Hybrid vehicles are currently a hot commodity as more people seek an electrified vehicle that doesn't require a lifestyle change but comes with significant fuel efficiency benefits. It also helps that the price of a hybrid vehicle isn't too far off from a pure internal combustion engine (ICE) model. In some cases, even, like some of Toyota's newer models like the Camry, a hybrid is your only option.

But what if you want a hybrid vehicle with enough electric range to bring you to your daily commutes without consuming a drop of fuel? At the same time, you're willing to see what it's like to live with an electric vehicle (EV), but without the range anxiety or convoluted and fragmented charging associated with EVs. That's where another type of hybrid comes in--the plug-in hybrid or PHEV. PHEVs have become a sort of transition technology for some people. PHEVs let people experience what it's like to live with an electric vehicle, thanks to its generous EV range, while the ICE is still there, ready to report for duty, either when you want more power or more range.

PHEVs are also much more expensive than their hybrid counterparts. Still, you'd be surprised that for the price of a Toyota RAV4 Prime, one of the most highly sought-after PHEVs in 2024 as reflected by its long waiting times, there's another similar PHEV that's more premium and also much more athletic than the humble electrified Toyota crossover. It also happens to be the fastest-accelerating PHEV, for under $50,000.

In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, and other authoritative sources, including CarEdge, AAA, and U.S. News.

The BMW 330e Is The Ultimate Electrified Driving Machine Under $50,000

The fastest PHEV for under $50,000 comes from the maker of The Ultimate Driving Machine. I'm talking about none other than BMW, whose stalwart 3 Series is also offered in PHEV form called the 330e for less than $50,000 and pretty much near the average transaction price of $47,433 for a brand-new car in 2024.

0-60 mph In 5.4 Seconds

When buying a BMW 3 Series, you're not just getting this compact luxury sports sedan for budget reasons. That's because the core of BMW as a brand is in the 3 Series, which is putting driving pleasure at the forefront. The 5 Series and flagship 7 Series are great, mind you, but they're not the fullest representation of the BMW brand. They're more luxurious, but also a little less precise as a machine when it comes to handling, though they are still often the sportiest in their respective segments.

Now, with the 2024 BMW 330e, that driving pleasure comes with the added benefit of a decent all-electric range of 22 miles (20 miles with xDrive AWD). That range is just a little over the average daily driving distance of an American, which is at 30.1 miles according to the AAA. It also gives this model a power boost from the 330i's 255 horsepower to 288 horsepower, though because of the added weight of the PHEV system, its 0-60 mph time of 5.6 seconds is the same as the 330i.

BMW, however, has a reputation for understating its 0-60 mph times, because, in the real world, the 330e can be slightly faster with a 5.4-second acceleration time. That's perhaps the German automaker making our expectations realistic, huh?

Oh, And It Doesn't Have German Competition

But perhaps what you'll be surprised by is that, if you want a PHEV luxury sports sedan, the 330e practically has the market to itself, at least at the moment. The C-Class is only sold as the C300 with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, while the Audi A4 45 TFSI Quattro is only available with a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder. Its direct rival comes from Sweden in the form of the Volvo S60 Recharge. It's also a PHEV that combines a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder along with an electric motor that has a combined system output of 455 horsepower versus the 330e's 288 horsepower. Unsurprisingly, it is also faster than the 330e, with a 0-60 mph time of just 4.3 seconds.

What Else You Get From The 330e

The BMW 330e doesn't just offer one of the outright best driving experiences out of any car and not just in the segment, but it's also packed with so much value for its price, which is probably not an adjective you'd expect in a German luxury sports sedan. With a base price of $45,600, you may not get all the bells and whistles by then, but what's already offered as standard is probably good enough for most.

Fundamentally Sporty Looks

Being stingy with the options doesn't necessarily mean getting a sports sedan that doesn't look the part. In typical BMW fashion, the free color choices are Alpine White or Jet Black, so you might want to spend an extra $650 just to diverge away from the monotonous free color choices.

