BMW 225 XE Hybrid 2016

The BMW 225xe iPerformance Active Tourer is the first plug-in hybrid MPV to hit the market, adding a string to the model’s bow that competitors like the Mercedes B-Class can’t currently match. Under the bodywork – which is only distinguishable from the standard model by badges and a charging flap on the front wing – there’s a 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine, electric motor and battery pack. The technology might sound familiar, because the Active Tourer benefits from a reworked version of the system developed for the BMW i8 supercar.