When Efficiency Meets Performance. The All New G20 BMW 330e M Sport review!

May 22, 2022 Jonathan Ho Off BMW, Reviews,

When it comes to performance and efficiency in a car, one usually have to pick one over the other. This is where the G20 BMW 330e M Sport really shines, as it delivers a balance of performance and efficiency in a package with minimal compromise.

As we were handed the key to a Mineral Grey BMW 330e kitted with the standard M Sport package, we weren’t exactly blown away by its exterior looks. The latest 3 Series is undoubtedly a smart looking car, but the plug-in hybrid variant has little to differentiate itself from a regular 3 Series besides the badge and extra charging port cover on the left front fender. To some, that may be a plus.

Once we got behind the wheel of the 330e, we were greeted with BMW’s current interior layout with Live Cockpit Professional Infotainment system that features a 10.25 inch display running on Operating System 7.0, which is still an ease to use.

Currently, only the BMW i4 and iX features the latest Operating System 8.0 on its curved display, but the upcoming 3 Series facelift should have it as well. Coming back to the 330e, we have to minus points because BMW charges you RM1,299 for Apple CarPlay which really should be standard in this price segment.

Moving on, the G30 has improved leaps and bounds when it comes to interior quality compared to its predecessor. The plastics feel more solid and well put together as one would come to expect in a premium car.

As for cabin space, the 3 Series excels in accommodating four adults comfortably and only becomes a bit of a squeeze for five grown adults. Rear air vents with single zone climate control combined with a couple of USB-C outlets further enhances rear passenger comfort and convenience.

There’s plenty of headroom and legroom for those at the back even for people like me who are six feet tall. When the time comes for an airport run, you only have around 375 liters of boot space over the usual 480 liters due to the extra lithium-ion batteries. At least the rear seats fold down in a 40:20:40 split.

Under the hood, the 330e retains the B48 2.0 liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 184 PS and 300 Nm of torque combined with a 68 PS electric motor. This translates to a combined output of 252 PS and 420 Nm of torque which is more than enough to have fun with. Power goes through the smooth ZF eight-speed gearbox which we have no complaints about.

What the previous generation 330e doesn’t have is XtraBoost, which basically functions as an over-boost from the electric motor, briefly adding another 41 PS to bring the total power to 292 PS. Thanks to its battery assisted power, you won’t notice any lag in performance and the 6 seconds it takes to reach 100kph from zero is more than respectable. While the acceleration figures for both the 330e and 330i are practically identical, the 330e’s instant electric torque makes it feel faster than its non-hybrid sibling.

So how far can you run on electric? On paper, BMW claims 56 km of electric driving which is 21 km more than its predecessor, and an electric-only top speed of 140kph. During our test, we managed roughly 38km of electric range, which is sufficient for most people to do their grocery runs and the likes. Charging with the provided charger on a regular household outlet however, expect to wait for eight hours to get a full charge from empty.

Having driven the car over five days, one thing that really stood out compared to the previous generation model was the refinement. The acoustic windshield plus improved sound insulation did their job and was most apparent during electric driving.

As for its chassis, the 330e is equipped with adaptive dampers which provides a much more smoother ride than before but could still offer the firmness you need in spirited drives. Unless you’re pushing its limits and driving the regular 330i back to back, the additional weight from the batteries is barely noticeable.

At RM272,312 (with SST exemptions + Extended Warranty & Service Package), the 330e remains in a league of its own as there are no direct competitors in this premium compact hybrid segment.

Only you can decide if a plug-in hybrid works for your lifestyle. In an ideal scenario, you may never have to refuel for months should the electric range fulfils most of your daily commute. Should you not have the option to charge overnight, it might be best to go with a regular 3 Series instead.