330e 2.0 Sport Pro Auto 4dr

Competent

Obtained a very unusually specced G20 BMW 330e saloon on a PCP from Ocean BMW Plymouth. Although non-M-sport, it has most options - Tech, Comfort and Visibility packs (which include the laser lights, head-up display and Harmon Kardon hifi, along with metallic paint and leather sport seats. The car rides and steers beautifully despite (or maybe due to its) passive dampers. Hybrids are very much horses for courses but for us it is perfect as most journeys are local but with a regular motorway trip of 60 miles each way too. The local trips are all on the electric motor while the 60 mile trip uses the engine although the satnav selects when to switch to the motor to give the best overall consumption for the journey. For example, it retains 5 miles of charge so that the last section of the journey (on narrow lanes) is done on battery power, while the bulk of the motorway journey uses petrol. We charge using a 3-pin socket, which works just fine. The PCP was very good value working out at a very reasonable £161 a month over three years. Ocean's sales staff were excellent too. The downsides to the car are few but there's the reduction in boot capacity compared to a petrol or diesel 3-series. However, the boot is still a fair size, and for us has not been a problem. Performance is excellent - very quick when it needs to be and even though it's a four cylinder, the B48 engine makes a nice enough noise. I've managed to achieve 90 mpg on the 60 mile motorway run, with a full battery charge and a gentle right foot (and in warmer weather!)

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