[suby01]

For those that had the X5 45e. And now the 50e is the new plug in option.

Is it worth it to you? Would you do it again? I am not convinced into the full EV path yet, I enjoy HP and performance but this car will be total family hauler.
The 45e or even 50e offer that EV minimal range which honestly I think will be okay on my typical daily commutes. I do drive less than 40 miles a day on average. Will I benefit in the E world is it just a gimmick?

Sound off below.

[915M]

If you can charge it, then worth it.
If not, probably not worth it.

[Chas8283]

Don’t have one, but Harry Matcalfe had one for a while and, if I remember correctly, he thought it made sense for his situation. Either way, probably worth a watch. https://youtu.be/RtpF4M6UDDE

[Go FasTA]

If your typical use case can make good use of the electric range then I think the 45e/50e is a great option. I have a 2021 45e that I absolutely love. I prefer driving it in electric mode and at my current mileage (~14500 miles) I have covered just shy of 50% (6700 miles) on electric propulsion. My parents were looking to upgrade their 2019 X3 to something a little larger and they have decided to purchase my 45e so I have a 50e on order with a 6/11 build date. I am looking forward to the increased range, improved electric motor power output, and faster charging.

[nZtiZia]

I consider my MY21 45e one of the best purchases in my adult life! unbeknownst at the time of purchase, it fits my use case very well. its electric battery completely covers my weekly work commute. we use it for our regular road trips since no EV has the range to completely cover these trips without stopping to charge, and we absolutely refuse to wait 30m for an 80% charge when it’s more convenient to fill up with fuel in 2-3 minutes.

comparing costs, I can’t help but shudder a bit at the 50e given i wouldn’t qualify for the federal tax credit if I purchased it. I got the full $7500 credit with my 45e, so I’m a little spoiled in that respect, but cost and tax credits aside, I’m sure I would enjoy the 50e just as much.

I’ve just refilled my fuel tank for the first time this year. last time was Dec 2022 before driving from NYC to VA. I love the convenience of electric “refueling” especially with my solar equipment. when the pipeline damage stopped fuel from coming to Virginia, I didn’t have to wait in line for fuel at all!

[mlurker]

It makes sense if
1. electricity is cheap and EV range is enough for you needs
2. you get a full tax credit

I wouldn't buy a 45e if it didn't have a tax credit.

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by mlurker

It makes sense if
1. electricity is cheap and EV range is enough for you needs
2. you get a full tax credit

I wouldn't buy a 45e if it didn't have a tax credit.

The 45e is no longer eligible for the tax credit.

[FastMarkA]

Oops I did it again; I went from a 45e to a 50e.

For my use case, the PHEV is incredible. I also went from a 40i to the 45e, and the PHEV is more fun to drive. The 50e...wow.

There are also more things to like about a PHEV than just driving on electric (although that's a lot of fun):

1) Pre-conditioning, or "remote start" as my Mom calls it, inside of a garage;
2) No need for auto start/stop (I know this bothers a lot of people);
3) Instant heat in the winter (don't need to wait for the engine to warm up)
4) Better parking spaces
5) No chore of constant gas station visits

Unless it's some kind of classic car I'm after, I think I'm pretty much done buying new ICE vehicles.

[nZtiZia]

Originally Posted by FastMarkA

Oops I did it again; I went from a 45e to a 50e.

For my use case, the PHEV is incredible. I also went from a 40i to the 45e, and the PHEV is more fun to drive. The 50e...wow.

There are also more things to like about a PHEV than just driving on electric (although that's a lot of fun):

1) Pre-conditioning, or "remote start" as my Mom calls it, inside of a garage;
2) No need for auto start/stop (I know this bothers a lot of people);
3) Instant heat in the winter (don't need to wait for the engine to warm up)
4) Better parking spaces
5) No chore of constant gas station visits

Unless it's some kind of classic car I'm after, I think I'm pretty much done buying new ICE vehicles.

while in Sport mode or when the engine is the main drivetrain in Hybrid mode, the 50e doesn’t Auto Start/Stop the engine like the 45e does? or do you just mean when under electric power?

[FastMarkA]

Originally Posted by nZtiZia

while in Sport mode or when the engine is the main drivetrain in Hybrid mode, the 50e doesn’t Auto Start/Stop the engine like the 45e does? or do you just mean when under electric power?

That's a great question; I'm usually in Hybrid so that was my initial reference point.

I'm heading out in a bit and will see what it does in Sport mode.

But even so, when the ICE cuts out on a PHEV, there's still the big battery to power everything (i.e. A/C doesn't shut off, the steering still works, etc.).

