[bubbahead]

With my lease coming due in 6 months, i definitely want to get into an EV or PHEV.
There are many brands introducing their own. I don’t want a 1st year model.
What choices were close before you got the 45e. .?

[NoClosedDoors]

iX but at nearly 100K to load it up and only invoice pricing it was a non starter.

[mad villain]

IMO there isn't really a true PHEV competitor to the X5 45e.

The Cayenne e-hybrid has such a significant price difference when similarly optioned while it is a competitor, you have to willing to spend a lot more.

The Q5 hybrid I believe will be significantly smaller than the X5.

The Lexus RX 450h is simply just boring, won't have anywhere near the driving dynamic and I wouldn't be able to live with the looks.

The Volvo XC90 is likely the only direct PHEV competitor but I've never driven one.

For full EV SUV's, I believe everything except the Tesla's are in their 1st year

[brad_saggy]

I am in a similar situation. I was almost set on buying the XC90 Recharge (455hp madness, with that amazing instant torque for much faster 0-30), better mpg overall, not to mention the standard, spacious 3rd row. The driving dynamics are okish especially when compared against the X5. The 7 seater was my main selling point but ever since the tax credits went away, it wasn't making sense financially and we have now decided to buy the 45e. Hoping to take delivery in Oct/Nov.

[BimmerM33]

It's odd when you come across a car that's almost a singular choice in a particular niche. But the 45e seems to be just that, for phev's. I know there are others, and I could add the aviator phev to the others mentioned, which we looked at, but it didn't measure up either.

[biterror]

Originally Posted by mad villain

The Volvo XC90 is likely the only direct PHEV competitor but I've never driven one.

I sat in an XC90 for a few minutes and after driving the 45e, it felt like going back in time. Also, their AWD is using the electric motor to drive the back wheels and ICE to drive the front wheels, so it's not the same as xDrive. A neighbor was trying to back her Volvo uphill on a gravel road and it was either the back wheels spinning or the ICE roaring, but the car just couldn't move. Glad I got myself the 45e :-)

[KParks]

Originally Posted by mad villain

IMO there isn't really a true PHEV competitor to the X5 45e.

The Cayenne e-hybrid has such a significant price difference when similarly optioned while it is a competitor, you have to willing to spend a lot more.

The Q5 hybrid I believe will be significantly smaller than the X5.

The Lexus RX 450h is simply just boring, won't have anywhere near the driving dynamic and I wouldn't be able to live with the looks.

The Volvo XC90 is likely the only direct PHEV competitor but I've never driven one.

For full EV SUV's, I believe everything except the Tesla's are in their 1st year

That was my rough list that very quickly became BMW or Volvo. However, having owned many BMWs I just didn't love the driving feeling of the Volvo. Combined with the fact that I can still get a tax credit for the BMW between now and YE made the BMW the easy pick.

[FastMarkA]

Originally Posted by mad villain

IMO there isn't really a true PHEV competitor to the X5 45e.

The Cayenne e-hybrid has such a significant price difference when similarly optioned while it is a competitor, you have to willing to spend a lot more.

The Q5 hybrid I believe will be significantly smaller than the X5.

The Lexus RX 450h is simply just boring, won't have anywhere near the driving dynamic and I wouldn't be able to live with the looks.

The Volvo XC90 is likely the only direct PHEV competitor but I've never driven one.

For full EV SUV's, I believe everything except the Tesla's are in their 1st year

200% all of this right here.

And, the Cayenne is really the only true competitor from a capabilities perspective, but a similarly equipped one is a good $35k-$40k more than the BMW.

The 45e is a wonderful unicorn.

[eelnoraa]

I have a 45e, I like it. But I still want to make a point very clear to OP, hope to put thing in perspective, help OP to make the best decision.

The point is: We can only give as subjective opinion as the member of an special interest group, G05 owner forum members. If we were to visit another forum, they will say the same about their cars. So OP please keep this in mind

[LarsOtium]

Originally Posted by eelnoraa

If we were to visit another forum, they will say the same about their cars. So OP please keep this in mind

True, but they'd be WRONG.

[jdub486]

Updated 45e should either be here or be announced 6 months from now. Supposedly more range and more power.

[Epidimik]

Originally Posted by mad villain

IMO there isn't really a true PHEV competitor to the X5 45e.

The Cayenne e-hybrid has such a significant price difference when similarly optioned while it is a competitor, you have to willing to spend a lot more.

The Q5 hybrid I believe will be significantly smaller than the X5.

The Lexus RX 450h is simply just boring, won't have anywhere near the driving dynamic and I wouldn't be able to live with the looks.

The Volvo XC90 is likely the only direct PHEV competitor but I've never driven one.

For full EV SUV's, I believe everything except the Tesla's are in their 1st year

I went back and forth between the XC90 and X5 45e and personally found the XC90 to be incredibly boring inside compared to the BMW. Felt more like a van than a SUV. Also was NOT a fan of that touch screen they have. However, love the exterior of it.

[outsidepls]

I also narrowed it down to the Volvo XC90 and the 45e, and in the end it came down to the tax credit. If I were shopping next year it would be a harder choice, since even the 45e is unlikely to qualify after the end of this year.

