BMW 3 SERIES test drive BMW 3 SERIES (G21) TOURING 330E XDRIVE 292 LOUNGE BVA8

I had two, an 180hp 1.8 TSi from 2014 and since 2019, a 190hp 2.0 TSi 4×4. I appreciate the fairly compact format and the interior volume, in particular the 600l and more trunk, the dynamism, the comfort and the very good finish. And I’ve always liked the line of station wagons, which I generally find more successful than that of the sedans from which they derive.

Before the purchase of my second Octavia, I had looked a little at the case of the Passat GTE, plug-in hybrid, but had not taken the plunge, fearing to lose performance; I was afraid of finding myself after a few hundred kilometers with a heavy vehicle and lacking fishing. Suddenly, when the new Octavia’s came out in hybrids and RS hybrids, I was interested in feedback, mostly in contradiction with most articles in the specialized press, complaining of excessive consumption as soon as the battery is discharged. As far as I’m concerned, if I could keep equivalent performance without increasing consumption on long journeys, on the one hand, and enjoy the pleasure (and the cost) of driving electric on a daily basis, on the other hand, I was rather convinced. It seemed to be.

I would now like to share my experience on the plug-in hybrid aspect; we hear, in my opinion, a lot of nonsense on the subject.

We can admit that the plug-in hybrid is a technology of transition to electric. Far from disgusting with electricity, the rechargeable hybrid, whose pure electric autonomy is generally sufficient for daily journeys, allows you to get used to and appreciate electric driving. Admittedly, the pure electric powers are not those of a Tesla, but rather similar to that of a Zoe, which already allows use on all types of routes, including on the highway if necessary.

A definite advantage here is that even when it is working alone, the electric motor benefits from the gearbox, so that the torque does not collapse with speed (the gearbox goes up one gear), and its maximum value thus remains permanently available. In the end, I consider that the plug-in hybrid will probably be a smooth transition to all-electric for me.

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We can then, this is partly my case, also choose a rechargeable hybrid to continue to benefit from a high-performance thermal vehicle, without being decked out with a delusional penalty. It is not uncommon to see 300hp plug-in hybrids. We see a lot of criticism about the weight of PHEVs.

Admittedly, a 330e is significantly heavier than a 330i, but ultimately not much more about 55kg than a 330d. In fact, the electric motor supports the internal combustion engine in all phases of acceleration and pick-up, which gives very respectable performance and driving pleasure. Journalists talk about consumption or empty battery performance.