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A118dvsBADiesel
  • MotorwayMotorwayRange and charging
  • PerformancePerformance0-100, top speed
  • ConsumptionConsumptionYearly cost
  • Specs118d · A

BMW 118d F20LCI vs Mercedes A 200 d W177: 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 2019 · Methodology
BMWDiesel

118d F20LCI

150 hp · 320 Nm · 1,395 kg · 2018

VS
MercedesDieselFaster

A 200 d W177

150 hp · 320 Nm · 1,430 kg · 2019

Result · 0–100 km/h

ABMW 118d F20LCI

8.51 s

Gap0.23 sin favour of A 200 d
BMercedes A 200 d W177

8.28 s

Summary · Caralogy simulation
Measure118d F20LCIA 200 d W177Gap
0–100 km/h8.51 s8.28 s0.23 s · A 200 d W177
400 m standing start16.27 s16.10 s0.17 s · A 200 d W177
1,000 m standing start29.62 s29.00 s0.62 s · A 200 d W177
Top speed (electronically limited)212 km/h220 km/h8 km/h · A 200 d W177
Power-to-weight ratio9.30 kg/hp9.53 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
MercedesDieselA 200 d W177
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 F20LCIA 200 d W177
0–30 km/h2.00 s · tight gap2.08 s
0–50 km/h3.28 s3.21 s · tight gap
0–80 km/h5.95 s5.85 s · tight gap
0–100 km/h8.51 s8.28 s
0–120 km/h11.72 s11.16 s
0–160 km/h21.88 s19.91 s
0–200 km/h47.74 s36.61 s
400 m standing start16.27 s16.10 s
1,000 m standing start29.62 s29.00 s
Top speed212 km/h220 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 0,23 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power150 hp4 cyl
Torque320 Nm
Weight1 395 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
Drivetrain-
Gearbox6-speed manual (8-speed Steptronic)
Mercedes

A 200 d W177

9,53kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power150 hpPending
Torque320 Nm
Weight1 430 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainTraction
Gearbox8G-DCT dual-clutch

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the A 200 d hits 100 km/h in 8.28 s versus 8.51 s for the 118d. The 0.23 s gap is negligible: both vehicles are neck and neck.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the A 200 d is doing 117 km/h against 114 km/h for the 118d. The gap is 0.06 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the A 200 d crosses the line in 16.10 s versus 16.27 s. The 0.17 s gap represents roughly 7 m of track - barely a car length.

Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play

Past 400 metres, the A 200 d continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 163 km/h versus 158 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the A 200 d finishes in 29.00 s versus 29.61 s, with a 0.61 s lead. Both vehicles have similar top speeds (212 vs 220 km/h), preventing any comeback.

What the numbers don’t tell you

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the 118d is capped at 212 km/h, the A 200 d at 220 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 combustion powertrains, the difference comes down to power-to-weight ratio (9.30 kg/hp vs 9.53 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Automatic).

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 13.72 seconds. The 0.23 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 118d xDriveBMW 120d xDriveBMW 120d
Instead of A 200 d W177
Audi A3 Sportback

Other duels you might be interested in

BMWVSAudi

118d vs A3 Sedan

BMWVSMercedes

118d vs A 200 d

BMWVSAudi

118d vs A3 Sportback

BMWVSMercedes

118d vs A 200 d

Frequently asked questions

Over 0–100 km/h, A 200 d W177 wins (8,28 s vs 8,51 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. A 200 d W177: 150 hp, ratio 9,53 kg/hp.

118d F20LCI: 212 km/h. A 200 d W177: 220 km/h.