BMW 225xe Active Tourer F44 vs BMW X4 xDrive20d G02: which is truly faster?

Off the line, the 225xe Active Tourer hits 100 km/h in 6.83 s versus 7.97 s for the X4 xDrive20d. The instant torque of 385 Nm from the electric motor makes the difference. The 1.14 s gap is negligible: both vehicles are neck and neck.

At 200 metres, the 225xe Active Tourer is doing 124 km/h against 113 km/h for the X4 xDrive20d. The gap is 0.30 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the 225xe Active Tourer crosses the line in 14.97 s versus 15.80 s. The 0.82 s gap represents roughly 32 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Past 400 metres, the 225xe Active Tourer continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 172 km/h versus 156 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the 225xe Active Tourer finishes in 27.17 s versus 29.28 s, with a 2.12 s lead. Both vehicles have similar top speeds (202 vs 213 km/h), preventing any comeback.

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the 225xe Active Tourer is capped at 202 km/h, the X4 xDrive20d at 213 km/h. This isn’t a physical engine limit - it’s a manufacturer choice, usually for tyre safety or homologation reasons. Neither car reaches its true aerodynamic top speed.

Instant electric torque gives an advantage off the line. The higher top speed of the combustion engine gives an advantage over longer distances. The distance at which one catches the other depends on the top speed differential.

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 13.55 seconds. The 1.14 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.