BMW 118d F20LCI vs Nissan Leaf 40kWh ZE1: which is truly faster?

Off the line, the Leaf 40kWh ZE1 hits 100 km/h in 8.05 s versus 8.51 s for the Bmw 118d. The instant torque of 320 Nm from the electric motor makes the difference. At this point, the Leaf 40kWh ZE1 leads by 0.46 s and sits roughly 5 m ahead.

At 200 metres, the Leaf 40kWh ZE1 is doing 116 km/h against 114 km/h for the Bmw 118d. The gap is 0.22 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the Leaf 40kWh ZE1 crosses the line in 16.03 s versus 16.27 s. The 0.23 s gap represents roughly 9 m of track - barely a car length.

Past 400 metres, the situation changes. The Leaf 40kWh ZE1 maxes out at 144 km/h while the Bmw 118d keeps accelerating towards 212 km/h. At 600 metres, the gap has dropped to 0.02 s.

Around 612 metres, both vehicles are level. This is the inversion point: the Bmw 118d overcomes its launch deficit thanks to a 68 km/h higher top speed.

At 1,000 metres, the Bmw 118d finishes in 29.61 s versus 31.05 s. The 1.43 s delta in favour of the Bmw 118d shows that top speed makes a clear difference.

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the Bmw 118d is capped at 212 km/h, the Leaf 40kWh ZE1 at 144 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.

Instant electric torque gives an advantage off the line. The higher top speed of the combustion engine gives an advantage over longer distances. The distance at which one catches the other depends on the top speed differential.

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 13.72 seconds. The 0.46 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.