The 330e plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) builds upon the already impressive 3 Series, blending athletic handling, an energetic powertrain, and the ability to drive under electric power for an EPA-estimated 20 miles. It’s one of the best-driving PHEVs we’ve tested, due in large part because the 330e’s electric drive was added to BMW’s fantastic turbocharged four-cylinder powertrain. As such, the 330e is an improvement in several ways over the regular 330i: It’s quicker, slightly quieter, and delivers a smoother ride.
But, the 330e’s electric-only driving range is on the short side among PHEVs, and it’s disappointing that—when operating as a regular hybrid without the benefit of a charged-up battery—it actually gets 1-mpg worse overall fuel economy than the nonhybrid 3 Series. It also sacrifices some trunk space due to the hybrid battery.
For consumers new to PHEVs, these are hybrids with larger batteries that can be plugged into a standard 120-volt household outlet, or a 240-volt EV charger. This gives the vehicle a dedicated electric-only driving range (typically for about 20 to 40 miles, depending on the model) for commuting and running errands, which is something that regular hybrids can’t do. When the battery is drained, the vehicle switches to regular hybrid operation. This also means that, unlike a full battery-electric vehicle, there is no need to find a public charger on a long trip because the gas engine takes over once the electric range is used up.
For buyers who are nervous about going all-in for an EV, a plug-in hybrid could be a logical and cautious step toward electrification. PHEVs make especially good sense if you have a short commute to work, rarely drive long distances, and have the ability and willingness to plug in your vehicle at home to charge overnight—it’s bound to save you money at the gas pump.
The 330e’s powertrain combines a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with an electric drive powered by a 12-kilowatt-hour battery, for a total system output of 288 horsepower. It uses an eight-speed automatic transmission, and comes standard with rear-wheel drive with all-wheel drive optional (as with our test car). BMW has concocted a wonderful hybrid powertrain here. It delivers nearly seamless transitions back and forth between electric and gasoline power and, unlike some PHEVs, there isn’t a big difference between how the car drives when it has a charged battery compared to when it doesn’t.
We also like that the 330e’s initial electric oomph off the line eliminates the annoying start-up shudder of the 330i’s fuel-saving engine stop/start system, while also concealing that car’s slight bit of turbo lag. It also doesn’t hurt that the 330e is quick; it dashed from 0 to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds, which is about a half-second quicker than the 330i xDrive we previously tested.
None of this is to say that the 330e is perfect. As we’ve noticed with some other PHEVs that use an automatic transmission rather than an electronic continuously variable transmission (eCVT), it can seem strange to feel the 330e upshift when driving under electric power—the one-two and two-three shifts can be particularly noticeable. This will seem especially odd for anyone who is used to driving EVs.
When the battery is depleted and it’s operating like a regular hybrid, the 330e actually gets worse fuel economy than the 330i—28 mpg, vs. 29 mpg overall for the nonhybrid model. That’s in large part because the 330e weighs 535-pounds more, thanks to its heavy battery pack. This means you’ll only benefit from the 330e PHEV’s efficiency if you plan to plug in often in order to maximize the electric miles. It takes about three hours to recharge the battery on a 240-volt (Level 2) EV charger. It takes a long 16 hours using a standard 120-volt household outlet, which means 330e owners will want to invest in a home-charging system.
Similar to the regular 3 Series, the 330e has a tied-down, composed attitude that makes it a joy to steer through bends. It also proved agile and lively when driven with vigor around our track, living up to its sports-sedan heritage. It exhibited a strong performance in our panic-braking tests, although the brake pedal suffers from some touchiness at very low speeds, such as in a parking lot, and a lack of linearity at times due to the regenerative-braking system—both are common maladies in hybrids.
The ride is firm and tightly controlled, but the 330e’s extra weight helps settle the ride some compared to the conventional model, which was a bit too unyielding. Still, the 330e often feels tense and bigger or sharper bumps will punch through noticeably. The cabin is quiet, particularly when driving under electric power. Even when the gas engine comes on, it emits an exuberant yet polished sound that adds to the 330e’s sporty demeanor.
In typical BMW understated fashion, the interior is impeccably finished. The cabin has solid-feeling buttons and knobs, first-rate materials, and attractive matte-finish wood. The front seats have firm, supportive cushions and ample side bolsters to hold occupants in place through corners. The four-way lumbar support for the driver’s seat (included with the optional “Premium” package) can be a nice aid for your lower back on longer drives. Though far from roomy, the rear seat is more spacious and comfortable than what’s found in many rivals. One of the few downsides to the 330e is its reduced trunk space compared to the 330i, due to the intrusion from the hybrid battery. We could only fit two large suitcases into the trunk, instead of those plus two large duffel bags in the last 330i xDrive we tested.
The 3 Series’ 2023 freshening brought an updated iDrive infotainment system that we found to be less intuitive than the previous version, partly because the climate control buttons have been moved to the infotainment touchscreen. This makes for a more difficult-to-use interface, and it requires some time to master the intricacies of all of the available functions that iDrive has to offer. We appreciate that wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay come standard.
It’s disappointing that the 330e comes with so few active safety and driver assistance features. Standard systems are limited to automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane departure warning, and automatic high beams. Automatic emergency braking that operates at highway speeds, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic warning, reverse automatic emergency braking, lane centering assistance, lane keeping assistance, and adaptive cruise control are all optional.