BMW 520e G30 vs Volvo XC40 B4: which is truly faster?

Off the line, the 520e hits 100 km/h in 7.75 s versus 8.23 s for the XC40 B4. The instant torque of 350 Nm from the electric motor makes the difference. At this point, the 520e leads by 0.48 s and sits roughly 15 m ahead.

At 200 metres, the 520e is doing 114 km/h against 115 km/h for the XC40 B4. The gap is 0.52 s. The gap remains stable from the start.

At 400 metres standing start, the 520e crosses the line in 15.64 s versus 16.10 s. The 0.46 s gap represents roughly 18 m of track - two to three car lengths.

Past 400 metres, the gap narrows. The XC40 B4 maxes out at 180 km/h while the 520e keeps accelerating towards 220 km/h. At 600 metres, the gap has dropped to 0.41 s.

At 1,000 metres, the 520e finishes in 29.03 s versus 29.39 s, with just 0.36 s to spare. The XC40 B4 fails to fully close the launch gap.

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the 520e is capped at 225 km/h, the XC40 B4 at 180 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 13.40 seconds. The 0.48 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.