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Home›Duel›BMW 218i vs Audi A3

Performance comparison

BMW 218i Convertible F44 vs Audi A3 Sedan: 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.

BMWPetrolFaster

218i Convertible F44

136 hp · 220 Nm · 1,560 kg · 2020

VS
AudiDiesel

A3 Sedan

116 hp · 300 Nm · 1,355 kg · 2026

MotorwayRange & chargingPerformance0-100, top speedConsumptionAnnual TCO

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.

218i Convertible F44A3 Sedan
0–100 km/h9,34 s−0,53 s9,87 s
400 m standing start16,79 s−0,42 s17,21 s
1,000 m standing start30,47 s−0,77 s31,24 s
Top speed (electronically limited)207 km/h215 km/h−8 km/h
Power-to-weight ratio11,47 kg/hpbetter ratio11,68 kg/hp

Watch the race

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

BMWPetrol218i Convertible F44
Speed
0km/h
Timer
0,00s
Distance
0m
AudiDieselA3 Sedan
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. Winner in green.

Palier218i Convertible F44A3 Sedan
0–30 km/h2,04 s2,22 s
0–50 km/h3,42 s3,75 s
0–80 km/h6,56 s6,86 s
0–100 km/h9,34 s9,87 s
0–120 km/h12,87 s13,82 s
0–160 km/h24,00 s26,28 s
0–200 km/h49,95 s58,04 s
400 m standing start16,79 s17,21 s
1,000 m standing start30,47 s31,24 s
Top speed207 km/h215 km/h

Under the bonnet

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

BMW

218i Convertible F44

11,47kg/hpratio better by 0,21 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power136 hp4 cyl
Torque220 Nm
Weight1 560 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
Drivetrain218i Convertible
Gearbox6-speed manual (8-speed Steptronic transmission)
Audi

A3 Sedan

11,68kg/hpcompensated by −205 kg
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power116 hpPending
Torque300 Nm
Weight1 355 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainTraction
Gearbox6-speed manual gearbox

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the Bmw 218i Convertible hits 100 km/h in 9.34 s versus 9.87 s for the A3 Sedan. At this point, the Bmw 218i Convertible leads by 0.53 s and sits roughly 7 m ahead.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the Bmw 218i Convertible is doing 110 km/h against 108 km/h for the A3 Sedan. The gap is 0.30 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the Bmw 218i Convertible crosses the line in 16.78 s versus 17.21 s. The 0.42 s gap represents roughly 16 m of track — two to three car lengths.

Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play

Past 400 metres, the Bmw 218i Convertible continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 154 km/h versus 150 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the Bmw 218i Convertible finishes in 30.47 s versus 31.24 s, with a 0.77 s lead. Both vehicles have similar top speeds (207 vs 215 km/h), preventing any comeback.

What the numbers don’t tell you

Electronically capped at 207 km/h, the Bmw 218i Convertible 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 (11.47 kg/hp vs 11.68 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Manual).

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 16.25 seconds. The 0.53 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 218i Convertible F44
Bmw 218i ConvertibleBmw 218i ConvertibleBmw 218d Convertible
Instead of A3 Sedan
Bmw 218dBmw 318d SteptronicBmw 218d xDrive

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Frequently asked questions

Sur 0–100 km/h, 218i Convertible F44 gagne (9,34 s vs 9,87 s).

218i Convertible F44 passe de 0 à 100 km/h en 9,34 secondes (simulation calibrée).

218i Convertible F44 : 136 hp, ratio 11,47 kg/hp. A3 Sedan : 116 hp, ratio 11,68 kg/hp.

218i Convertible F44 : 207 km/h. A3 Sedan : 215 km/h.