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Ai5BEVvsB520dDiesel
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  • Specsi5 · 520d

BMW i5 xDrive40 Touring G60 vs BMW 520d G30: which is truly faster?

Simulated drag race 0 → 1,000 m in real time. Synchronised speed counters and stopwatch. Physics calibration on 7 manufacturer measurements.

grand tourer · 2025 vs 2020 · Methodology
BMWBEVFaster

i5 xDrive40 Touring G60

394 hp · 590 Nm · 2,330 kg · 2025

VS
BMWDiesel

520d G30

190 hp · 400 Nm · 1,675 kg · 2020

Result · 0–100 km/h

ABMW i5 xDrive40 Touring G60

5.49 s

Gap1.68 sin favour of i5 xDrive40 Touring
BBMW 520d G30

7.17 s

Summary · Caralogy simulation
Measurei5 xDrive40 Touring G60520d G30Gap
0–100 km/h5.49 s7.17 s1.68 s · i5 xDrive40 Touring G60
400 m standing start13.77 s15.20 s1.43 s · i5 xDrive40 Touring G60
1,000 m standing start24.85 s28.10 s3.25 s · i5 xDrive40 Touring G60
Top speed (electronically limited)215 km/h235 km/h20 km/h · 520d G30
Power-to-weight ratio5.91 kg/hp8.82 kg/hpbetter ratio · i5 xDrive40 Touring G60

Watch the race

Standing-start drag race, calibrated on manufacturer splits. The gap shows at each stage.

BMWBEVi5 xDrive40 Touring G60
Speed
0km/h
Timer
0,00s
Distance
0m
BMWDiesel520d G30
Speed
0km/h
Timer
0,00s
Distance
0m
100 m
200 m
300 m
400 m
500 m
600 m
700 m
800 m
900 m
1000 m
0m → 1000m
Gap0m

Stage-by-stage comparison

Simulated performance at each stage. Best value in bold.
Stagei5 xDrive40 Touring G60520d G30
0–30 km/h1.48 s1.25 s
0–50 km/h2.47 s2.35 s · tight gap
0–80 km/h4.06 s4.82 s
0–100 km/h5.49 s7.17 s
0–120 km/h7.30 s10.23 s
0–160 km/h12.45 s18.99 s
0–200 km/h20.23 s35.92 s
400 m standing start13.77 s15.20 s
1,000 m standing start24.85 s28.10 s
Top speed215 km/h235 km/h

Parameters and assumptions

Simulation

Start
Standing, straight line
Surface
Dry asphalt, 23°C
Wind
None
Driver
1 person, 75 kg

Calibration

Splits
0–100, 0–200 manufacturer
Power curve
Real measurement (Caralogy)
VMax
Manufacturer limited
Transmission
Losses integrated in model

Physics model calibrated on manufacturer splits. The limited top speed is not the real aerodynamic top speed of the vehicles.

Under the bonnet

Manufacturer technical specifications. The power-to-weight ratio is the key physical factor in a drag race.

BMW

i5 xDrive40 Touring G60

5,91kg/hpratio better by 2,90 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power394 hpPending
Torque590 Nm
Weight2 330 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainIntegrale (AWD)
GearboxAutomatic transmission, single-stage with fixed ratio
BMW

520d G30

8,82kg/hpcompensated by −655 kg
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power190 hp4 cyl
Torque400 Nm
Weight1 675 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainPropulsion
GearboxEight-speed Steptronic transmission

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the i5 xDrive40 Touring hits 100 km/h in 5.49 s versus 7.17 s for the 520d. The instant torque of 590 Nm from the electric motor makes the difference. At this point, the i5 xDrive40 Touring leads by 1.68 s and sits roughly 3 m ahead.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the i5 xDrive40 Touring is doing 136 km/h against 117 km/h for the 520d. The gap is 0.69 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the i5 xDrive40 Touring crosses the line in 13.77 s versus 15.20 s. The 1.43 s gap represents roughly 56 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play

Past 400 metres, the i5 xDrive40 Touring continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 189 km/h versus 163 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the i5 xDrive40 Touring finishes in 24.85 s versus 28.10 s, with a 3.25 s lead. Despite a higher top speed (235 km/h), the 520d never recovers its launch deficit.

What the numbers don’t tell you

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the i5 xDrive40 Touring is capped at 215 km/h, the 520d at 235 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 12.01 seconds. The 1.68 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.

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Frequently asked questions

Over 0–100 km/h, i5 xDrive40 Touring G60 wins (5,49 s vs 7,17 s).

i5 xDrive40 Touring G60 goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 5,49 seconds (calibrated simulation).

i5 xDrive40 Touring G60: 394 hp, ratio 5,91 kg/hp. 520d G30: 190 hp, ratio 8,82 kg/hp.

i5 xDrive40 Touring G60: 215 km/h. 520d G30: 235 km/h.