BMW 330e iPerformance PHEV


Wearing BMW’s newly introduced ‘iPerformance’ moniker for plug-in hybrid cars, the 248h p 330e will go on sale in the States this summer starting at US$ 44,695 including destination and handling.

Before we go over the 330e, here’s some food for thought; the asking price for the PHEV is US$ 3,850 more than the 180 hp 2.0L four-cylinder diesel 328d (US$ 40,845), and US$ 5,350 more than the, comparable in regards to performance, 240 hp 2.0L four-cylinder gasoline 328i (US$ 39,345). All cars come with a standard 8sp automatic.


Given that the 330e iPerformance is marketed as a high-efficiency model, buyers should take into consideration the fact that, the price difference over the 328d, will let owners of the latter cover 66,000 miles - with the average price of diesel in the States currently hovering around US$ 2.1 a gallon, and the EPA rating the diesel at 36mpg combined, before breaking even.

In the case of the 328i, with the average price of 1 gallon of premium gasoline fuel on March 21 standing at US$ 2.46, according to the US Energy Information Administration, and the EPA giving the car a combined economy rating of 27 mpg, you’ll cover nearly 59,000 miles before making up the difference in pricing with the 330e.


The EPA has given the 330e iPerformance a gasoline engine only combined rating of 31mpg and an electric and gas engine rating of 72 MPGe.

According to the government agency, whereas the 330e will save you US$ 750 in fuel costs over 5 years compared to the average new vehicle, or the same as the US$ 39,345, 240 HP and 27 mpg combined 328i, the 328d will double that at US$ 1,500.


The 330e draws its power from a 2.0-liter turbo’d four-cylinder gasoline mill delivering 180 hp and peak torque of 215 lb-ft, which works in tandem with an electric motor, developing 87 hp with maximum peak torque of 184 lb-ft, for a system output of 248 hp and 310 lb-ft. This allows for a sprint from 0 to 96 km/h in 5.9 seconds and a top speed of 225 km/h. Pure-electric driving is possible at speeds of up to 120 km/h and with a range of around 22 kilometers.


The 328i reaches the 96 km/h mark in 0.1 seconds faster at 5.8 seconds and has an available de-limited top speed of 150 mph (otherwise regulated at 130 mph), while the 328d diesel is notably slower at 7.4 seconds, but can reach a de-limited top speed of 143 mph (otherwise restricted at 130 mph).