BMW X3 xDrive30d G01 vs BMW i3s I01: which is truly faster?

Off the line, the X3 xDrive30d hits 100 km/h in 5.62 s versus 6.81 s for the i3s. Despite lacking instant torque, 286 hp of power compensates. At this point, the X3 xDrive30d leads by 1.19 s and sits roughly 17 m ahead.

At 200 metres, the X3 xDrive30d is doing 130 km/h against 124 km/h for the i3s. The gap is 0.83 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the X3 xDrive30d crosses the line in 13.96 s versus 15.05 s. The 1.08 s gap represents roughly 45 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Past 400 metres, the X3 xDrive30d continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 180 km/h versus 160 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the X3 xDrive30d finishes in 25.66 s versus 28.59 s, with a 2.93 s lead.

The X3 xDrive30d features all-wheel drive (AWD) against the i3s’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 X3 xDrive30d is capped at 245 km/h, the i3s at 160 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 10.76 seconds. The 1.19 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.