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A218dDieselvsB216iPetrol
  • MotorwayMotorwayRange and charging
  • PerformancePerformance0-100, top speed
  • ConsumptionConsumptionYearly cost
  • Specs218d · 216i

BMW 218d F22 vs BMW 216i F22: 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 2018 · Methodology
BMWDieselFaster

218d F22

150 hp · 350 Nm · 1,445 kg · 2018

VS
BMWPetrol

216i F22

109 hp · 190 Nm · 1,350 kg · 2018

Result · 0–100 km/h

ABMW 218d F22

8.85 s

Gap2.60 sin favour of 218d
BBMW 216i F22

11.45 s

Summary · Caralogy simulation
Measure218d F22216i F22Gap
0–100 km/h8.85 s11.45 s2.60 s · 218d F22
400 m standing start16.56 s18.27 s1.71 s · 218d F22
1,000 m standing start30.13 s33.03 s2.90 s · 218d F22
Top speed (electronically limited)210 km/h190 km/h20 km/h · 218d F22
Power-to-weight ratio9.63 kg/hp12.39 kg/hpbetter ratio · 218d F22

Watch the race

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

BMWDiesel218d F22
Speed
0km/h
Timer
0,00s
Distance
0m
BMWPetrol216i F22
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.
Stage218d F22216i F22
0–30 km/h2.11 s2.67 s
0–50 km/h3.45 s4.47 s
0–80 km/h6.26 s8.03 s
0–100 km/h8.85 s11.45 s
0–120 km/h12.29 s16.08 s
0–160 km/h23.20 s32.43 s
0–200 km/h53.82 s-
400 m standing start16.56 s18.27 s
1,000 m standing start30.13 s33.03 s
Top speed210 km/h190 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

218d F22

9,63kg/hpratio better by 2,75 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power150 hp4 cyl
Torque350 Nm
Weight1 445 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
Drivetrain-
Gearbox6-speed manual (8-speed Steptronic)
BMW

216i F22

12,39kg/hpcompensated by −95 kg
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power109 hp3 cyl
Torque190 Nm
Weight1 350 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
Drivetrain-
Gearbox6-speed manual

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the 218d hits 100 km/h in 8.85 s versus 11.45 s for the 216i. At this point, the 218d leads by 2.60 s and sits roughly 25 m ahead.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the 218d is doing 112 km/h against 103 km/h for the 216i. The gap is 1.21 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the 218d crosses the line in 16.56 s versus 18.27 s. The 1.71 s gap represents roughly 59 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play

Past 400 metres, the 218d continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 155 km/h versus 143 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the 218d finishes in 30.12 s versus 33.03 s, with a 2.91 s lead.

What the numbers don’t tell you

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the 218d is capped at 210 km/h, the 216i at 190 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 (9.63 kg/hp vs 12.39 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Manual).

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 19.01 seconds. The 2.60 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 218d F22
Audi A3 Sedan
Instead of 216i F22
Audi A3 Sedan

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218d vs A3 Sedan

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A3 Sedan vs 216i

BMWVSAudi

218d vs A3 Sportback

AudiVSBMW

A3 Sportback TFSI 85 kW vs 216i

Frequently asked questions

Over 0–100 km/h, 218d F22 wins (8,85 s vs 11,45 s).

218d F22 goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 8,85 seconds (calibrated simulation).

218d F22: 150 hp, ratio 9,63 kg/hp. 216i F22: 109 hp, ratio 12,39 kg/hp.

218d F22: 210 km/h. 216i F22: 190 km/h.