2018 BMW 530e xDrive iPerformance

A second take on the plug-in hybrid 530e

By Isaac Bouchard

The 530e is one of my favorite BMW 5-series, and a brilliant indicator of a shining new world for those who enjoy driving and care about their carbon footprint. Perhaps there is more to the whole “iPerformance” sub-brand than just marketing hyperbole. This plug-in hybrid is almost as fast as the six-cylinder 540i and more frugal than a four-cylinder 530i.

Oh, and its lease payment range makes it the best value of the three.

There’s still something übercool about plugging the 530e in and then running it as a pure electric vehicle (EV); it is torquey enough to flow with fast moving streams of vehicles without kicking in the fossil fuel-burning turbo engine, and in stop-and-go or gridlocked traffic, the soothe factor is only increased by switching on all the superbly executed Level 2 autonomous systems, like lane keeping and adaptive cruise control.

That it rides so serenely—partially a corollary of the 18-inch wheels and higher profile tires, mainly the brilliance of the CLAR platform all 5s are built upon—makes it a glorious throwback to when luxury sedans were actually luxurious in the way they smothered broken pavement.

Switched into one of the sportier modes, and with the electric motor assisting the gasoline one, the 530e really hustles; steering is accurate (if feel-free) and the chassis’ composure exemplary. It is really quite satisfying for those rare moments when an actual sports sedan is usable in an urban environment.

The only dynamic demerit is the non-linearity of the brakes, which are both stopping the car and regenerating the batteries. Optional AWD make it four season friendly (the rear drive model was tested here).

Differentiators to the 530e’s exterior are limited to blue badging and the extra flip-out door in front of the driver’s, which is where you plug it in. The interior is likewise refined and confidently restrained; iDrive is still a standard setting infotainment system, and aside from a reduction in trunk capacity—the batteries are under its floor—there’s little penalty to be paid in usability. Bring on the future!

 

 

EPA ratings: 67MPGe, 28MPG (gasoline only)

0-60mph: 5.2 sec

Price as tested: $68,760

Here is what BMW has to say

4.5 Stars

Contact Isaac Bouchard for help saving time, money and hassle when buying or leasing one at [email protected]