First Drive: 2013 BMW ActiveHybrid 3

Tideland Prius · Aug 15, 2012

Munich, Germany – When it comes to the manufacture of gas-electric hybrid vehicles, there are two approaches. The Toyota Prius uses every possible technological nuance to extract maximum fuel economy, resulting in a very frugal and equally joyless motoring experience. Conversely, the upcoming BMW ActiveHybrid 3 Series sedan uses electric assist as much for maintaining the brand’s performance image as it does for the reduction of fuel consumption.

Conventional wisdom would have BMW hybridizing its already efficient 2.0L turbo-four 328i sedan, but here we see the potent 335i with its TwinPower Turbo 3.0L inline-six-cylinder getting the hybrid treatment.

Flexing the right Birkenstock has this conservative-looking four door zipping to 100 km/h in a scant 5.3 seconds thanks to its 335 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque. That’s an increase of 13 percent and 11 percent respectively over the gasoline 335i.

Another notable increase is in the price. Arriving in the fall, the 2013 BMW ActiveHybrid 3 carries a list of $58,300 versus $51,200 for the comparably equipped 300-hp 335i.

So what to we get for our $7,200? Another 135 kg in mass, a whole raft of cool technology, a marginal gain in fuel economy, and presumably a clearer conscience.
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First Drive: 2013 BMW ActiveHybrid 3 - Autos.ca

More notably

A fascinating “first” technology links the hybrid management electronics to the navigation. By reading the topography of the planned route, the car anticipates the drivetrain power flow and regeneration periods, somehow making the whole process more efficient—counteracting the two slabs of wiener schnitzel and cherry strudel consumed at lunch.
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Erikon · Aug 15, 2012

So what's the point if it does little except let BMW put a Hybrid badge on it?

Tideland Prius · Aug 15, 2012

It tempts the typical 3 Series buyer with more power/torque and faster 0-60 times while being able to say "I drive a hybrid".

In other words, BMW is helping condition the other group that refuses to be seen in a hybrid.

austingreen · Aug 15, 2012

Erikon said: ↑

So what's the point if it does little except let BMW put a Hybrid badge on it?
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It lets you hypermile better 2 mpg city engine off driving seem like the only benefits.

Tideland Prius said: ↑

It tempts the typical 3 Series buyer with more power/torque and faster 0-60 times while being able to say "I drive a hybrid".

In other words, BMW is helping condition the other group that refuses to be seen in a hybrid.
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Savoring Every Drop of Fuel

As a result, we estimate the 3-series hybrid will hustle to 60 in five seconds flat—not slow by any means, but 0.1 second off BMW’s own claim for a 2013 335i automatic. (The 2013 335i auto will be recalibrated for less torque interruption during shifts compared with the 2012. We also typically find BMW acceleration estimates to be conservative.)
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It has the extra torque, but won't give you better 0-60 times. I'm sure it can be driven for better fuel economy, and those paying the extra bucks will get more mpg, because they will drive in a more eoconomic fassion.

A Four Would Be Better
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It would have been nice if they had used the 2L engine. Then the economy numbers would have been better, and the performance would have still been quite good, the handling might have been better with lower mass, price would be lower.

But given the modest sales of hybrids not named Prius, BMW chose to invest in only one powertrain, and it needed one that would work well in all three of its sedans. As a result, this car is quite refined, but it lacks the flashy mpg ratings that induce feverish excitement in U.S. hybrid buyers.
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PruisAz · Oct 10, 2012

German arrogance...........

Sergiospl · Oct 14, 2012

2013 BMW Activehybrid 5

There are two main types of hybrid car in the world: those that are built from the ground up as hybrids, and those that are hybrid conversions of existing cars.
The well-known Toyota Prius is the former. The 2013 BMW ActiveHybrid 5 is the latter.

And that may be the biggest problem with the BMW ActiveHybrid 5: It feels like a car that has been somewhat reluctantly turned into a hybrid.

For most of our test, we kept the ActiveHybrid 5 in Eco + mode. Designed to give the best fuel economy, this mode uses the electric motor wherever possible, and changes gears earlier to keep the engine within its most efficient power band.
Unlike the Toyota and Lexus system, which uses a pair of motor-generators that provide continuously variable torque, the BMW ActiveHybrid 5’s single-motor full hybrid system is reluctant to push the mid-size luxury sport sedan along.
In fact, after only a few hundred yards, anything more than the most gentle of acceleration caused the engine to howl into life, sending the car forward with a slight lurch.

2012 BMW ActiveHybrid 5 First Drive Report
Enlarge Photo

Time and time again, the ActiveHybrid 5’s acceleration away from stop lights was marred by the poor transition between all-electric and gasoline modes.

Around town, braking was similarly afflicted by the under-powered motor.

Frankly, unlike the Toyota/Lexus system--which smoothly transitions between regenerative and friction brakes--the ActiveHybrid 5’s transition wasn't quite what you’d expect from a luxury sedan.

But at the end of our 150-mile test drive, we had averaged just 24 mpg combined, well below the 31 mpg combined BMW claimed.

Across the broad category of luxury hybrids, however, the $61,845 ActiveHybrid 5 can’t compete against the more efficient Lexus GS 450h, which carries a base price of a few thousand dollars less to boot.

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Better off with the regular BMW 528i
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2013 BMW 5-Series Reviews& Test Drives - Green Car Reports

First Drive: 2013 BMW ActiveHybrid 3

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First Drive: 2013 BMW ActiveHybrid 3

Tideland Prius Moderator of the North Staff Member

Erikon Active Member

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austingreen Senior Member

PruisAz Member

Sergiospl Senior Member

Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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