The FIRST BMW with XtraBoost function | Driving test BMW 330E 2020 | G20 | Shift Up

Welcome to another driving test of Shift Up in which this time we go out with a BMW 3 series with an Xtraboost feature. Wondering what that is, stay tuned!

From the outside a car with, in my opinion, a real face of its own. With the M-Sport package it also really looks like a very sporty car because of its large air vents in the front bumper, the side shirts and rear bumper with a diffuser in contrasting color. In my opinion, the taillights also look very nice. A gray area with the typical BMW L shape incorporated into it.

Compared to its predecessor, it has become a bit longer and wider. Also, wheelbase has increased a bit which provides more rear passenger space. Something that is less spacious in this hybrid version is the trunk. This is about 100 liters smaller due to the battery pack and thus higher loading floor. Behind the battery pack there is still a small compartment where you can store a charging cable, for example.

Inside

In the back of the 3 Series sedan, you can sit better than in its predecessor. There is more head and legroom, but still an awkward seating position for a third person due to the typical center tunnel. However, there is standard climate control in the rear of the 330e.

For inside the car, you sit super well on the Sport seats, which are also electrically adjustable in this one. You can tilt the seating area of the Sport seats, pump up the sides and enlarge or reduce the seating area. Furthermore, you can also adjust the headrests forwards and backwards.

Under the hood

Under the hood of this BMW 330E is a 2 liter 4 cylinder gasoline engine that is good for 184 HP. Furthermore, this car has an electric motor that together with the fuel engine is good for 252 HP, which can also be increased by the Xtraboost function, about which more later.

A sprint from 0 to 100 it does in just 5.8 seconds and it has a top speed of 230 km/h.

The car features an 8-speed automatic transmission and, of course, has rear-wheel drive for both the gasoline and electric motors.

While driving

While driving, I immediately notice that it feels even more solid than its predecessor and is also a lot quieter inside. It also steers nicely sharp and just lays like a dyke on the road. The finish is very tight and feels good. Optionally you can also order ambiance lighting in this generation 3 series which does look very nice.

In front of you is a digital instrument cluster, the BMW Live Cockpit Professional. On this screen, in addition to speed and RPM, you can get the navigation map, as well as things like G forces, the radio and your phone book. In the center of the dashboard is a large screen that can be operated with the iDrive button as well as touchscreen. Also, the car has voice control that responds to the text "Hey BMW." For example, you can say, "Hey BMW, set the temperature to 20 degrees."

Furthermore, you have multiple driving modes in this hybrid. For example, you have a hybrid modes in which the car will think for itself and determine whether to drive electric, on the fuel engine or combined.

There is also a full electric mode in which you can drive fully electric up to 140 km/h.

In sport mode you also have an Xtraboost function, where the car goes out of its way to deliver maximum performance and also adds some 40 HP giving you a total system power of 292 HP, and that goes off quite nicely!

Unfortunately, the sporty sound you hear in that mode when accelerating no longer comes entirely from the exhaust, as it is amplified over the car's speakers.

Finally, there is also a battery control function that causes the car to recharge while driving to the target value you set. Here the fuel engine acts as a kind of generator.

Furthermore, you can see on the screen where charging stations are located and if they are still available. What also works nicely is the Edrive zones. This will automatically switch the car to the electric motor when driving into a city like Amsterdam, for example.

In practice, you can drive about 35 km fully electric with the electric motor and a full battery. This is a bit less in winter and, of course, also depends on how you drive the car and what power consumers you have on.

Want to see more of Shift Up? Then be sure to check it out here!