BMW Z4 M40i G29 vs BMW 225xe Active Tourer F44: which is truly faster?

Off the line, the Z4 M40i hits 100 km/h in 4.55 s versus 6.83 s for the 225xe Active Tourer. Despite lacking instant torque, 340 hp of power compensates. At this point, the Z4 M40i leads by 2.29 s and sits roughly 17 m ahead.

At 200 metres, the Z4 M40i is doing 147 km/h against 124 km/h for the 225xe Active Tourer. The gap is 1.46 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the Z4 M40i crosses the line in 12.71 s versus 14.97 s. The 2.26 s gap represents roughly 93 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Past 400 metres, the Z4 M40i continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 204 km/h versus 172 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the Z4 M40i finishes in 23.00 s versus 27.17 s, with a 4.17 s lead.

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the Z4 M40i is capped at 250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) km/h, the 225xe Active Tourer at 202 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 10.70 seconds. The 2.29 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.