BMW 530e xDrive - eco luxury
The famous "5 Series" in electrified form is impressive. Long journeys are a pleasure, and the zero-emission plug-in drive means you can enter restricted clean transport zones.
The BMW 530e plug-in hybrid combines an electric motor with a 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine to create an efficient "combo". Over short distances you can drive on electric power alone with zero exhaust emissions, while the electric motor and petrol engine working together let you cover long distances. You won't get very far on electricity alone: the maximum range I managed was 32 km on a full charge of the 12 kWh battery.
The combustion engine produces 184 hp, and the electric motor can "chip in" another 113 hp. You can force the system to drive with zero emissions, and the car can then briefly reach 140 km/h. The display in front of the driver changes its colours and graphics to show exactly that maximum value on the speedometer.
The car is well insulated against noise, and the interior is very comfortable, finished in luxurious materials. The test car was very generously equipped (priced at almost PLN 400,000). To allow the driver and front passenger to control so many functions - independently of each other - the buttons on the centre console had to be miniaturised. Ergonomics have suffered a little. Gesture control for some of the functions, mainly the radio, is fantastic.
As long as you have electrons at your disposal, you enjoy not only lively performance but also zero fuel consumption. If you "fill up" with electricity wisely, you drive almost for free. The combustion engine cuts in and out imperceptibly.
Unfortunately, as is the case with many plug-in hybrids, the fuel tank has been made smaller. The BMW 530e's tank holds 46 litres of petrol, which on the motorway is enough for less than 400 km. The low-profile tyres improve the car's stability and offset the drawbacks of its high kerb weight.
The BMW 530e is a very luxurious saloon with an eco function. The car is exceptionally comfortable and easy to drive, quiet and fast. If clean transport zones become a reality and plug-in hybrids are allowed into them, it will be an excellent choice for well-off city dwellers. On the open road it drives superbly, but the limited range is a drawback.
BMW 530e xDrive - technical specifications:
| Engine capacity and type | 1998 cm3, R4, turbo petrol + electric motor |
| Power | 184 hp at 5000-6500 rpm + 113 hp |
| Torque | 290 Nm at 1350-4250 rpm |
| Gearbox and drive | 8-speed automatic, four-wheel drive |
| Top speed | 235 km/h |
| Acceleration 0-100 km/h | 6.2 s |
| Average fuel consumption | from 1.5 l/100 km (manufacturer's figure) |
| Kerb weight | from 1935 kg |
| Price | from PLN 251,800, price of the car tested: PLN 383,339 |
* technical data according to "Auto Świat"
