THE NEW BMW 550e: TOP DOG FOR SENIOR EXEC'S?

The BMW 5 series is widely regarded as being the key stakeholder when it comes to executive driving. It just sort of materialises like a very well-dressed civil servant who’s read the briefing, made a cup of tea and is waiting for you to catch up. It doesn’t shout because it doesn’t need to. Instead, it diligently follows its own plan to be the most complete saloon in BMW’s existence.

But something is up here, because the new boy seems a little bit more capable that the previous versions. A little more headstrong if you will, because beneath the exterior of this one lies a 3.0-litre inline-six petrol engine, which works in harmony with an electric motor, giving you a combined total of 489hp and 700Nm of torque, which is akin to having business brains and brawn in the workplace.

That is enough to catapult you from 0 to 62mph in just 4.3 seconds. But here’s the thing - it doesn’t feel dramatic. It just... surges very economically. In electric-only mode, it’s officially good for up to 56 miles. In practice, I achieved nearer 44 to 48 miles, which is still pretty good. You can do the school run, the supermarket trip and even a Thirsty Thursday without emitting anything other than smugness.

Comfort is where the 550e really starts to make sense though. This isn’t a saloon with track-day aspirations by any margin. It doesn’t want to be thrown around. Instead, it settles into its own rhythm, absorbing lumps and bumps with all the characteristics of a warm duvet as the standard adaptive chassis quietly and professionally does all the work in the background. And when you flick it into Sport mode, there is more of a polite determination rather than the sort of transformation you might normally expect with other German cars that are pushing around 500bhp.

The other Modes are worth a look however. You get seven in total: Personal, Sport, Efficient, Expressive, Relax, Digital Art and Silent. Each one tweaks the drivetrain, the lighting and the interior ambience. Art mode makes the dash feel like something from a Nordic design fair. Silent mode is, well, very silent. Which is very handy if you’re nursing a hangover Friday morning.

Inside, it’s all predictably BMW. Which is to say: clean, solid and very, very well thought through. The big screen dominates the dashboard but doesn’t overwhelm it. Physical buttons still exist (thankfully) and there are knobs and dials in the right places. Apple CarPlay slots in perfectly, the heads-up display is crystal-clear and the stereo is of such quality that you may well find yourself listening to a few albums you grew up with, all the way through. Possibly even on purpose.

Now, the autonomous systems are, in theory, helpful. But in reality, they can be a touch overenthusiastic. The lane-keep assist for instance, has the subtlety of a dog on a lead at Crufts. It means well, but the execution is a bit strict. I was trundling down the M4 Westbound near Swindon, swerving all of the potholes that were appearing in lane one and the car just kept on wrestling me back into the middle of the road without even a care for the worsening conditions.

On one occasion, it even confused an empty roundabout exit with an imminent crash and stopped rather dramatically for no particular reason. I’m sure these systems will improve (I hope!) and at this point, I would like to also point out that the remaining 99.99% of autonomous driving was totally issue-free.

As for the looks? Well, I think they are what you might call Marmite. The silhouette leans more towards a 7 Series than a 5 and it’s not what you’d call dainty (its massive). But, after a few days, it begins to make sense. The test car’s paintwork had a sort of depth you could fall into and from some angles it actually looks rather stately. You won’t fall in love with it at first sight but by the end of the week, I think you might find yourself defending it in polite conversation.

Practicality hasn’t been sacrificed. The boot is properly cavernous, rear legroom is generous and the materials throughout feel expensive without being garish. You get wireless charging, configurable ambient lighting and a fantastic crystalline ‘Interaction Bar’ that stretches across the dash like a particularly glamorous USB stick.

Technically, the 550e is deeply impressive. BMW’s latest eDrive technology includes adaptive energy recuperation, predictive torque distribution and a rather amusing boost paddle that gives you a 10-second surge of full power. Frankly, you rarely need it. Left to its own devices the hybrid system is so smooth and so well-integrated that you’d be forgiven for forgetting which bit is doing the work at any given moment.

Charging is swift by plug-in hybrid standards. A 7.4kW charger will see you from zero to full in just over three hours or you can plug it into a standard socket overnight and come back in the morning. And with nearly 50 miles of real-world electric range, it genuinely does feel like two cars in one - a quiet city runabout during the week and a proper mile-munching cruiser at the weekend.

The BMW 550e doesn’t pander either. It doesn’t throw you into your seat or demand your attention with exhaust theatrics. Instead, it calmly goes about its business, asking only that you appreciate its competence and its comfort. It’s the sort of car you grow fond of not because it’s impressive but because it just works.

In a world of business noise, this is a car that speaks quietly and carries a very big brain. It’s not perfect but it is rather brilliant. And very BMW.

https://www.bmw.co.uk/en/index.html

Model: BMW G60 550e xDrive M Sport Pro Saloon

Base Price/As Specified: £78,700.00/£96,078.34

Propulsion: 3.0-litre inline-six turbo petrol engine with an electric motor

Drivetrain: All-Wheel Drive

Transmission: 8-Speed Automatic

Output: 489hp.

Torque: 700 Nm

Weight (Unladen): 2,297 kg

0-62 mph: 4.3 Seconds

Top Speed: 155 mph (limited)

WLTP Combined Fuel Economy: 282.5 to 353.1 mpg

Electric Range (WLTP): 55 Miles

C02 Emission: 19 g/km