All the major automakers are working creating more fuel-efficient versions of their stable of cars, trucks, and SUVs. BMW’s plan is to create hybrid drivetrains for every model it sells. The latest is the X5 xDrive40e plug-in hybrid, which gets an estimated 24 mpg overall — 3 mpg better than the 3.0-liter turbocharged model.
The Fast Lane had a Ram 1500 diesel in for testing during the same time as the X5, so the idea of an mpg challenge quickly came to mind. The Ram 1500 uses a new 3.0-liter EcoDiesel engine that delivers 240 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels by way of an 8-speed transmission. Fuel efficiency for the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel amounts to 21 mpg in the city, 29 mpg on the highway, and 24 mpg combined.
The plug-in hybrid drivetrain in the X5 consists of a 2.0-liter TwinPower turbocharged 4-cylinder paired with an 111 horsepower electric motor integrated into the 8-speed transmission. Total system output is 308 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque. In all-electric mode, the all-wheel drive X5 xDrive40e has a range of approximately 15 miles and a top speed of 75 mph — although don’t expect to get 15 EV miles at that speed.
In this TFLcar ‘mashup’ video, BMW X5 xDrive40e and Ram 1500 EcoDiesel are tested on a 100-mile loop. Watch the video below to see if the luxury SUV from Bavaria and a diesel-powered domestic truck live up to their manufacturer numbers, and which is better at using less fuel.