[nZtiZia]

Originally Posted by FastMarkA

That's a great question; I'm usually in Hybrid so that was my initial reference point.

I'm heading out in a bit and will see what it does in Sport mode.

But even so, when the ICE cuts out on a PHEV, there's still the big battery to power everything (i.e. A/C doesn't shut off, the steering still works, etc.).

do you feel the engine stopping then starting is pretty much negligible? I find it that way on my 45e, but there are some that still don’t like it even in a PHEV

[915M]

Originally Posted by nZtiZia

do you feel the engine stopping then starting is pretty much negligible? I find it that way on my 45e, but there are some that still don’t like it even in a PHEV

I don't feel engine stopping at all.
I feel engine starting at low speed.(Under 20mph)
I don't feel engine starting at other speed.(After it is all heated up)

I remember I heard engine starter is used at low speed but at high speed, it is tow start.

[FastMarkA]

Originally Posted by nZtiZia

do you feel the engine stopping then starting is pretty much negligible? I find it that way on my 45e, but there are some that still don’t like it even in a PHEV

I don't even notice it, tbh.

It's an entirely different experience than start/stop in a strictly ICE car.

(Also, I totally forgot to test the Sport start/stop...I will do it, I promise!)

[allinon72]

I would only own it with a Level 2 charger. And if your main concern is just saving fuel, this isn’t the way to do it. But if you’re already in the market for a luxury SUV, it’s a way to offset some of the running costs with literally no compromises.

[760Lifan]

Let me warn you though:

Once you own ANY vehicle with some sort of electrification (either PHEV or EV), I can assure you that the odds of you going back to ICE are pretty slim...

I'm currently driving a Grand Cherokee 4xe. Call me nuts but I wouldn't go back to the X7. X5 50e or iX? Heck, yes, but back to a pure ICE? No way!

I have to admit though that my home environment is pretty much perfect. I got solar so I'm not even paying for the electricity.

[915M]

Originally Posted by 760Lifan

Let me warn you though:

Once you own ANY vehicle with some sort of electrification (either PHEV or EV), I can assure you that the odds of you going back to ICE are pretty slim...

I'm currently driving a Grand Cherokee 4xe. Call me nuts but I wouldn't go back to the X7. X5 50e or iX? Heck, yes, but back to a pure ICE? No way!

I have to admit though that my home environment is pretty much perfect. I got solar so I'm not even paying for the electricity.

Isnt't X7 pure ICE?...

[nZtiZia]

Originally Posted by 915M

Isnt't X7 pure ICE?...

that’s what he’s saying. he wouldn’t go back to an X7 even though it’s a great vehicle cuz it’s pure ICE

[915M]

Ah I saw . as ,. sorry.

[modesa]

Originally Posted by allinon72

I would only own it with a Level 2 charger. And if your main concern is just saving fuel, this isn’t the way to do it. But if you’re already in the market for a luxury SUV, it’s a way to offset some of the running costs with literally no compromises.

I don't have a L2 charger and it's fine. Occasionally I end up running out of electricity and have to use gas that I wouldn't if I had an L2 charger, but not nearly enough to make up for the ~$1000 it would cost me to install one. I also have a feeling (without evidence) that L2 charging will degrade the battery more quickly than L1.

[davewolfs]

A similarly equipped 40i is $10k less than a 50e. That’s a lot of gas to make it worth it.

[SwissBeemer]

Originally Posted by 760Lifan

Let me warn you though:

Once you own ANY vehicle with some sort of electrification (either PHEV or EV), I can assure you that the odds of you going back to ICE are pretty slim...

Can confirm. I wasn't opposed to EV's but just not in a hurry to switch really. Until BMW invited me to test drive the i4 M50 ... Oh boy I was immediately trying to justify why I would need this car even though I didn't need it AT ALL. Switching back to my 7-series felt like going back to the stone age. All those vibrations, noise, grumble, shifts, etc. while the i4 was SO smooth with INSTANT power.

So I was really looking to get an EV and if the iX wouldn't be so hideous I wouldn't have bought a car with an ICE again. Unfortunately there's hardly any EV's that don't look like ugly design studies and I've only learned about the Lotus Eletre after I already placed my X5 order otherwise ...

But I can already say that the X5 will be my last ICE for sure and 99% of the time it will be used like an EV anyways.

[JCook]

Originally Posted by davewolfs

A similarly equipped 40i is $10k less than a 50e. That’s a lot of gas to make it worth it.

Interesting. When I priced out what I wanted (using xdrive, so apples to apples) the difference in price was closer to $5k. After factoring in the current PHEV tax credit of $3750, the difference between the 40i and 50e was closer to $1k.