[LOFT]

Originally Posted by eelnoraa

I have a 45e, I like it. But I still want to make a point very clear to OP, hope to put thing in perspective, help OP to make the best decision.

The point is: We can only give as subjective opinion as the member of an special interest group, G05 owner forum members. If we were to visit another forum, they will say the same about their cars. So OP please keep this in mind

Good point, but let me add my perspective.

mad villan does a good job of knocking down the other models he considered, and said that they were not true competitive PHEV models. When they are the PHEV's being sold in the marketplace, they are real competitive models. But for many reasons they're not as good or just did not measure up to the 45e.

In my case, I only joined this forum after doing my comparison shopping and buying the 45e. The forum has been a great learning experience for me but it had been 20 years since I owned a couple of BMW's before going to Audi. And the Q5 PHEV just doesn't cut it from an engineering power train perspective, and as others have said as well, neither do many of the other "competitive PHEV's."

So I did not go into X45e with a BMW pro bias.

[outsidepls]

Originally Posted by outsidepls

I also narrowed it down to the Volvo XC90 and the 45e, and in the end it came down to the tax credit. If I were shopping next year it would be a harder choice, since even the 45e is unlikely to qualify after the end of this year.

I forgot, I also thought about the Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe but it seemed like a mystery as to when we'd actually be able to get it. If you're looking for a PHEV that can tow over 4000 lbs like I am, it's a darn short list.

[mad villain]

Originally Posted by LOFT

mad villan does a good job of knocking down the other models he considered, and said that they were not true competitive PHEV models. When they are the PHEV's being sold in the marketplace, they are real competitive models. But for many reasons they're not as good or just did not measure up to the 45e.

True my wording wasn't correct. They're all competitors as they're all PHEV's. I guess the correct way to put it would have been because of the reasons I set out, they didn't end up being actual options.

In reality, the 45e didn't end up being an option at all for me because I couldn't find one and didn't have time to order one so I ended up with a 40i but I'm still very happy as the X5 is a great vehicle overall.

[Vadersithlord]

Originally Posted by mad villain

IMO there isn't really a true PHEV competitor to the X5 45e.

The Cayenne e-hybrid has such a significant price difference when similarly optioned while it is a competitor, you have to willing to spend a lot more.

The Q5 hybrid I believe will be significantly smaller than the X5.

The Lexus RX 450h is simply just boring, won't have anywhere near the driving dynamic and I wouldn't be able to live with the looks.

The Volvo XC90 is likely the only direct PHEV competitor but I've never driven one.

For full EV SUV's, I believe everything except the Tesla's are in their 1st year

I have a 2019 Etron full EV. Really nice.

[Socaldriver]

Originally Posted by mad villain

IMO there isn't really a true PHEV competitor to the X5 45e.

The Cayenne e-hybrid has such a significant price difference when similarly optioned while it is a competitor, you have to willing to spend a lot more.

The Q5 hybrid I believe will be significantly smaller than the X5.

The Lexus RX 450h is simply just boring, won't have anywhere near the driving dynamic and I wouldn't be able to live with the looks.

The Volvo XC90 is likely the only direct PHEV competitor but I've never driven one.

For full EV SUV's, I believe everything except the Tesla's are in their 1st year

I test drove each of those vehicles and the X5 was the best vehicle in its class. Grant it that I always wanted an X5.

[mad villain]

Originally Posted by Vadersithlord

I have a 2019 Etron full EV. Really nice.

Love the way the Etron looks! Haven't had a chance to drive one yet.

[yanger24]

We have '22 45e now. Ordered a Rivian R1S prior to the price hike. Wife needed the PHEV prior to the BEV. If you're ready for full BEV, I'd suggest a Rivian.

[ByFives19]

Originally Posted by mad villain

IMO there isn't really a true PHEV competitor to the X5 45e.

The Lexus RX 450h is simply just boring, won't have anywhere near the driving dynamic and I wouldn't be able to live with the looks.

I test drove one. Same handling as my grandma's Caprice Classic. I did not leave dealer lot - told them I didn't want to waste their time. And, agree, interior is blah - along with counterintuitive placement of commonly-used features.

[LOFT]

Originally Posted by mad villain

True my wording wasn't correct. They're all competitors as they're all PHEV's. I guess the correct way to put it would have been because of the reasons I set out, they didn't end up being actual options.

In reality, the 45e didn't end up being an option at all for me because I couldn't find one and didn't have time to order one so I ended up with a 40i but I'm still very happy as the X5 is a great vehicle overall.

Actually full disclosure, I may have developed an early bias for BMW. Last fall I had a really nice road trip vacation between Phoenix and San Diego and return. My original Hertz rental did not have Apply Play so I was offered an 2020 40i and happily took it. My overall highway/country drive was excellent, which then began my search and confirmation of the "best" SUV PHEV.

At one point during the road trip, I popped the hood because the car was so responsive , and not knowing the BMW nomenclature, I thought: Does 40i meant 4 litre v8? Seemed logical, but it was the classic straight 6. Good to go.