New BMW X5 xDrive45e Plug-in Hybrid arrives with 54 mile ELECTRIC range

The new BMW X5 xDrive45e Plug-in Hybrid arrives in Europe boasting a 54 mile electric range and 388bhp from its hybrid powertrain.

BMW is on a mission to update its plug-in hybrid models, adding more EV range (although, unfortunately, not enough EV range to qualify for a UK plug-in grant) as electrification becomes a more compelling necessity to curb average Co2 emissions across the range.

We’ve recently seen the new BMW 225xe Active Tourer and the updated BMW 530e arrive in showrooms, and now its the turn of the BMW X5 xDrive45e Plug-in Hybrid to hit showrooms across Europe.

The new X5 xDrive45e Plug-in Hybrid was revealed almost a year ago, and it comes with a new hybrid powertrain using an in-line six instead of the old xDrive40e’s four-pot, which ups the combined power of the engine and electric motor to 388bhp – 80bhp more than the old model. That means 0-62mph in a decent 5.6 seconds.

But as well as a nice new six-pot ICE, the new X5 xDrive45e also comes with a bigger, 24kWh, battery, enough to deliver an electric range of up to 54 miles and make this X5 a properly useful plug-in hybrid, able to deliver the daily commute for most without  ever touching a drop of fuel.

The bigger battery has stolen a bit of room in the boot, but there’s a still a 15-gallon fuel tank which, in theory, will take you to Timbuktu and back (official economy is in the 100s of mpg), and even in the real world it’ll mean sparse visits to the petrol station as long as you remember to plug-in every day.

Hybrids may still be Mermaids in many ways, but this BMW Mermaid does its job in a very appealing way.