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AA3PetrolvsB116dDiesel
  • MotorwayMotorwayRange and charging
  • PerformancePerformance0-100, top speed
  • ConsumptionConsumptionYearly cost
  • SpecsA3 · 116d

Audi A3 Sedan vs BMW 116d F20LCI: 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.

compact · 2026 vs 2018 · Methodology
AudiPetrolFaster

A3 Sedan

150 hp · 250 Nm · 1,290 kg · 2026

VS
BMWDiesel

116d F20LCI

116 hp · 270 Nm · 1,365 kg · 2018

Result · 0–100 km/h

AAudi A3 Sedan

8.22 s

Gap2.36 sin favour of A3 Sedan
BBMW 116d F20LCI

10.58 s

Summary · Caralogy simulation
MeasureA3 Sedan116d F20LCIGap
0–100 km/h8.22 s10.58 s2.36 s · A3 Sedan
400 m standing start16.10 s17.78 s1.68 s · A3 Sedan
1,000 m standing start28.62 s31.99 s3.37 s · A3 Sedan
Top speed (electronically limited)240 km/h200 km/h40 km/h · A3 Sedan
Power-to-weight ratio8.60 kg/hp11.77 kg/hpbetter ratio · A3 Sedan

Watch the race

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

AudiPetrolA3 Sedan
Speed
0km/h
Timer
0,00s
Distance
0m
BMWDiesel116d F20LCI
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.
StageA3 Sedan116d F20LCI
0–30 km/h2.27 s2.64 s
0–50 km/h3.78 s4.33 s
0–80 km/h6.06 s7.52 s
0–100 km/h8.22 s10.58 s
0–120 km/h10.86 s14.62 s
0–160 km/h18.59 s27.94 s
0–200 km/h32.84 s76.30 s
400 m standing start16.10 s17.78 s
1,000 m standing start28.62 s31.99 s
Top speed240 km/h200 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.

Audi

A3 Sedan

8,60kg/hpratio better by 3,17 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power150 hpPending
Torque250 Nm
Weight1 290 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainTraction
Gearbox6-speed manual gearbox
BMW

116d F20LCI

11,77kg/hpcompensated by −75 kg
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power116 hp3 cyl
Torque270 Nm
Weight1 365 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
Drivetrain-
Gearbox6-speed manual (8-speed Steptronic)

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the A3 Sedan hits 100 km/h in 8.22 s versus 10.58 s for the 116d. At this point, the A3 Sedan leads by 2.36 s and sits roughly 18 m ahead.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the A3 Sedan is doing 119 km/h against 107 km/h for the 116d. The gap is 1.03 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the A3 Sedan crosses the line in 16.09 s versus 17.78 s. The 1.69 s gap represents roughly 60 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play

Past 400 metres, the A3 Sedan continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 168 km/h versus 148 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the A3 Sedan finishes in 28.62 s versus 31.98 s, with a 3.37 s lead.

What the numbers don’t tell you

Electronically capped at 200 km/h, the 116d never reaches its natural aerodynamic ceiling in this duel. That’s not a physical limit of the motor - it’s a deliberate manufacturer decision, typically tied to standard-fit tyre ratings or model-range positioning.

With two combustion powertrains, the difference comes down to power-to-weight ratio (8.60 kg/hp vs 11.77 kg/hp) and transmission (Manual vs Automatic).

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 17.16 seconds. The 2.36 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.

Compare with other alternatives

Swap one of the two models to explore an equivalent duel in the same segment.

Instead of A3 Sedan
Audi A3 Sedan
Instead of 116d F20LCI
BMW 118iBMW 118iBMW 118i

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AudiVSBMW

A3 Sportback vs 116d

Frequently asked questions

Over 0–100 km/h, A3 Sedan wins (8,22 s vs 10,58 s).

A3 Sedan goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 8,22 seconds (calibrated simulation).

A3 Sedan: 150 hp, ratio 8,60 kg/hp. 116d F20LCI: 116 hp, ratio 11,77 kg/hp.

A3 Sedan: 240 km/h. 116d F20LCI: 200 km/h.