2017 BMW 530e iPerformance First Drive Review | Combining Large Car Luxury And Plug-In Tech Minus The Price Penalty
In a somewhat surprising move BMW has brought its latest plug-in hybrid iPerformance model to market in Australia at exactly the same price point as the identically-equipped petrol-powered 530i model.
That’s a move that goes without precedent in Australia, where the additional cost of hybrid hardware traditionally gets passed onto consumers thanks to Australia’s lack of subsidies or incentives for buying a so-called green vehicle.
Surely corners have been cut to get to that point? No, not at all. Apart from minor difference centres around the hybrid vehicle’s operations, the 530e matches its petrol-only sibling for specification, which in the case of the latest-generation 5 Series, makes it a rather lavish eco-offering.
Vehicle Style: Prestige large sedan
Price: $108,900 plus on-road costs
Engine/trans: 185kW/420Nm 2.0 4cyl petrol-electric hybrid | 8sp automatic
Fuel Economy Claimed: 2.3 l/100km
OVERVIEW
Unlike BMW’s flagship eco cars, the i range, which use high-tech construction materials and bespoke engine and construction systems, the iPerformance range is far more mainstream, based on regular BMW models, but powered by a plug-in hybrid powertrain rather than a traditional petrol or diesel engine itself.
In the case of the 530e that means that while there is a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine under the bonnet, there’s also a battery pack at the rear and an electric motor between the engine and transmission that can either power the car by itself over limited distances, or be used to boost performance while still aiming to reduce the 530’s thirst for petrol.