BMW X5 45e Hybrid Review

The latest are a pair of SUVs, called the X3 xDrive30e and X5 xDrive45e and they combine an electric battery with a petrol engine. In the case of the X5 here that’s a 3.0-litre straight six petrol engine which, together with the electric motor, gives a total of 389 horsepower - which is almost as much as supercars like the Porsche 911.

That’s a nice feature, but the most attractive part is the tax benefits it brings if you are a company car driver. As of April 2020, plug in hybrid electric vehicles will be taxed not just on their CO2, but also on how far they can drive just using electricity.

In theory it will manage up to 54 miles on pure electricity, and the new rules mean company car drivers choosing a plug-in hybrid that can travel over 40 miles on electric only pay 6% of the car’s value per year in benefit-in-kind tax. Compare that to 12% on less efficient PHEVs and up to 37% on diesels - this car could save you hundreds of pounds a month. 

And of course it’ll save you a fortune in fuel too, if you remember to plug it in. If you have a 15 mile commute you could drive on pure electric power, leaving the petrol for longer journeys. 

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Give yourself a pay rise - get an electric company car

You should enjoy those miles too, because it’s a BMW so handles rather nicely. That big 24 kWh battery is under the floor which keeps the centre of gravity nice and low so it goes round corners well. In fact you wouldn’t really know that you aren’t in the regular X5. Stick the car in adaptive mode and put your destination into the sat-nav, and the car will automatically work out the most efficient way to use the battery. 

The downside of having a battery is that it’s robbed a bit of boot space compared to a non-PHEV X5, and there’s no option for seven seats. It’s still a big and practical family car though.

Let’s face it, big hybrid SUVs are not the best option if you’re looking to make the world a greener place, because compared to a full-EV, they aren’t really very efficient. They’re better than a straight large petrol or diesel, but you have to be pretty committed to plugging them in to get the fuel cost savings. If you can commit, then the X5 makes a fine PHEV.