2016 BMW 3 Series eDrive Review

The 2016 BMW 330e iPerformance plug-in hybrid sedan is new to the 3 Series lineup, replacing the previous ActiveHybrid 3.

Buyers looking for a plug-in hybrid luxury sport sedan have a new option: the 2016 BMW 3 Series 330e iPerformance. Unfortunately, it gives up quite a bit in terms of acceleration and steering feel without showing any really impressive gains in fuel economy.

The 2016 BMW 330e iPerformance promises hybrid efficiency without sacrificing the impressive driving dynamics and comfortable, quality interior of a gas-powered 3 Series sedan. Undoubtedly, the 330e is an impressive piece of engineering. But lackluster electric range and mileage gains, coupled with the added cost and weight of the hybrid system, leave that promise largely unfulfilled.

BMW has managed to make the battery compact enough to avoid one of the major pitfalls suffered by other hybrid variants on standard sedans: loss of trunk space. The downside is that the battery offers only 14 miles of electric range. Beyond this, electrification has only improved the 330e's fuel economy a meager 3 mpg combined over its gas-powered counterpart, the 330i. The 330e also loses some acceleration, handling and steering feel. While pursuing efficiency is praiseworthy, and some extreme examples have proven that hybrid systems can improve performance, the 330e falls short on both.

The 330e comes with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine coupled to an eight-speed automatic transmission and a battery-electric drivetrain. The powertrain drives the rear wheels with a total of 248 horsepower, which is the same as the 330i. The added weight (some 350 pounds) and other drivetrain quirks unique to the hybrid system, however, mean the 330e makes the run from zero to 60 mph more than a full second slower than the gasoline-only model. In our testing, the 330e zipped from zero to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds, which is very good for a hybrid but below average for a luxury sport sedan.

Maximum electric range for the 330e is a mere 14 miles, and the EPA estimate for non-electric mileage is only 30 mpg combined. That's not much of a gain over the gas-powered 330i's 27 mpg combined, especially considering the price premium and the performance sacrifices.

Every 2016 BMW 3 Series comes standard with antilock brakes, traction and stability control, front side airbags, side curtain airbags and front knee airbags.

BMW's stability control system works to improve braking performance by automatically wiping the brake rotors dry when the windshield wipers are in use, and moving the brake pads into position on the rotors when the driver abruptly lifts off the gas. BMW Assist emergency communications is standard and includes automatic crash notification, stolen-vehicle recovery and on-demand roadside assistance.

Options include parking sensors (front and rear), a rearview camera, surround- and side-view cameras, blind-spot monitoring, a lane departure warning system, frontal collision warning and frontal collision mitigation with automatic braking (includes pedestrian detection).

In Edmunds emergency brake testing, the BMW 330e iPerformance stopped from 60 mph in 123 feet. That's a decent distance, but slightly worse than average for the class.

Although there are no specific crash tests for the 330e, the regular 3 Series sedan has received five out of five stars for overall crash protection, with four stars for total frontal protection and five for total side protection. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the sedan the highest possible rating of Good in the moderate-overlap front-impact crash test but a second-worst Marginal in the small-overlap front-impact test. In the remaining tests, the 3 Series received a Good rating in the side-impact, roof strength, and seat and head restraint tests.

For a hybrid, the 2016 BMW 330e is balanced and agile, and the brakes feel secure. But the 330e lacks the well-defined sense of straight-ahead and communicative feel of the traditional 3 Series. It feels more like an arcade game than a BMW, with little road feel when cruising or effort buildup in corners to let the driver know which way the tires are pointed.

The plug-in hybrid powertrain has plenty of oomph for daily driving, but don't expect a tingle up your spine when you mash the throttle in electric mode. There's much more on tap when the gasoline engine is at work. Around town, the 330e provides a smooth ride that irons out bumps without making the car feel overly disconnected from the road. It's also impressively quiet.

The 330e shares its interior with the rest of the 3 Series, so there aren't any surprises here. Like the cockpit of any other 3 Series, the 330e's boasts an interesting and complementary mix of rich-looking materials. The 330e adds some exclusive aluminum trim that is particularly handsome. Fit and finish is excellent, and our test car exhibited no unpleasant squeaks or rattles.

The familiar analog gauges provide a historical link with BMWs of previous decades, and materials quality remains exceptional throughout. While the standard 6.5-inch iDrive infotainment system is adequate, you'll want to get the available 8.8-inch screen for a true luxury electronics interface. Overall, iDrive is pretty easy to use, thanks to straightforward menus, crisp graphics and quick processing times. But compared to some rival systems, it typically requires a few more twirls and clicks to get what you want.

If rear seat accommodations are a priority, you won't find a more spacious backseat in this class. Rear legroom is particularly generous. The 330e also has a remarkably large trunk for a plug-in hybrid. The battery is under the floor of the trunk, but that floor is only a couple of inches higher than a regular 3 Series' and the folding rear seatbacks still function. The low liftover height and wide opening make for easy loading.