Nowadays, car companies rarely advertise speed, power or performance. It’s all about fuel economy, efficiency and environmental-friendliness. So BMW needs to adapt to survive in this green world. To do so, it’s offering more plug-in hybrid options than ever before, with a plug-in variant in each and every model line. But what we’ve noticed is that thee plug-in hybrid variants are often not that much more efficient, or any more at all, than their small-engined counterparts. We see this with the new BMW 530i and BMW 530e. Both are around the same price but which is better to buy?
For starters, the BMW 530i is the base-model 5 Series in North America, as we don’t get some of the smaller diesel engines the European market gets. With the 530i, buyers get BMW’s new B48 2.0 liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine mated to an eight-speed automatic as-standard. Rear-wheel drive is standard with xDrive all-wheel drive as an optional extra. This powertrain makes 248 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. The 530i can get from 0-60 mph in about 6 seconds, give or take a couple of tenths, depending on all-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive. BMW claims a combined 43 mpg for the 530i, but that’s on the extremely generous EU Cycle.
If you want the hybrid model, you have to spring for the BMW 530e iPerformance, which will be a bit more expensive, but there will only be a few thousand dollars between the two. The 530e also packs a 2.0 liter turbocharged four-pot, but only make 180 hp and 215 lb-ft of torque. That engine is paired to an electric motor, which makes 95 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque. Combined, the two develop 248 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque (thanks to weird hybrid maths). BMW claims the 530e will get from 0-60 mph in 6.1 seconds. With xDrive all-wheel drive, we think it will be faster than that, thanks to the impressive torque figure and instant electric power delivery. BMW also claims 117 combined MPGe for the 530e, which I still don’t fully comprehend how that’s calculated. I saw a combined 24 mpg in a 740e hybrid, so we’ll see what the 530e really can do.
Both cars should realistically get very similar fuel economy, despite the 530e having a hybrid powertrain. The added weight and less horsepower will cause this powertrain to work a bit harder to get the 5 Series moving. Plus, hybrids typically only get those impressive fuel economy numbers if driven like a frail old lady. If driven like a normal human, they typically don’t get much better fuel economy than small petrol engines. However, they do have the capability of driving under pure electric power for short periods of time. BMW claims 28 miles of pure electric range for the 530e.
However, the BMW 530i will likely be the better handling car, as it will carry less weight. The lighter weight of the 530i will give it sharper dynamics and faster changes in direction. So it will probably be the more performance oriented 5er of the two.
All in all, it will be tough to choose between the two for a lot of buyers. They will both be priced similarly enough to be cross-shopped and both provide similar performance and even similar fuel economy. The BMW 530e provides some pure electric range and a green image whereas the 530i is probably the better handler and cheaper overall to buy. If it was me choosing, I’d go with the BMW 530i, just because I refer the more pure powertrain, but I can certainly see how the 530e will appeal to customers who prefer a greener car.
Both of these have more HP than the ’92 530i, which had a three-litre V8. Progress!
Are we thinking of the 540i? I learned to drive in a ’95 740i which at the time was a V8, now of course it’s an I6.
No, that followed. When BMW brought back a V8 after 25 yrs., they replaced the 3.5 six with a smaller but higher output 8, the M60. Around the same time Mazda produced a small V6, also briefly.
The 530e will also get a federal tax credit in the US that’s the same as the 740e, so something like $4,600 or so, so that will be an incentive to folks buying (and may result in aggressive leases too as BMW often gives lease credits for a portion of the tax credit).
I’m guessing anything federal is under review? Scott Pruitt may have something to say about it, he certainly has in the past. Save us, Jerry Brown! Or at least the 530e.
Yea, it’s not confirmed yet but I went through the IRS code guideline on this and it looks like it’ll definitely qualify (battery is over the minimum 5 kwh threshold). Also, code tells you how to calc the credit, so since it’s the same size as the battery in the 740e, I figure it’ll be the same credit (credit isn’t impacted by car size, class, weight, etc. – solely based on the battery capacity).
It’s a no brainer to buy the 530i over the e model but as with all countries, hybrids usually get tax exemption and where I live the rebate from the government is so huge that I can purchase a 330e at 320i price and I reckon it will be the same when the G30 arrives here.
I don’t see a reason not giving it a try. 530e only cost like $200 more than 530i, offers xDrive and accelerates from 0-60 in exactly same time as 530i. Plus, due to that small battery, installing a stage 2 charger is not required as a stage 1 120v cord is enough to charge it to full overnight. 28 miles (or 20 miles real life) electric range is, at least, enough for my own daily errands. Even if you don’t factor in the federal tax return, it is still a rather good deal considering the potential fuel saved over years..
The only good hybrid BMW has ever produced is the i8. Otherwise they still make little sense over the base model, sure the plug-in gives you an electric range, but it probably won’t cover a day of simple errand running.
Am I stupid or will it be more useful to provide hybrid technology like Toyota has? Without charging? I think it’s irritating to charge 530e every 1 or 2 days..
It is a hybrid after the battery discharges to the point where you cant run fully electric. I have been getting 40+ mpg on highway trips and around 30 in the city if the battery is fully discharged to the point where you can’t drive in MAXeDRIVE. AND, BMW is leasing them for less than the 330i and if you purchase you get a $4000 tax credit so it is a better value than the regular 330. I have saved about $800 in fuel costs over the ten months I’ve had the car. The ActiveHybrid I had before averaged 28 mpg lifetime so the 330e is a big improvement with 82 mpg lifetime for me under my driving conditions.
I have had a 330e since March, 2016 in Seattle. It replaced my previous inline six 3 series and I couldn’t be happier with this car. I am getting 82mpg for the 8,300 miles I have driven the car. When you want full performance you can have it by switching the car to Sport or Sport+ and when you are commuting you can choose full electric mode. My commute is 7 miles each way and I do it in full electric in MAXeDRIVE mode. About half of the commute is on the freeway and the remainder on city streets with stop and go traffic. Even in full electric mode the car has more than adequate in town acceleration and torque. On long trips After the battery is discharged I have been getting over 40mpg at 70+ speeds. I have done multiple trips over Cascade passes and north and south on Interstates and back roads and the car is fast, has tremendous torque and handles much better than my 2013 3 series. I also frequently travel to Sea-Tac Airport, which is 21 miles and recharge there for the return trip home and get over 130 mpg for that distance while fully using up the battery charge. I charge at home each night with a $350 charger and whenever I can at the end of longer trips and I find it has been easy to get in the habit of charging each night. Not everyone will do this well with fuel consumption but for someone like me with a short commute this car lets me have the best of both worlds – a low carbon footprint and high performance when I want or need it with all of the features of a BMW. I calculate Ive saved over $800 in fuel costs in ten months and the electricity is the equivalent of about $1.25 per gallon of gasoline at Seattle’s 10 cents per kilowatt hour cost. And, Seattle’s electricity is greenhouse gas free hydro. I couldnt be happier with this car, although it would be great if the next generation has about twice the battery range, which would make it just perfect. By the way, charging at charging stations away from home is not really a good economic choice at this time as Blink charges 39 cents per kilowatt hour and others charge more. There are a few free chargers at hotels Ive travelled to but it makes most economic sense to just charge overnight at home. I choose to use the public chargers for the environmental value but they are more costly and people who are just looking at equivalent cost would make a different choice.