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A218iPetrolvsB216dDiesel
  • MotorwayMotorwayRange and charging
  • PerformancePerformance0-100, top speed
  • ConsumptionConsumptionYearly cost
  • Specs218i · 216d

BMW 218i Gran Coupe F44 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 · 2021 vs 2020 · Methodology
BMWPetrolFaster

218i Gran Coupe F44

136 hp · 220 Nm · 1,350 kg · 2021

VS
BMWDiesel

216d Gran Coupe F44

116 hp · 270 Nm · 1,430 kg · 2020

Result · 0–100 km/h

ABMW 218i Gran Coupe F44

9.04 s

Gap1.35 sin favour of 218i Gran Coupe
BBMW 216d Gran Coupe F44

10.39 s

Summary · Caralogy simulation
Measure218i Gran Coupe F44216d Gran Coupe F44Gap
0–100 km/h9.04 s10.39 s1.35 s · 218i Gran Coupe F44
400 m standing start16.69 s17.62 s0.93 s · 218i Gran Coupe F44
1,000 m standing start30.25 s31.81 s1.56 s · 218i Gran Coupe F44
Top speed (electronically limited)215 km/h200 km/h15 km/h · 218i Gran Coupe F44
Power-to-weight ratio9.93 kg/hp12.33 kg/hpbetter ratio · 218i Gran Coupe F44

Watch the race

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

BMWPetrol218i Gran Coupe F44
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.
Stage218i Gran Coupe F44216d Gran Coupe F44
0–30 km/h2.12 s2.52 s
0–50 km/h3.54 s4.12 s
0–80 km/h6.40 s7.30 s
0–100 km/h9.04 s10.39 s
0–120 km/h12.60 s14.45 s
0–160 km/h23.30 s27.64 s
0–200 km/h49.20 s69.77 s
400 m standing start16.69 s17.62 s
1,000 m standing start30.25 s31.81 s
Top speed215 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

218i Gran Coupe F44

9,93kg/hpratio better by 2,40 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power136 hp3 cyl
Torque220 Nm
Weight1 350 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
Drivetrain-
GearboxSix-speed manual (seven-speed Steptronic dual-clutch transmission)
BMW

216d Gran Coupe F44

12,33kg/hpcompensated by −80 kg
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 218i Gran Coupe hits 100 km/h in 9.04 s versus 10.39 s for the 216d Gran Coupe. At this point, the 218i Gran Coupe leads by 1.35 s and sits roughly 15 m ahead.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the 218i Gran Coupe is doing 111 km/h against 107 km/h for the 216d Gran Coupe. The gap is 0.67 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the 218i Gran Coupe crosses the line in 16.69 s versus 17.61 s. The 0.92 s gap represents roughly 34 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play

Past 400 metres, the 218i Gran Coupe continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 155 km/h versus 148 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the 218i Gran Coupe finishes in 30.24 s versus 31.80 s, with a 1.56 s lead.

What the numbers don’t tell you

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the 218i Gran Coupe is capped at 215 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 (9.93 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 1.35 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.

Other duels you might be interested in

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A3 Sedan vs 216d Gran Coupe

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A3 allstreet vs 218i Gran Coupe

AudiVSBMW

A3 Sportback vs 216d Gran Coupe

Frequently asked questions

Over 0–100 km/h, 218i Gran Coupe F44 wins (9,04 s vs 10,39 s).

218i Gran Coupe F44 goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 9,04 seconds (calibrated simulation).

218i Gran Coupe F44: 136 hp, ratio 9,93 kg/hp. 216d Gran Coupe F44: 116 hp, ratio 12,33 kg/hp.

218i Gran Coupe F44: 215 km/h. 216d Gran Coupe F44: 200 km/h.