You could splurge for the M Sport package for $2,000 to add sportier front and rear bumpers, blue M calipers, and nicer 18-inch wheels (can be upgraded to 19s with or without the M Sport package), but as is, the 330e already looks properly handsome. Full LED exterior lighting with auto leveling for the headlights, as well as LED puddle lamps and welcome lights, all contribute to giving the 330e a modern touch. If you find closing a trunk lid is too much work for you, then the powered trunk lid is there for $250.

A Modern Yet Functional Interior

BMW has given the 3 Series a mid-cycle facelift during the 2023 model year update. This introduced a new dash design with the iDrive 8 curved glass infotainment system, along with a great reduction in physical controls. A 2025 update has been revealed, however, and it comes with a slight redesign of the dash (including an upgraded iDrive 8.5 operating system) as it adds a cascading LED ambient light effect on the central air vents, while new color and wheel choices are the exterior highlights.

As expected, build quality is excellent in the 330e, with a generous amount of premium materials, and even without ticking any optional extras, the Sensatec (synthetic leather) upholstery comes for free in Canberra Beige, Cognac, Black, or Tacora Red.

Even in terms of tech, you'll probably be satisfied already with the wealth of features that iDrive 8 has to offer. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are already standard, though we recommend at least selecting the $850 Convenience package as this adds smart entry, lumbar support for the driver's seat, as well as wireless charging. However, while automatic emergency braking is offered as standard, everything else such as blind spot warning, or even the handy adaptive cruise control is hidden in optional extras.

Living With A BMW 330e

With our trim recommendation for the best bang-for-your-buck 330e specification, you'll only end up spending just $46,450 for a simple yet decently-equipped model. Of course, if you've got a bigger budget, then spec the 330e the way you want to, but you'll be glad to know that even in its simpler spec, the 330e is a delight to live with, but with just one gripe that probably no one's talking about.

No Compromise Sportiness

Thanks to my wealth of experience with the BMW 3 Series in various forms, from the potent M340i Touring to a humble 318i, I already have a solid grasp of what it's like to live with this sports sedan. As is, the 330e does a fine job of balancing class-leading sportiness with everyday comfort.

Sure, the C-Class has a better ride since the 3 Series has slightly stiffer suspension (opting for the adaptive suspension makes the ride even better whilst the handling also improves), but it's nowhere considered uncomfortable by any means. Solid refinement and efficiency, whatever the engine choice, are all hallmarks of the 3 Series, so even with sporty handling, this BMW is perfectly livable as a primary car.

Even the drivetrain tuning is great in the 330e. We once took the 330e on the track in Thailand during a BMW M regional event last year, and it's as if all the different power sources are communicating well with each other. There's no delay, clunkiness, or lag to speak of. BMW has done a good job with the PHEV drivetrain, even for performance applications.

However, The 330e Fails At Being A Long Range Vehicle

Wait a minute, shouldn't PHEVs have excellent range since it combines a large battery and a fuel tank? Well, ideally, that should be the case, but here's something no one's talking about the BMW 330e--its subpar driving range. The BMW 330i, which is slightly cheaper to buy, has a 15.6-gallon tank that's good for an EPA-rated driving range of 452 miles. The 330e? Unfortunately, the significantly smaller 10.6-gallon tank gives it a gas-only range of just 288 miles, and together with the battery, is just 310 miles.

Furthermore, if you don't have access to a charging station at your destination when you consume your battery by then, the 330e is actually thirstier than the 330i, whose 29 MPG combined fuel economy rating by the EPA is 2 MPG more efficient than its PHEV counterpart.

Combined with the fact that the heavier PHEV components surely affect its handling, we think that the 330e's appeal is limited unless you live in a place where its EV range means skirting through cities with congestion charges like London. The Volvo S60 T8 Recharge, with its more efficient fuel consumption, longer 40-mile electric range, and thus a whopping 530-mile total range, ends up as a more convincing PHEV option than the 330e, even if its purchase price is more expensive.