It has been two years since the arrival of ‘The Boss’ to Malaysian shores, and now the F15 BMW X5 is joined by a plug-in hybrid variant, the X5 xDrive40e M Sport. Being locally assembled granted this hybrid vehicle the EEV status, which explains the attractive price tag of RM389k – a whopping RM145k cheaper than the X5 xDrive30d.
Not only is the xDrive40e the cheapest variant in BMW Malaysia’s X5 lineup, the price also undercuts its closest rival to date, the recently-announced CKD version of the Volvo XC90 T8. After the i8 supercar, the X5 xDrive40e is the first iPerformance model to be introduced here, and BMW Malaysia hinted that more iPerformance models will be introduced in the near future.
QUICK FACTS
| Name | BMW X5 xDrive40e M Sport |
| Engine | 1,997 cc; 4-cylinder, turbocharged, with electric motor |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic |
| Max Power | 245 hp @ 5,000 – 6,500 rpm (petrol engine)
111 hp @ 3,170 rpm (electric motor) 308 hp @ 5,000 rpm (combined) |
| Max Torque | 350 Nm @ 1,250 – 4,800 rpm (petrol engine)
250 Nm @ 0 – 3,170 rpm (electric motor) 450 Nm @ 1,250 – 4,500 rpm (combined) |
| Price | RM388,800.00 |
EXTERIOR
What caught us by surprise is that the most frugal X5 in the range is also the sportiest looking X5 variant in Malaysia, because the full-fat X5 M is not on sale here. Dressed with the M Sport kit, the X5 xDrive40e gets a unique set of bumpers, side skirts, and body-coloured wheel arch extensions.
At the front, there are bigger air dams on each side of the bumper, and Adaptive LED headlamps and LED foglamps are fitted as standard. Drag-reducing aero work is still present here, most notably the Air Curtains at the edge of the front air dam that work together with the Air Breathers on the front fenders.
The reprofiled rear bumper houses a pair of bigger trapezoidal tailpipe finishers, and the whole package sits on a set of staggered 19-inch M Sport light alloy wheels wrapped in 255/50 tyres at the front and 285/45 tyres at the rear. More subtle signs that indicate this is the hybrid X5 are the badges on the front doors and on the rear tailgate, and a flap on the passenger-side front fender that conceals the charging port.
INTERIOR
It’s the same X5 cabin as we all know it which means it comes the Black Panel instrument cluster, a Head-Up Display, 10.25-inch screen on the dash, and iDrive touch controller with handwriting recognition. However, being an M Sport model, the cabin has been spiced up with some M Sport accessories such as the sports steering wheel with shift paddles and the front sports seats. The seats are wrapped in either Leather Dakota Black or Leather Dakota Terra as appeared on the display car.
The ‘eDrive‘ wording on the center console hints at its hybrid powertrain, and there’s a dedicated ‘eDrive’ button on the center console that allows the driver to choose from three eDrive modes (Auto eDrive, Max eDrive, and Save Battery) that works on top of the existing three drive modes (Eco Pro, Comfort, and Sport).
Additional menu is also embedded into the ConnectedDrive menu in the iDrive system, which shows hybrid-related information such as the battery charge status and charging timer. Rear Seat Entertainment Professional is also provided for the rear occupants with two 10.2-inch screens just behind the front seats’ headrests.
The boot will haul 500 litres worth of cargo, and it can take another 1,220 litres with the rear seats folded down. However, since the battery pack occupies the boot floor, it denies the xDrive40e of its seven-seater capacity like its xDrive35i sibling.
PERFORMANCE
Under the bonnet is a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder ‘B48’ that’s already in use in various BMW models such as the G11 730Li, but in the X5 xDrive40e it’s assisted by a synchronous electric motor. While the petrol engine develops 245 hp and 350 Nm, the electric motor alone is capable to generate 83kW (111 hp) and 250 Nm from zero rpm. In Max eDrive mode, the X5 xDrive40e is claimed to go up to 120 km/h or travel up to 30 km using just its electric motor. Providing the juice for the electric motor is the 9 kWh lithium ion battery under the boot floor, which can be charged in just under four hours using the standard 3-pin wall socket using the provided adapter.
When the petrol engine and the electric motor join forces, they produce a total of 308 hp and 450 Nm of torque, and as the ‘xDrive‘ badge suggests, the drive is sent to all four wheels, via an 8-speed automatic gearbox. For comparison, the turbocharged 3.0-litre inline-six in the X5 xDrive35i produces 305 hp and 400 Nm of torque. Getting from 0 to 100 km/h takes 6.8 seconds, and it will reach a top speed of 210 km/h. But the highlight has to be the fuel consumption, the X5 xDrive40e sips just 3.3 litres of petrol per 100 km.
SAFETY
Other than the usual front and side airbags, there are also head airbags for all except the middle rear seat passenger. While on the move, the Driving Assistant System keeps the driver alert with the Lane Departure Warning, City Collision Warning, and Pedestrian Collision Warning. Front and rear parking sensors are standard, and on top of that there’s also the Surround View camera to facilitate parking in tight spaces.
WHAT ELSE?
There are four exterior colours to choose from: Glacier Silver, Mineral White, Space Grey and Carbon Black. The X5 xDrive40e would retail for RM582,800.00, but the government-approved hybrid incentive brings down the price to just RM388,800.00. It comes with BMW 5-Year unlimited mileage warranty with free scheduled service, and the 24-month BMW tyre warranty is included too. Meanwhile, the batteries are guaranteed for the first 100,000 km or the first six years, whichever comes first.
The BMW i Wallbox is also available for an additional RM6,000, which reduces the battery charging time to less than 3 hours. Furthermore, BMW Group Malaysia’s partnership with Malaysian Green Technology Corporation (GreenTech Malaysia) entitles the customers access to ChargEV charging stations using the ChargeNow card at a fee. Currently there are 19 ChargEV stations located throughout Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Kedah, Melaka, and Johor, and they are targeting to open a total of 300 charging stations towards year end.
IMAGE GALLERY
