Right now, BMW has five versions of their popular X5 SUV in its range, with everything from the base sDrive 40i to the range-topping X5 M. It seems there’s an X5 for everyone, but one that’s often overlooked is the xDrive 45e plug-in hybrid. Fortunately, Harry Metcalfe from Harry’s Garage has been using one as a daily driver for six months and almost 10,000 miles, and he’s made a video to share his thoughts on the car.
The first thing he mentions, seeing as it’s a hybrid, is the fuel economy. Over the 9,574 miles he drove it, the X5 45e returned 50.2 miles per gallon (41.8 mpg US / 5.6 lt/100 km). That’s an impressive figure, and it likely has to do with the fact that 52 percent of those miles were covered on purely electric power. Additionally, he mentions that the X5 has one of the biggest batteries of any hybrid on sale at 24 kWh.
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Some things he didn’t like about the hybrid system were the slight reduction of trunk space due to the addition of the battery, and the very slow charging speed. Regarding the latter, it took around 8 to 9 hours to fully charge the battery at a rate of 6 miles of added range per hour, which was the the slowest charging rate he’s experienced in any hybrid or electric car. For comparison, he found the Tesla Model 3 to fill up at a rate of 453 miles of electric range per hour and the Range Rover P400e at 12 to 14. For that reason, Harry believes it’s pointless to charge the BMW anywhere else but from home because of how long it takes.
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One thing he liked a lot about the 45e was the refinement of the whole package. He believes that in terms of its (lack of) noise, vibration and harshness, the X5 punches above its weight class and is more in line with something like a Range Rover or even a Bentley Bentayga. Speaking of the Bentayga, he tested the noise levels of the BMW with a decibel meter, and found it to be nearly identical to the Bentley.
As for the driving, he found the ride surprisingly comfortable despite his car’s M-sport touches. However, that’s not to say it doesn’t behave like a BMW in the corners. He notes that because of how low both the engine and battery sit in the car, the handling dynamics of the X5 are very good and it displays a surprisingly low amount of body roll.
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With 389 hp (403 PS / 290 kW) on tap and a 0-60 mph (0-100 km/h) time of 5.3 seconds, there’s certainly no shortage of speed, and Harry actually wondered what the 45e would be like with a slightly more economical engine. He says that if it can get 50 mpg with the current inline-six, imagine what kind of figures it could achieve with a slightly smaller engine that still provides enough power for the majority of consumers.
Overall, Harry liked the usability and all-roundedness of the X5 45e, and recommends it to nearly everyone who’s in the market for something similar. He believes it is a perfect stepping stone before buying a full EV, and if he didn’t need it for off-road use, he would purchase one for himself.