DS DS3 Crossback PureTech 155 EAT8 vs Bmw 218i Steptronic : 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 94%Reading the duel
At 400 m, Bmw 218i Steptronic leads by 0.32 s. At 1 000 m, DS DS3 Crossback PureTech 155 EAT8 takes the lead by 0.37 s.
Calibrated physics simulation: SCx via VMax, power curves, Crr via WLTP, drivetrain losses. Manufacturer 0-100 is the calibration target. Confidence 94 %.
DS3 Crossback PureTech 155 EAT8 vs Bmw 218i Steptronic: chronicle of a drag race at 214 km/h
The launch: 0 to 100 km/h
Off the line, the Bmw 218i Steptronic hits 100 km/h in 8.78 s versus 9.00 s for the DS3 Crossback PureTech 155 EAT8. At this point, the Bmw 218i Steptronic leads by 0.22 s and sits roughly 20 m ahead.
From 100 km/h to 400 metres
At 200 metres, the Bmw 218i Steptronic is doing 112 km/h against 118 km/h for the DS3 Crossback PureTech 155 EAT8. The gap is 0.62 s. The gap widens compared to the 0-100.
At 400 metres standing start, the Bmw 218i Steptronic crosses the line in 16.44 s versus 16.76 s. The 0.32 s gap represents roughly 13 m of track — two to three car lengths.
Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play
Past 400 metres, the situation changes. Past 400 metres, both rivals hit the same electronic ceiling at 210 km/h. Neither can claw back ground through top speed — the outcome hinges on the acceleration curve between 100 and 210 km/h.
At 1,000 metres, the DS3 Crossback PureTech 155 EAT8 finishes in 29.59 s versus 29.97 s. The 0.38 s delta shows an extremely tight race.
What the numbers don’t tell you
On paper, the DS3 Crossback PureTech 155 EAT8 combines 156 hp, 240 Nm and 1,230 kg — a clear theoretical edge over the Bmw 218i Steptronic. Yet the Bmw 218i Steptronic launches quicker. At standstill, both motors deliver peak torque from 0 rpm: the decisive factor is no longer raw power, but available grip. If the Bmw 218i Steptronic has a better traction coefficient (tyres, weight distribution, traction control calibration), it puts down more force despite inferior specs — exactly what the simulation reflects, calibrated on manufacturer 0-100 km/h times.
Electronically capped at 210 km/h, the Bmw 218i Steptronic 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 (7.88 kg/hp vs 10.55 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Automatic).
In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 14.37 seconds. The 0.22 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.
DS DS3 Crossback PureTech 155 EAT8 and Bmw 218i Steptronic are virtually tied to 100 km/h. The gap is under a tenth of a second — only the physics engine can settle it step by step.