach up to 25 miles (41km) with the top speed limited to 78mph (125km/h).

The importance of the model is emphasized by one more thing. You see, this is the first application of the hybrid powertrain that’s destined to equip several other models of the BMW range like the X1 and some of the Mini models, like the upcoming Countryman crossover.

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