2021 BMW 330e xDrive Review: The Imperfect Plug-In Option for the 3 Series

Auto123 reviews 2021 BMW 330e xDrive.

Here’s a safe statement if there ever was one: the BMW 3 Series is one of the most internationally recognized sedans on the market. The name first appeared in the 1970s and since its arrival in the German brand's lineup, the manufacturer has been racking up accolades from the automotive press and success in motorsports.

Over the years and the generations, the 3 Series has grown in stature as the range of vehicles has continued to expand. Starting with the previous generation of the model, BMW has been marketing a 330e version; the "e" here of course refers to the electrically assisted powertrain of the German sedan.

Yes, the white sedan you see in these here images is a genuine plug-in hybrid, as the automaker has been increasing its offerings in this direction for the past few seasons... while it prepares the arrival of its small army of all-electric models, of course.

The cues
The 330e doesn't really stand out in traffic per se, at least not as much as some other "green" sedans that inherit unique visual details. This electrified version of the 3-Series does have the visible hatch on the left fender, a sign that the car can be plugged in, but that's about it.

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