Richard Berry road tests and reviews the BMW X5 xDrive40e with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.
Read Richard's full review here: carsgui.de/29QU06T
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Can you hear that? Absolutely nothing at all. This is the BMW xDrive 40e petrol electric hybrid and it's running. See even though this is a 2.2 tonne metal monster it can move around silently on electric power alone. What's the point? Shsss! Hush now...
This is the point. The peak-hour commute. So many of us sit in traffic like this everyday to get to work, burning fuel and going nowhere fast. According to the Department of Infrastructure the average Aussie lives 15kays from where they work, this xDrive 40e can do 30kays when fully charged - see where this is going?
Do not fret, though, you can drive this further than 30km. There's a petrol motor on board too and when combined with the electric motor you'll have a range of about 750km of city driving.
So how does it all work? Well there's a four cylinder turbo petrol motor under the bonnet and it's a punchy thing, there's a smooth as eight speed automatic transmission just here and in between them is an electric motor.
There's three modes to the hybrid system. Max eDrive which uses the electric motor only, Auto eDrive where the motor and the petrol engine join forces and Save Battery mode which uses just the petrol engine and recharges the batteries when braking.
The X5 is the king of the BMW SUV range. The xDrive40e looks identical to the xDrive 40d - the big diesel in the range, it also costs the same amount as it too. Our one has the M-Sport body kit which adds among other things 20-in wheels and an angry body kit and being white it looks like a storm trooper helmet.
The only difference visually between the xDrive40e and its diesel brother are the tiny edrive badges and this charging port.
Now charging can be done using a wall unit, a public charge point or with this cable that comes with the car. You just plug it into your household powerpoint and wait... five hours.
Same on the outside as the diesel X5 and same on the inside, too the Xdrive40e's cabin is refined and prestigious. Standard features leather upholstery and brushed aluminium trim, 10.25-inch multimedia screen with satnav and surround view camera, auto parking, and active cruise control.
Now the batteries are under the floor here and that means you're losing space. The boot floor is also higher. Still it'll fit the Carsguide pram easy peasy. Charging cable goes in there. I also really like the split folding tailgate.
The xDrive40e has a comfortable ride, but it does feel a little bit floaty - and the extra weight from the batteries in the back really can be felt when you push it a bit harder in the corners. As with all X5s there's a captain's seat feel to driving this SUV, with its commanding view and effortless steering.
I totally get the big fat prestigious SUV thing, it's gratiuitus and uneccessry and indulgent and I love that, but now it's a bit guilt free too. OK that sounds like an advert for a low-fat ice cream. But seriously if you're doing the daily commute in stop-start traffic then a plug-in hybrid makes a stack of sense - the electricity bill is cheaper than burning petrol, it's more tranquil in the cabin and if you can get your power from a renewable source you're doing the right thing by the planet too.
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Негізгі бет Автокөліктер мен көлік құралдары BMW X5 xDrive40e 2016 review | road test video
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