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A118dDieselvsBA3Petrol
  • MotorwayMotorwayRange and charging
  • PerformancePerformance0-100, top speed
  • ConsumptionConsumptionYearly cost
  • Specs118d · A3

BMW 118d F20LCI 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.

compact · 2018 vs 2026 · Methodology
BMWDieselFaster

118d F20LCI

150 hp · 320 Nm · 1,395 kg · 2018

VS
AudiPetrol

A3 Sedan

116 hp · 220 Nm · 1,315 kg · 2026

Result · 0–100 km/h

ABMW 118d F20LCI

8.51 s

Gap1.31 sin favour of 118d
BAudi A3 Sedan

9.82 s

Summary · Caralogy simulation
Measure118d F20LCIA3 SedanGap
0–100 km/h8.51 s9.82 s1.31 s · 118d F20LCI
400 m standing start16.27 s17.21 s0.94 s · 118d F20LCI
1,000 m standing start29.62 s31.15 s1.53 s · 118d F20LCI
Top speed (electronically limited)212 km/h215 km/h3 km/h · A3 Sedan
Power-to-weight ratio9.30 kg/hp11.34 kg/hpbetter ratio · 118d F20LCI

Watch the race

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

BMWDiesel118d F20LCI
Speed
0km/h
Timer
0,00s
Distance
0m
AudiPetrolA3 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. Best value in bold.
Stage118d F20LCIA3 Sedan
0–30 km/h2.00 s2.30 s
0–50 km/h3.28 s3.83 s
0–80 km/h5.95 s6.89 s
0–100 km/h8.51 s9.82 s
0–120 km/h11.72 s13.69 s
0–160 km/h21.88 s25.77 s
0–200 km/h47.74 s56.66 s
400 m standing start16.27 s17.21 s
1,000 m standing start29.62 s31.15 s
Top speed212 km/h215 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.

BMW

118d F20LCI

9,30kg/hpratio better by 2,04 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power150 hp4 cyl
Torque320 Nm
Weight1 395 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
Drivetrain-
Gearbox6-speed manual (8-speed Steptronic)
Audi

A3 Sedan

11,34kg/hpcompensated by −80 kg
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power116 hpPending
Torque220 Nm
Weight1 315 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainTraction
Gearbox7-speed S tronic

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the 118d hits 100 km/h in 8.51 s versus 9.82 s for the A3 Sedan. At this point, the 118d leads by 1.31 s and sits roughly 14 m ahead.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the 118d is doing 114 km/h against 108 km/h for the A3 Sedan. The gap is 0.65 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the 118d crosses the line in 16.27 s versus 17.21 s. The 0.94 s gap represents roughly 35 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play

Past 400 metres, the 118d continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 158 km/h versus 151 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the 118d finishes in 29.61 s versus 31.15 s, with a 1.53 s lead. Both vehicles have similar top speeds (212 vs 215 km/h), preventing any comeback.

What the numbers don’t tell you

Electronically capped at 212 km/h, the 118d 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 (9.30 kg/hp vs 11.34 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Automatic).

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 16.05 seconds. The 1.31 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 118d F20LCI
BMW 116iBMW 116BMW 116i
Instead of A3 Sedan
Audi A3 Sedan

Other duels you might be interested in

BMWVSAudi

118d vs A3 Sedan

BMWVSAudi

116 vs A3 Sedan

BMWVSAudi

118d vs A3 Sportback

AudiVSBMW

A3 Sedan vs 116i

Frequently asked questions

Over 0–100 km/h, 118d F20LCI wins (8,51 s vs 9,82 s).

118d F20LCI goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 8,51 seconds (calibrated simulation).

118d F20LCI: 150 hp, ratio 9,30 kg/hp. A3 Sedan: 116 hp, ratio 11,34 kg/hp.

118d F20LCI: 212 km/h. A3 Sedan: 215 km/h.