Bmw 120i vs Nissan Leaf 40kWh ZE1 : which one is faster?
0-100 km/h, 400 m, 1000 m, top speed — physics simulation calibrated on 7 measures.
Simulation de performance
Race simulation at real speed
CONFIDENCE 96%Calibrated physics simulation: SCx via VMax, power curves, Crr via WLTP, drivetrain losses. Manufacturer 0-100 is the calibration target. Confidence 96 %.
Bmw 120i vs Leaf 40kWh ZE1: chronicle of a drag race at 235 km/h
The launch: 0 to 100 km/h
Off the line, the Bmw 120i hits 100 km/h in 6.95 s versus 8.05 s for the Leaf 40kWh ZE1. Despite lacking instant torque, 178 hp of power compensates. At this point, the Bmw 120i leads by 1.10 s and sits roughly 11 m ahead.
From 100 km/h to 400 metres
At 200 metres, the Bmw 120i is doing 123 km/h against 116 km/h for the Leaf 40kWh ZE1. The gap is 0.60 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.
At 400 metres standing start, the Bmw 120i crosses the line in 15.05 s versus 16.03 s. The 0.98 s gap represents roughly 38 m of track — a gap visible to the naked eye.
Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play
Past 400 metres, the Bmw 120i continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 171 km/h versus 144 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the Bmw 120i finishes in 27.31 s versus 31.05 s, with a 3.74 s lead.
What the numbers don’t tell you
Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the Bmw 120i is capped at 235 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 13.39 seconds. The 1.10 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.
Bmw 120i has a clear edge over the Nissan Leaf 40kWh ZE1 to 100 km/h. This difference is clearly noticeable in spirited driving and widens on standing starts.