What's this then?

This is the new half-electric BMW X5 iPerformance model. We've already seen the diesel and petrol versions of BMW's new SUV (and it will be arriving on forecourts in just a matter of weeks), but here's the replacement for the plugin X5 40e - the X5 45e, which you'll note is five better.

Better, how? Well, it has more power for a start - the combo of petrol and electric motors gives you a robust 395hp, with 600Nm of torque available, and it'll sprint from 0-100km/h in just 5.6 seconds. This time there's a six-cylinder turbo petrol engine, instead of the old 40e's four-banger, in spite of which the car's environmental performance has actually improved. Under the tougher new WLTP fuel economy tests, the X5 45e returns 134mpg.

Better still, the battery has been beefed up, so that, with a full charge on board, you should be able to squeeze 50 miles out of the X5 before needing to call on the petrol engine at all. Emissions are just 49g/km.

Unlike some rivals, the X5 45e isn't one of those cars that has a petrol engine driving one set of wheels and an electric motor t'other - whether under petrol power or burning electrons (do electrons burn?), the X5 always runs in four-wheel drive.

The fuel tank is also still a decent size - 69 litres - and while the luggage compartment has sacrificed 150 litres in the switch to hybrid power, there's still a very decent 500 litres with which to play.

Air suspension, adaptive dampers and active steering are all standard fit, too.

Neil Briscoe - 7 Sep 2018