Yahoo Autos Tested: 2021 BMW 530e Gains an Extra Hybrid Boost
The 2021 BMW 530e is part plug-in hybrid, part luxury car, and part sports sedan. If that seems like a restaurant menu item that's attempting to marry too many styles of cuisine into one dish, know this: The 530e blends its trio of disparate elements into a capable and tasty whole. It's even fun to drive, which is not something we've said often about BMW's non-M-badged sedans in recent years.
As with the rest of the updated 5-series line, the 530e receives a freshening for the 2021 model year. Updates include minor tweaks to the exterior, an improved infotainment system, and additional muscle from the hybrid powertrain. Whether it's the more aggressive grille treatment or the infotainment touchscreen that grows from 10.3 to 12.3 inches, the visible changes are small enough that only dedicated 5-series spotters will likely notice them.
More significant is the extra power from the hybrid system. The capacity of the battery housed beneath the 530e's rear seat has been increased by 25 percent, to 9.1 kWh. The turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder and the system's single electric motor—located where the torque converter normally lives between the engine and the standard eight-speed automatic transmission—have both been retuned for slightly more grunt. In terms of combined system output, torque remains the same as last year, at 310 pound-feet, but horsepower is up 40 ponies to 288, thanks to a feature called XtraBoost.
While that name might sound a little contrived, the feature does work as advertised. Floor the 530e's accelerator—you'll notice a little click in the last few millimeters of travel when you hit the kickdown switch—and the battery sends a burst of energy to the electric motor that adds 40 horsepower for up to 10 seconds at a time. Briefly back off the go pedal, and XtraBoost is ready to go again.
