A high-performance, low-BiK plug-in hybrid version of the BMW 5 Series promises thrills and spills. Al Suttie tests it out.

BMW 550e M Sport Pro xDrive

List price (BiK): £79,550 (9%)    CO2: 19g/km    Official weighted combined economy: 353.1mpg    Efficiency as tested: 62.0mpg

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Monday

In the topsy-turvy world we live in today, what has arrived this morning is a BMW 550e M Sport Pro xDrive. The ‘550e’ part refers to the 3.0-litre straight-six turbo petrol engine mated to a 19kWh battery. Why it’s not just called the ‘530e’ and the actual 530e – with its 2.0-litre engine – is not the 520e is beyond me. Never mind, a combined 489hp and the promise of 353.1mpg should help me overcome the marketing flannel.

Tuesday

Heading out of my village this morning involved a couple of tight turns. In a lengthy executive saloon such as the BMW, I’d expect a bit of twirl on the steering wheel, but the BMW barely requires more than half a turn for even the nadgier corners. It had me checking to see if the car has had rear-wheel steer added – this model has the Adaptive Suspension Professional included that does indeed tighten the turning circle.

Wednesday

A trip over to furthest Fife today and the 550e lazily chews it up. Cruising up the A9 has the 3.0-litre motor barely ticking over, while back roads for the last 15 miles show this 5 Series continues right where its ancestor left off as the most entertaining car in this class to drive. It also refuses to be upset by lumpy surfaces, even on the £500 optional 20-inch alloy wheels of this particular car.

Thursday

I’m not wholly won over by the too-technical look of the BMW’s curved dash display, but the rotary controller – or iDrive as I still think of it – works a treat. It negates the need to use the touchscreen with your finger and, as a result, using the various functions is far less distracting than in the Audi A6 that recently preceded the BMW on test duties.

Friday

Stone me, this 550e is quick when it wants to be. Deploy all of its power and 0-62mph whisks past in 4.3 seconds. It’s helped along by the xDrive four-wheel drive, and there’s a pleasing six-cylinder burr from under the bonnet. Without having driven the latest M5, it does make me wonder why you’d need any more than the 550e offers in the performance stakes, other than bragging rights.

Saturday

With a few days to get used to the BMW, I’ve come to the conclusion that I just don’t like the Frozen Portimao Blue paint, which is a hefty £5,000 option. It’s also worth noting the 550e is a pricey car whichever way you slice it. Fleet drivers are much more likely to opt for the 530e model and live without the huge performance and four-wheel drive of the version on test here. Or the all-electric i5.

Sunday

As someone who has always admired the BMW 5 Series ahead of its rivals, this latest 550e model keeps it at the head of the pack in my mind. I’d happily take a less potent version, even if I was seeing 62.0mpg with no effort and when I forgot to charge up the battery. Hook it up to the mains and the 550e will be cheaper still to run, but a 530e makes even more sense.