I’ve long been a BMW fan, as I’ve had my fair share of ownership of Bavarian driving machines in the past. So, getting my hands on the new 5 series this week was a welcoming experience that recently put a big smile on my face in reviewing the new BMW M5. Now, I get to experience the BMW 550e xDrive, which is the ‘other’ plug-in hybrid (PHEV – Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle) for the 5 series lineup apart from the ridiculously powerful M5.

In the new BMW 550e xDrive, there’s a lot to experience, even with my test vehicle not being fully loaded; it still included desirable bits and option packages, such as the Driving Assistance Professional Package, Dynamic Handling Package, M Sport Professional Package, and the Executive Package. Apart from these optional packages that did a lot to add to the luxury and performance character of the new 5 Series, the plug-in hybrid powertrain is where things first captivate your driving experience.

Performance and Driving Character

Propelled by a 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder turbocharged engine coupled with an electric motor that’s powered by a 19.4-kWh battery pack, the 550e xDrive is a nice mix of today’s advanced tech that’s good for a total power output of 483 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. The engine and electric motor send their power first through an 8-speed automatic transmission, where either the electric motor alone or together with the gas-powered engine smoothly snap through the gears.

Power delivery is mostly seamless, as I experience transitions that are often hard to tell that the engine was firing up to aid the electric motor or was shutting down to enable full electric propulsion. The system all works well without any noticeable hiccups. In a way, dare I say, the 550e xDrive feels like a ‘lite’ version of the new M5 sans just over 230 horsepower. Even the way the 550e feels out on the open road is a much lighter sensation than the M5, as it has a rather compliant ride quality that is smooth in most situations but not overly soft, as it has a sporty edge through its adaptive dampers that can be set in a Sport mode to firm things up even more. In all, piloting the 550e feels more relaxed than the M5, but eager to perform up to its level of making a dash to 60 mph in about 4.1 seconds.

The rear wheel steering, as aggressive as it may feel initially, gets things right to virtually shorten the wheelbase as you ride on the somewhat forgiving 20-inch Pirelli P Zero tires wrapping the optional M Aero style wheels and M Sport brakes featuring blue-painted 4-piston calipers up front. Fundamentally, the 550e xDrive feels the most detached from the road of any modern BMW that I’ve driven, which is a characteristic mostly pointed out as its soft and basically numb steering feel. Such a trait could easily be a welcoming factor for the 550e over the monster M5, which is essentially a lot rougher around the edges. Here, the 550e can be driven on roads and still be fun within the legal limits – the M5, well, it’s closer to getting you into trouble.

Fuel Economy and Plug-In Hybrid Performance

Getting into the performance that matters to those who are in the market for PHEV, many will be happy to find that the 550e xDrive delivers well for its plug-in hybrid duties, as I was able to best its all-electric range estimate of 33 miles several times, where I mustered between 35 and 37 miles on a charge without use of the gas engine. Such endeavors were mostly 55 to 60 mph highways and back roads around town. Still, having the ability to drive just over 80 mph and have respectable acceleration to not upset someone behind you in the electric mode is welcome. Still, you’re not going to win any races in full electric mode, as it takes about 8 seconds to hit 60 mph. However, using the full hybrid mode to allow the computer to sort things out, you’ll walk away appeased in also beating the 25-mpg EPA estimate many times over, even with a depleted battery pack. With a fully charged battery and the 15.9-gallon tank full of premium unleaded, you’ll easily match the 68 MPGe combined EPA estimate once you’re ready to hit the gas station again.

Charging up the battery using my home Level 2 40-amp charger took just over 2 hours from a fully depleted battery, which worked out well to set me off on my few journeys to put the 550e’s PHEV system to the full test. I did enjoy having the ability to save up my electric charge through an onscreen setting to preserve the electric drive mode for my downtown driving adventures.

Interior and Technology

Inside is the expected cabin of modern-day BMWs with an abundance of piano black surfaces that act as haptic-feedback button panels for most of the vehicle’s physical controls. There’s the return of having many redundant control sets throughout the latest iDrive setup, as you now have to view core functions through the large and slightly curved 14.9-inch touchscreen. BMW has done well with the continuously evolving iDrive setup, but some may be initially overwhelmed with the number of icons and functions through the multi-layered interface. However, BMW attempts to simplify things through certain core function sets, and eventually, after many days of ‘playing around’, you find solace in really getting to know your BMW and finding the proper wanted function or setting.

The cabin space is good for the new 5 Series as it’s grown over the years, making way for more accommodating seating areas and continuing a tradition of having plentiful power adjustments in the front seats, which are only heated in my test vehicle. Here, the frustration starts as BMW continues to bundle up certain options that are left to the waste side, and you end up paying extra for every little thing that is often included in much lesser priced vehicles, such as the missing feature in my test vehicle of ventilated front seats.

The integration of wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto remain intact. The smartphone wireless charging pad is now improved with a space that keeps your phone in place and overheating was not so much of an issue this time around even though the pad could use some active cooling like GM does with their vehicles.

Safety remains a forefront for many automakers, and BMW is no different as it bundles up all of the expected active safety features in addition to having its trick 360-degree camera system with a 3D view and expanded parking assist functions that take self-parking to a new level above just autonomous parallel parking.

Pricing

In the end, the added versatility of this PHEV drivetrain over the power monster of the M5 is a joy to experience, except for a couple of compromises with the high price and lack of a few desirable features on my test vehicle that you may find on vehicles at half the price. The advancement of the latest PHEV setup and its performance are clear winners in my book for those who purposely take advantage of such a system. Again, as a BMW M5-lite – as I like to call it- the 550e xDrive is quite the intriguing vehicle that starts at a price of $73,400 before any fees or options and then lands at $82,600 for my nicely equipped test vehicle that still has some room for a few more desirable options.