Owning a battery electric vehicle (BEV) comes with both benefits and drawbacks. On one hand, you get exclusive parking spots in shopping malls and a quiet driving experience, but on the other hand, you have to deal with the early-stage EV infrastructure and range anxiety. A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) lets you enjoy those benefits without having to deal with too many drawbacks.
Launched in May last year, the facelifted BMW 5 series offers a hybrid option in the shape of the BMW 530e PHEV. It is offered alongside the BMW 530e which costs about RM40,000 less to own. Both cars look very similar on the outside, but as our former colleague Eu Jin says, they are two very different cars. You’d have to watch the entire video to find out why.
You can put both cars side by side and play spot the difference all day long – The differences can be seen in the window trims, boot space, headlights, etc. We can go on and on, but we don’t want to spoil the video for you.
Mainly differentiating the two cars are their respective powertrains. The 530e is powered by a B48 2.0-litre turbocharged engine that produces 184 hp and 300 Nm and a 50kW electric motor, giving a total combined output of 252 hp and 420 Nm. The petrol-powered BMW 530i is just as powerful at 252 hp, albeit with less torque at 350 Nm. Both cars transmit power through an eight-speed automatic gearbox.
RELATED: BMW 530i M Sport & 530e PHEV M Sport – What’s the difference?
Is it worth paying an additional RM40k for the hybrid powertrain in the 530e? Or should you just stick with the petrol-powered BMW 530i? Watch the video to find out!
ALSO WATCH: G30 BMW 530i v BMW 530e PHEV at Litar Dato’ Sagor, Perak
