2016 BMW X5 xDrive 40e REVIEW – ‘PPHEVSUV’ (Premium Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle Sport Utility Vehicle) Might Test Your Spell-Checker But Put This One On Your Shopping List
IN THE CAR BUSINESS, IF YOU’RE STANDING STILL YOU’RE GOING BACKWARDS.
Not BMW. It's given its full-size X5 SUV a petrol-electric plug-in hybrid version - the BMW X5 xDrive 40Ee to be precise. It's name, that acronym that attaches to it, might be more than a mouthful, but so is the car.
At $118,900 (plus on-road charges) the petrol-electric hybrid model is identically priced to the xDrive 40d turbo-diesel. BMW, incidentally, admits the latter - also incredibly frugal - remains the better bet for rural customers.
Vehicle Style: Large SUV
Price: $118,900 (plus on-roads)
Engine/trans: 230kW/450Nm 2.0 4cyl turbo petrol/electric hybrid | 8sp automatic
Fuel Economy Claimed: 3.3 l/100kms | Tested: 4.8 l/100kms
OVERVIEW
Here’s the thing: SUVs still enjoy enthusiastic support from the new car buying public (37 percent of Australian sales in July), but the increasing ‘greening’ of global markets has seen a rush of vehicle manufacturers responding with vehicles that are kinder to the planet.