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A120dDieselvsB308Petrol
  • MotorwayMotorwayRange and charging
  • PerformancePerformance0-100, top speed
  • ConsumptionConsumptionYearly cost
  • Specs120d · 308

BMW 120d F20LCI vs Peugeot 308 PureTech 130: 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 2017 · Methodology
BMWDieselFaster

120d F20LCI

190 hp · 400 Nm · 1,415 kg · 2018

VS
PeugeotPetrol

308 PureTech 130

131 hp · 230 Nm · 1,220 kg · 2017

Result · 0–100 km/h

ABMW 120d F20LCI

7.15 s

Gap2.63 sin favour of 120d
BPeugeot 308 PureTech 130

9.78 s

Summary · Caralogy simulation
Measure120d F20LCI308 PureTech 130Gap
0–100 km/h7.15 s9.78 s2.63 s · 120d F20LCI
400 m standing start15.30 s17.34 s2.04 s · 120d F20LCI
1,000 m standing start27.54 s30.64 s3.10 s · 120d F20LCI
Top speed (electronically limited)228 km/h217 km/h11 km/h · 120d F20LCI
Power-to-weight ratio7.45 kg/hp9.31 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
PeugeotPetrol308 PureTech 130
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 F20LCI308 PureTech 130
0–30 km/h2.05 s2.76 s
0–50 km/h3.27 s4.61 s
0–80 km/h5.29 s7.37 s
0–100 km/h7.15 s9.78 s
0–120 km/h9.55 s12.98 s
0–160 km/h16.63 s22.75 s
0–200 km/h30.38 s45.99 s
400 m standing start15.30 s17.34 s
1,000 m standing start27.54 s30.64 s
Top speed228 km/h217 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 1,87 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power190 hp4 cyl
Torque400 Nm
Weight1 415 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
Drivetrain-
Gearbox6-speed manual (8-speed Steptronic)
Peugeot

308 PureTech 130

9,31kg/hpcompensated by −195 kg
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power131 hp3 cyl
Torque230 Nm
Weight1 220 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainTraction
Gearbox6-speed automatic (EAT6)

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the 120d hits 100 km/h in 7.15 s versus 9.78 s for the 308 PureTech 130. At this point, the 120d leads by 2.63 s and sits roughly 28 m ahead.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the 120d is doing 124 km/h against 113 km/h for the 308 PureTech 130. The gap is 1.54 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the 120d crosses the line in 15.30 s versus 17.34 s. The 2.04 s gap represents roughly 77 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 158 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the 120d finishes in 27.53 s versus 30.64 s, with a 3.10 s lead. Both vehicles have similar top speeds (228 vs 217 km/h), preventing any comeback.

What the numbers don’t tell you

Electronically capped at 228 km/h, the 120d 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 (7.45 kg/hp vs 9.31 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Automatic).

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 14.90 seconds. The 2.63 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 120d F20LCI
BMW 118i

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120d vs A3 Sportback

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308 PureTech 130 vs Civic

Frequently asked questions

Over 0–100 km/h, 120d F20LCI wins (7,15 s vs 9,78 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. 308 PureTech 130: 131 hp, ratio 9,31 kg/hp.

120d F20LCI: 228 km/h. 308 PureTech 130: 217 km/h.