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A120dvsB216dDiesel
  • MotorwayMotorwayRange and charging
  • PerformancePerformance0-100, top speed
  • ConsumptionConsumptionYearly cost
  • Specs120d · 216d

BMW 120d F20LCI vs BMW 216d Gran Coupe F44: 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 2020 · Methodology
BMWDieselFaster

120d F20LCI

190 hp · 400 Nm · 1,415 kg · 2018

VS
BMWDiesel

216d Gran Coupe F44

116 hp · 270 Nm · 1,430 kg · 2020

Result · 0–100 km/h

ABMW 120d F20LCI

7.15 s

Gap3.24 sin favour of 120d
BBMW 216d Gran Coupe F44

10.39 s

Summary · Caralogy simulation
Measure120d F20LCI216d Gran Coupe F44Gap
0–100 km/h7.15 s10.39 s3.24 s · 120d F20LCI
400 m standing start15.30 s17.62 s2.32 s · 120d F20LCI
1,000 m standing start27.54 s31.81 s4.27 s · 120d F20LCI
Top speed (electronically limited)228 km/h200 km/h28 km/h · 120d F20LCI
Power-to-weight ratio7.45 kg/hp12.33 kg/hpbetter ratio · 120d F20LCI

Watch the race

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

BMWDiesel120d F20LCI
Speed
0km/h
Timer
0,00s
Distance
0m
BMWDiesel216d Gran Coupe F44
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.
Stage120d F20LCI216d Gran Coupe F44
0–30 km/h2.05 s2.52 s
0–50 km/h3.27 s4.12 s
0–80 km/h5.29 s7.30 s
0–100 km/h7.15 s10.39 s
0–120 km/h9.55 s14.45 s
0–160 km/h16.63 s27.64 s
0–200 km/h30.38 s69.77 s
400 m standing start15.30 s17.62 s
1,000 m standing start27.54 s31.81 s
Top speed228 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.

BMW

120d F20LCI

7,45kg/hpratio better by 4,88 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power190 hp4 cyl
Torque400 Nm
Weight1 415 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
Drivetrain-
Gearbox6-speed manual (8-speed Steptronic)
BMW

216d Gran Coupe F44

12,33kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power116 hp3 cyl
Torque270 Nm
Weight1 430 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
Drivetrain-
GearboxSeven-speed Steptronic dual-clutch transmission

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the 120d hits 100 km/h in 7.15 s versus 10.39 s for the 216d Gran Coupe. At this point, the 120d leads by 3.24 s and sits roughly 22 m ahead.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the 120d is doing 124 km/h against 107 km/h for the 216d Gran Coupe. The gap is 1.47 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the 120d crosses the line in 15.30 s versus 17.61 s. The 2.31 s gap represents roughly 82 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play

Past 400 metres, the 120d continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 172 km/h versus 148 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the 120d finishes in 27.53 s versus 31.80 s, with a 4.27 s lead.

What the numbers don’t tell you

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the 120d is capped at 228 km/h, the 216d Gran Coupe at 200 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 (7.45 kg/hp vs 12.33 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Automatic).

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 16.97 seconds. The 3.24 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.

Other duels you might be interested in

BMWVSAudi

120d vs A3 Sedan

AudiVSBMW

A3 Sedan vs 216d Gran Coupe

BMWVSAudi

120d vs A3 Sportback

AudiVSBMW

A3 Sportback vs 216d Gran Coupe

Frequently asked questions

Over 0–100 km/h, 120d F20LCI wins (7,15 s vs 10,39 s).

120d F20LCI goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 7,15 seconds (calibrated simulation).

120d F20LCI: 190 hp, ratio 7,45 kg/hp. 216d Gran Coupe F44: 116 hp, ratio 12,33 kg/hp.

120d F20LCI: 228 km/h. 216d Gran Coupe F44: 200 km/h.