BMW i5 eDrive40 G60 vs BMW 730Ld xDrive G11: which is truly faster?

Off the line, the 730Ld xDrive hits 100 km/h in 5.87 s versus 6.12 s for the i5 eDrive40. Despite lacking instant torque, 265 hp of power compensates. At this point, the 730Ld xDrive leads by 0.25 s and sits roughly 16 m ahead.

At 200 metres, the 730Ld xDrive is doing 128 km/h against 135 km/h for the i5 eDrive40. The gap is 0.39 s. The gap widens compared to the 0-100.

At 400 metres standing start, the 730Ld xDrive crosses the line in 14.15 s versus 14.29 s. The 0.14 s gap represents roughly 7 m of track - barely a car length.

Past 400 metres, the situation changes. The i5 eDrive40 maxes out at 193 km/h while the 730Ld xDrive keeps accelerating towards 250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) km/h. At 600 metres, the gap has dropped to 0.04 s.

Around 552 metres, both vehicles are level. This is the inversion point: the i5 eDrive40 overcomes its launch deficit thanks to a 57 km/h higher top speed.

At 1,000 metres, the i5 eDrive40 finishes in 25.87 s versus 25.94 s. The 0.07 s delta shows an extremely tight race.

The 730Ld xDrive features all-wheel drive (AWD) against the i5 eDrive40’s RWD. At low speeds (0-30, 0-50, 0-80 km/h), AWD doubles the driven contact area: all four wheels transmit torque to the road, virtually eliminating wheelspin at launch. This traction advantage is decisive in the range where the motor delivers peak torque, before power and aerodynamics take over.

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the i5 eDrive40 is capped at 193 km/h, the 730Ld xDrive at 250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) 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 9.46 seconds. The 0.25 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.