BMW 545e xDrive G30 vs Mercedes G 450 d W463: which is truly faster?

Off the line, the 545e xDrive hits 100 km/h in 4.68 s versus 5.83 s for the G 450 d. The instant torque of 600 Nm from the electric motor makes the difference. At this point, the 545e xDrive leads by 1.16 s and sits roughly 5 m ahead.

At 200 metres, the 545e xDrive is doing 143 km/h against 128 km/h for the G 450 d. The gap is 0.65 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the 545e xDrive crosses the line in 12.91 s versus 14.11 s. The 1.20 s gap represents roughly 51 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Past 400 metres, the 545e xDrive continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 200 km/h versus 174 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the 545e xDrive finishes in 23.40 s versus 26.22 s, with a 2.83 s lead.

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the 545e xDrive is capped at 250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) km/h, the G 450 d at 210 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 9.41 seconds. The 1.16 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.