bmw x5 45e review Page 9

The BMW X5 xDrive45e is the sensible one that secretly spends hours at the gym—quiet, clever, and surprisingly quick when prodded. Its 3.0-litre turbo inline-six teams with an electric motor for a combined punch of about 290 kW and 600 Nm through an 8-speed auto and AWD. It will waft for roughly 70–80 km on electricity before the petrol joins in, and the handover is smoother than a barista’s flat white. When the road kinks it’s hefty but composed; comfort shines if you keep wheel sizes sensible and tick air suspension.

The cabin is pure BMW business class, but the battery does pinch a bit of boot space and there’s no seven-seat option here. If you’re after crackling exhausts, look elsewhere; if you want calm commuting with proper long-trip legs, this PHEV nails the brief in very grown-up fashion.