A sleek design, twin exhaust pipes and 250
kW aren't exactly the typical ingredients of a hybrid. A few eyebrows were
raised when BMW dropped off the smallest sibling of its hybrid range at our
offices for a year-long test. Nobody could deny that it is a looker, especially
coated in Liquid Blue paint and fitted with the Hybrid-only aero-design alloy
wheels.
On the inside, the Hybrid dues are less
conspicuous and are limited to some logos and a revised instrument pack. Our
vehicle was trimmed in charcoal leather highlighted by dark-wood trim and
silver accents. The materials are carefully chosen and build quality is tight.
The
Active-Hybrid 3 has a character that defies common perception of how hybrids
should be slouchy and inert
But don't let this sombre nature deceive
you. The Active-Hybrid logos on the C-pillars and boot are tantamount to
safe-to-handle stickers on hand grenades because of what lurks under the
bonnet. The 225 kW / 400 Nm 3.0-litre turbopetrol from the 335i is supplemented
with a 40 kW electric motor that combined produce an output of 250 kW and
ensures a scorching zero-to-100 km/h time of 5.3 seconds.
In the first couple of months, the vehicle
was used mainly for commuting purposes and the smoothness of the eight-speed
automatic transmission coupled with quiet electric-only driving at low speeds
made it an effortless task. The average fuel consumption, however, hovered
above the 10.0 litre/100 km mark as a result of the urban drive cycle as well
as the performance temptation. The problem is that the engine is a gem and,
when an opportunity presented itself to mash the throttle pedal, it proved hard
to resist that glorious straight-six soundtrack at full tilt.
There's
little in the cabin to differentiate the Active-Hybrid 3 from a standard
3-series
A guilty conscience forced me to complete a
300 km weekend trip in Eco Pro mode, which proved fruitful as the trip computer
awarded my good behaviour with a readout of 7.3 litres/ 100 km. I was unaware
of the fuel-saving decisions that were being made in the background and could
focus on light throttle applications. It's difficult to judge fuel saving over
the normal 335i without conducting official testing, but the (optimistic)
claimed figure is 5.9 litres/ 100 km compared with the 335i's 7.2 litres/ 100
km. At the end of the test term, our average worked out to a much higher 10.43
litres/ 100 km.
Whereas most hybrid vehicles deliver power
to the wheels via a continuous variable transmission (CVT) to improve
efficiency, BMW has stuck to its eight-speed auto. This helps the Active-Hybrid
3 retain the "driver's car" moniker. Add the sporty driving modes
adopted from the 335i and the urge to the switch traction control off and
misbehave is always present. Back in comfort mode, the vehicle is as docile as
a fed lion.
The
engine is a 3.0-litre, straight six which when combined with the motors,
develops 335bhp
It's this split personality that means the
vehicle appeals to a large affluent audience. This was confirmed by the
numerous requests I received from colleagues asking permission to loan it for
an evening or weekend. Those who made the cut returned with complimentary
remarks. This is in stark contrast to some other vehicles in our fleet that
have a strong dividing effect among the team.
It's a risk for an automaker to release a
press vehicle for long-term testing that has such cutting-edge technology. It
is the type of PR exercise that can easily backfire for the manufacturer and
cause more harm than good if there are any reliability issues. Testament to the
3 Series's build integrity, we did not experience electrical issues; even in
one of the wettest winters experienced in a decade in the Western Cape, leading
to roads resembling rivers, the high-voltage electronics worked without fail.
18-inch
'turbine design' alloy gives a menacing stance to the hybrid
The last road trip that the BMW embarked on
was a family visit to Hartenbos. A problem, however, reared its head when we
remembered we had booked self-catering accommodation that required supplying our
own bedding. Although the battery pack takes up only 90 dm3 of boot space
compared with non-hybrid models, there was no chance of my wife and I and our
two young children (and their paraphernalia) fitting. A Thule roof box came to
the rescue and the standard roof-bar slots on the vehicle worked a treat to fix
the bars and box.
Fully loaded and heading for the South
Coast from Cape Town, the BMW again impressed. The ride at speed is excellent
and road noise well suppressed. The climate control, comfortable seats and CDs
with our children's favourite songs meant that we reached our destination fresh
and ready for action.
Hybrid's
battery pack is stowed into boot floor - enhances boot volume with fold-flat
rear seats capability
Test Summary
Considering the cold facts, the hybrid does
not make sense because the extra technology means it demands a higher sticker
price than the normal 335i ($6,130 premium) and uses more fuel than the 316i,
320d and 330d models. The problem is this approach discounts the emotional
appeal of driving the Hybrid, whether it's gliding along in silence in a nature
reserve or tearing up your favourite mountain pass.
In fact, the biggest compliment I can give
the car involves my wife, Liezel. Owing to the nature of my job, I often drive
different cars over weekends and my other half never knows what to expect when
I pull up in the driveway. The smile of approval on her face whenever I arrived
with the Active-Hybrid 3 said more than cold figures. BMW has managed to not
only make hybrid technology exciting, but also desirable.
