BMW i5 eDrive40 G60 vs Volvo S60 T5 Geartronic: which is truly faster?

Off the line, the i5 eDrive40 hits 100 km/h in 6.12 s versus 6.26 s for the S60 T5 Geartronic. The instant torque of 400 Nm from the electric motor makes the difference. Despite the faster sprint time, the S60 T5 Geartronic is 5 m further along the track at this moment: stronger low-speed acceleration offsets a slower run beyond 100 km/h.

At 200 metres, the S60 T5 Geartronic is doing 130 km/h against 135 km/h for the i5 eDrive40. The gap is 0.03 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the i5 eDrive40 crosses the line in 14.29 s versus 14.44 s. The 0.14 s gap represents roughly 6 m of track - barely a car length.

Past 400 metres, the i5 eDrive40 continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 186 km/h versus 180 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the i5 eDrive40 finishes in 25.87 s versus 26.10 s, with a 0.24 s lead. Despite a higher top speed (245 km/h), the S60 T5 Geartronic never recovers its launch deficit.

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the i5 eDrive40 is capped at 193 km/h, the S60 T5 Geartronic at 245 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 9.51 seconds. The 0.14 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.