Mercedes AMG S 63 E Performance W223 vs BMW i5 xDrive40 G60: which is truly faster?

Off the line, the AMG S 63 E Performance hits 100 km/h in 3.27 s versus 5.30 s for the i5 xDrive40. At this point, the AMG S 63 E Performance leads by 2.03 s and sits roughly 17 m ahead.

At 200 metres, the AMG S 63 E Performance is doing 165 km/h against 137 km/h for the i5 xDrive40. The gap is 1.61 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the AMG S 63 E Performance crosses the line in 11.12 s versus 13.59 s. The 2.47 s gap represents roughly 111 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Past 400 metres, the AMG S 63 E Performance continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 241 km/h versus 191 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the AMG S 63 E Performance finishes in 20.09 s versus 24.58 s, with a 4.49 s lead.

The AMG S 63 E Performance features all-wheel drive (AWD) against the i5 xDrive40’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 AMG S 63 E Performance is capped at 250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) km/h, the i5 xDrive40 at 215 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.

With two plug-in hybrid powertrains, the difference comes down to power-to-weight ratio (3.24 kg/hp vs 5.79 kg/hp) and transmission (Unknown vs Automatic).

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 8.09 seconds. The 2.03 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.