BMW i5 eDrive40 G60 vs Mercedes V 300 d 4MATIC: which is truly faster?

Off the line, the i5 eDrive40 hits 100 km/h in 6.12 s versus 8.32 s for the V 300 d 4MATIC. The instant torque of 400 Nm from the electric motor makes the difference. At this point, the i5 eDrive40 leads by 2.20 s and sits roughly 3 m ahead.

At 200 metres, the i5 eDrive40 is doing 135 km/h against 114 km/h for the V 300 d 4MATIC. The gap is 0.79 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the i5 eDrive40 crosses the line in 14.29 s versus 16.03 s. The 1.73 s gap represents roughly 65 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Past 400 metres, the i5 eDrive40 continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 186 km/h versus 156 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the i5 eDrive40 finishes in 25.87 s versus 29.55 s, with a 3.69 s lead. Despite a higher top speed (210 km/h), the V 300 d 4MATIC never recovers its launch deficit.

The V 300 d 4MATIC 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 V 300 d 4MATIC at 217 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 14.08 seconds. The 2.20 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.