BMW 225xe Plug In Hybrid Review

My weekend test drive in the BMW 225xe.

[@sithering]

Thank you for a comprehensive review. In an ideal world I would have bought an i3 but my disabled wife couldn't get in it, so have just bought a used 225xe which is easy for her. Most of my day-to-day car journeys are less than 3 miles so the shorter range won't be a problem.

[@Jotdotcom]

Super helpful perspective, thank you.

[@antwonefernandez7554]

Great video, I’m clearly viewing this a long time after it was made. I’m considering the X1 25e as a company car which I think has the same engine and motor. Very helpful indeed. 👍🏼

[@azariahivan3939]

I know I am quite randomly asking but does anybody know a good site to watch new movies online ?

[@aresbowen135]

@Azariah Ivan i dunno I watch on Flixportal. You can find it through google:P -ares

[@azariahivan3939]

@Ares Bowen Thanks, signed up and it seems like they got a lot of movies there =) I appreciate it!

[@aresbowen135]

@Azariah Ivan glad I could help :)

[@Daniel-Condurachi]

in eco-pro the car is set to coast. To have a better regeneration and all electric use the comfort mode. But the highest regeneration is in sport mode, but then you also get the gasoline engine started. When you regenerate the car is slowing down and this makes the car to convert the kinetic energy into electricity. Life is not perfect and nether any conversion. So when any car regenerates, it actually looses some energy is lost due to a number of factors.

[@killerkhan]

Thanks, for being straight to the point.

[@Ambienfinity]

Belated thanks for this very sensible review. I had been looking at a 225 xe, but you're right, the electric only range isn't enough. I need about 35-40 miles real-world range. I do, however, like the idea of the four wheel drive system and BMW interior / refinement.

[@jojohe42]

You should use the brakes to increase regen with this car. So, totally different from the i3 that you are used to.

[@guysparrow4240]

Brilliant . Thanks , looking at one at now

[@r.r.421]

Very nice review, particularly on the subject of real-life EV range

[@MrHairyTeabag]

Thanks Grant, nice review. Getting one next week on a cheap lease deal from Totalmotion.

[@thomasbuary3955]

You cant compare this to a full electric car like you do in this test. That is like comparing a knife to a fork. This car is a hybrid and will work best when you know and understand how to drive it. On the I3 94ah you get 240km electric range under perfect conditions. This car will give you 2.5 times that range under the same conditions. BUT it will also use petrol. So, for users that dont want the anxiety of running out of electricity in the middle of nowhere the hybrid solution is better.

[@porvoonosho]

BMW i3 REx FTW.

[@kahalidomar3469]

Thanks Grant good review

[@jcanelas01]

You should use this Car as an Hybrid not a pure electric. This means you should use petrol (save mode) when driving on open roads and use the best regeneration it provides and then use electric for commuting. This is how this Technology should Be used! I own a Mini Countryman phev with the same specs and i trully love it! Best regards! JC

[@marceldassen4870]

JC Canelas how many km/liter?

[@JB-gy7ip]

0 or very few in the town if you can charge frequently. In 3-phases you charge for 20 km in one hour (7,5kw). On the motorway you use 6 l/100km.

[@kennyruneforsphotoga]

Thanks, good rev..

[@kevgriffiths2669]

thanks grant good review just buying one

[@TheFolavo]

Just bought a 225xe from 2019 and I am getting around 12-13 miles in electric mode. Was wondering if it was an issue with my car and came to checkout if other people had similar issues... seems I am not alone: the car really under-performs in this area

[@neilthompson2526]

I’ve had a 69 plate 10kw version for last 3 months and get about 30 miles electric range, which I’ve checked to be correct using Google maps. 12-13 miles seems low for the 7kw version.

[@KunthavaiVanthiyan]

I just bought 19 plate 7kw version. getting similar around 15-16 miles. it has done only 16K miles so far, if that matters.

[@Pipsicle330]

Funny you should mention the SEAT Altea. That's exactly what I have and am really interested in this. But maybe not the hybrid version though

[@Al3xisAE]

So 8.8 useable kw and the maximum cost for kw is 0.38p, this means £3.34 for 20 miles of charge..... which is more expensive than the average 2.0 diesel...... and you have to drive slowly.......

[@peterhammer6915]

X1 25e makes easily 20 miles in winter with battery only

[@GrrMeister]

*The New Mercedes 'B' Class Plug in Hybrid will absolutely blow this away when launched in 2020*

[@eltontsang9079]

Sorry I very confused, this car if no battery or home no charger facility, BMW XE car still got heater, light etc if no battery ? Thanks

[@iAMChrisCC]

Is the lack of regen purely to not freak out people who are used to ordinary cars? Surely when you brake, that brings in the regen first before the friction brakes come in? The i3 does take some getting used to - i.e. the first time you take your foot off of the accelerator and nearly go through the windscreen! Soon adapt though, but getting back into a normal car is a bit weird. Also, did you precondition the battery on the 225 before testing the range?

