BMW 220i F22 vs BMW i3s I01: which is truly faster?

Off the line, the i3s hits 100 km/h in 6.81 s versus 7.48 s for the 220i. The instant torque of 270 Nm from the electric motor makes the difference. At this point, the i3s leads by 0.67 s and sits roughly 13 m ahead.

At 200 metres, the i3s is doing 124 km/h against 124 km/h for the 220i. The gap is 0.52 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the i3s crosses the line in 15.05 s versus 15.53 s. The 0.48 s gap represents roughly 21 m of track - two to three car lengths.

Past 400 metres, the situation changes. The i3s maxes out at 160 km/h while the 220i keeps accelerating towards 229 km/h. At 600 metres, the gap has dropped to 0.34 s.

Around 752 metres, both vehicles are level. This is the inversion point: the 220i overcomes its launch deficit thanks to a 69 km/h higher top speed.

At 1,000 metres, the 220i finishes in 27.73 s versus 28.59 s. The 0.86 s delta in favour of the 220i shows that top speed makes a clear difference.

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the 220i is capped at 229 km/h, the i3s at 160 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 11.25 seconds. The 0.67 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.