There were concerns that BMW would ruin the 3 Series by offering a hybrid version, as if they were planning to put a steam engine in Concorde. People thought it would be slow, boring, and deeply unsexy.

Then BMW plundered the i8 parts bin, engineered a rear-wheel-drive hybrid powertrain with only 165kg of additional weight, and somehow retained the driving dynamics of the original. And they’ve done all of this in a muscular, masculine body, inadvertently creating the best-looking plug-in hybrid on the road.

It doesn’t hurt that the BMW badge is also one of the most desirable of the mainstream manufacturers.

The 330e gets 370 litres of boot space, meaning that long loads need to be wedged in diagonally. Charging the battery takes two or three hours, depending on the source.

For a saloon, the 330e is absolutely fine. If you’re looking for extra space you could look at the excellent Outlander PHEV, or almost any other hybrid car. The 330e is still designed primarily as a driver’s car. It offers optimum traction and agility, and - thanks to the enhanced sporty chassis set-up - outstanding dynamics.

Competing with the 320d in terms of speed and alacrity, the powertrain lays down 252bhp in a more immediate way than the petrol or diesel versions and it will reach 62mph in just over six seconds – faster than the 320d but slower than the 330d.

The 330e can be recharged directly from the electricity mains, whether at home or on the road. So journeys can be made free of emissions, particularly in urban areas, and fuel consumption is reduced on long distances.

Around town, the fully-electric mode is as relaxing as it is efficient. If you like the idea of low-emission tyre squeal, you’ll enjoy the 330e’s attitude. You can drive it on zero-emissions fully-electric power for about 25 miles, theoretically, although there are several reasons why this distance could drop significantly. But people with their own charging points and short commutes could find themselves visiting petrol stations every six weeks rather than every few days. Driving in the hybrid mode enables a maximum combined fuel consumption of 134.5 to 148.7 mpg, with CO2 emissions of 44 to 49 g/km.

The state-of-the-art plug-in hybrid technology combines a 184hp 2.0-litre petrol engine with an 80 kW electric motor. The combined output of 252hp and combined maximum torque of 420 Nmgive the BMW 330e a 0-62mph acceleration time of 6.3 seconds and a top speed of 140mph. This model is also capable of travelling up to 22-miles in all-electric mode, and therefore emits zero local emissions when used in this manner.

For commuters, the 330e allows you to enjoy the luxury of a BMW 3 Series model with the added bonus of excellent fuel economy. Delivering a maximum combined fuel consumption of up to 59mpg for a journey of 31 to 37 miles, this is markedly better than that of other cars in its class.

Using a combinations of electric motor and combustion engine in Auto eDrive mode, the 330e can also still deliver reasonable efficiency on longer journeys, with an average of 34 mpg.

One of the main downsides to the 330e is the price. Coming in at more than £34,000, even with a government grant, the entry-level, cloth-upholstered 330e seems like quite poor value. Buyers could buy a new diesel 3 Series for considerably less. You’ll struggle to find any hybrid car that drives this well, though, or that looks as good on the drive.

BMW has a startlingly specific buyer profile for the 330e. He or she lives in a suburban area and commutes around half an hour each way every day. On the weekends he or she will drive much longer distances, often at speed. He or she has a charging point at home and at work. This sounds immensely German. well.

The 330e is a brilliant driver’s car for anyone with a charging point at home or at work. Most others would be better off in a diesel – for now.