[@TimHoverd]

Please can you use the correct units? In almost all cases when you say "kilowatts" you mean "kilowatt hours". You cannot measure the energy capacity of a battery using a unit of power.

[@stuartroxburgh4104]

Whilst it’s a lovely car, I’m a bit disappointed with the electric engine. Mine is a 19 plate and, whilst it was giving me around 20 miles from the battery when I bought it 2 years ago, it’s now giving about 13 miles: I have to charge it every day. It also takes about 4 1/2 hours to charge from a 3 pin plug. To be honest, I’d rather have an extra 30l of petrol.

[@stuartrich4574]

I don't get it, for a like for like 2019 with same mileage you are paying 4k extra for plug in, why would you. I know fuel is expensive at the minute but you could buy a lot of fuel for 4k.

[@TollyTolly]

Im just wondering if any owner here, how reliable is thus 3 cylinder turbo engine? Looking to buy this car second hand

[@brianmuir9059]

Just bought a pre-reg for £15k off!

[@stevequemard95]

Hi Grant, i am very curious about this car and how well it does on fuel, If i never charged it up what would i expect to get from the 1.5 petrol engine ? in reality i will probably charge it at home over night, it is as a company car and needs to hit 38 mpg petrol only . Thanks...

[@cuffyuk]

On my return journeys when I don't have opportunity to charge, I get around 45mpg with roof bars on the top cruising around 70 on the motorway.

[@jdavison8551]

cuffyuk could you recommend a lease? Thanks.

[@cooktolivetocook]

So when the battery is over you lose the extra 80 hp?

[@gazzrobb2366]

Says 7KW charging on BMW website

[@simontaylor3394]

Please don’t buy this car if your expecting to get 25 miles from the battery in e drive. The best I got in Sheffield was 15 miles on a full charge.

[@ertreri]

Like a bad Chevrolet volt. 7 kWh is not good enough. A plug-in hybrid should have at least 20 kWh. And then the gas engine for 300 or 400 km extra range extension.

[@MrHairyTeabag]

3:40 - doesn't i3 charge at 3x3.6 = 11kW AC max?

[@cooktolivetocook]

When battery is over you are 80 hp less?

[@Radeff]

Did you find the answer to that question? I asked a few people and nobody gives me an adequate answer. Even an owner of another plug-in bmw can't tell for sure.

[@cooktolivetocook]

@@Radeff yes you are 80hp less with out battery

[@Ionuteodorescu]

Does it regenerate batteries while braking as the other plug-ins?

[@thomasbuary3955]

yes

[@JB-gy7ip]

Of course it does !

[@karmanline2005]

As you say, the EV range is declared as 25 miles, which is poor in 2017, and it sounds like it can't do anything like it. You think 9-10 miles? not good enough! The battery is too small (7.6kWh?) and this car cannot justify the government grant. Get something else.

[@iAMChrisCC]

Karman Line But it is cheap on company car tax - and that's all that matters for some people!

[@karmanline2005]

Sadly true.

[@cuffyuk]

19 miles in the summer and 10 miles in the winter, perfect for my 9 mile return journey Monday to Friday and it was a nice lease car for a good price. I would be happy to buy a "proper EV" but it's going to be a long time before we in the Uk have a fit for purpose charge network in my humble opinion judging from what I read on EV forums.

[@hazzerhazzer2741]

Question could you have done the same trip in the outlander on battery only?

[@GrantThomas]

Yes; the Outlander has a bigger 12kWh battery so can go a little bit further. Unfortunately on my company car scheme the Mitsubishi Outlander and Hyundai Ionique are not options.

[@hazzerhazzer2741]

so that another car off the list, looking at at outlander phev or a passat gte estate I need an estate for my dogs and holidays but require a minimum of 21mile EV only range for work commute. I looked at the e nv 200 but range wise would not meet my needs. have you any suggestions?

[@GrantThomas]

Since shooting this vide BMW have put their prices up, VW have dropped theirs. I have a VW GOLF GTE coming next weekend and the new facelift version is launched next week. VW Golf GTE is now the leading contender to replace the Outlander

[@markgaudie80]

Great review Grant as always. Very well edited I must say. Wish I had the time to do these review videos on KZbin myself. I'm not a hybrid fan I'll be honest. But saying that, it's a great way to introduce someone who is very skeptical about going all out electric. How much was the lease on this BMW and also how much would the lease be on the VW GTE? Once again. Keep up the good work 👍

[@GrantThomas]

I don't give out prices as firstly they are very dynamic and that I see is the cost from the Lease company which is tied up in deals between my employer and the manufacturer. I'll give an example; in December the BMW 330e was the cheapest EV / Plug in hybrid on the list. By February that is now the VW Golf GTE. Manufacturer price increases sighted by weak pound.

[@jokr7818]

It's just that the i3 is so fuckly. I don't want to be seen i one of those. It would be embarrassing....