Read Ranch & Coast Virtually Anywhere
Issue link: http://ranchandcoast.uberflip.com/i/1546931
car was parked, the 550e can pre-cool the interior remotely with a MY BMW app or when a door is opened. My wife was quite fond of that feature. Like so many cars today, our BMW's interior was resplendent with display screening while the steering wheel and center console offered a variety of knobs to address. I didn't try to engage all of these access portals nor did I have a conversation with BMW's virtual assistant, who seemed anxious to engage with me. Perhaps a week is just not enough time to come to grips with today's automotive schemes. (We have a friend who returned to his dealership three times for switch and screen schooling and he's a retired software executive.) BMW did get the hardware nicely balanced and that's clearly what makes the 550e a perfectly fun sports sedan. Our test sample added a Dynamic Handling Package, a $2,200 option that included adaptive suspension for better road control, and the $1,050 M Sport package promised superior braking along with M badging. Even staggered tires on the 19-inch alloy wheels are included. Personally, I'd like to see more plug-in vehicles that can fill up with either petrol on trips or electricity at home. at helps the transportation budget since electric fill-ups on the road are often more expensive than gasoline while plugging in at home is quite a value. For drivers who want electric efficiency around town without giving up range, convenience, or the pleasure of a proper sports sedan, the 550e makes a persuasive case for the plug-in hybrid sweet spot. Plug-In Hybrid, all-wheel-drive 3.0-liter twin-turbo I-6 483 @ 5,000 RPM 516 lb.ft. @ 1,750 RPM $73,400 $82,600 22 city 28 highway 25 combined 68 city 73 highway 68 combined 34 miles TYPE: ENGINE: HORSEPOWER: TORQUE: BASE PRICE: AS TESTED: FUEL CONSUMPTION, GAS: FUEL CONSUMPTION, ELECTRIC: EV RANGE: 2026 BMW 550e X-Drive @ranchandcoast RANCH & COAST MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2026 119