Skip to main content
CaralogyCaralogy
HomeBrandsRoad TripBudgetDuelGuides
Caralogy

The car comparison platform. Physics simulation, road trips, real costs.

Navigation
All brandsCar duelRunning costsMotorwayMethodology
Simulators
Motorway simulatorRunning costsPerformance duel
Brands
VolkswagenBMWMercedesToyotaTeslaAudi
FRENDEESIT
© 2026 Caralogy · All rights reserved
  1. Home
  2. /Duel
  3. /Sports Cars
A225dDieselvsB420iPetrol
  • MotorwayMotorwayRange and charging
  • PerformancePerformance0-100, top speed
  • ConsumptionConsumptionYearly cost
  • Specs225d · 420i

BMW 225d Convertible F22 vs BMW 420i F32: 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 2020 · Methodology
BMWDieselFaster

225d Convertible F22

224 hp · 450 Nm · 1,625 kg · 2018

VS
BMWPetrol

420i F32

184 hp · 300 Nm · 1,525 kg · 2020

Result · 0–100 km/h

ABMW 225d Convertible F22

6.54 s

Gap0.90 sin favour of 225d Convertible
BBMW 420i F32

7.44 s

Summary · Caralogy simulation
Measure225d Convertible F22420i F32Gap
0–100 km/h6.54 s7.44 s0.90 s · 225d Convertible F22
400 m standing start14.76 s15.38 s0.62 s · 225d Convertible F22
1,000 m standing start26.80 s28.23 s1.43 s · 225d Convertible F22
Top speed (electronically limited)231 km/h238 km/h7 km/h · 420i F32
Power-to-weight ratio7.25 kg/hp8.29 kg/hpbetter ratio · 225d Convertible F22

Watch the race

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

BMWDiesel225d Convertible F22
Speed
0km/h
Timer
0,00s
Distance
0m
BMWPetrol420i F32
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.
Stage225d Convertible F22420i F32
0–30 km/h1.75 s1.42 s
0–50 km/h2.84 s2.53 s
0–80 km/h4.75 s5.09 s
0–100 km/h6.54 s7.44 s
0–120 km/h8.83 s10.39 s
0–160 km/h15.48 s19.05 s
0–200 km/h27.94 s35.17 s
400 m standing start14.76 s15.38 s
1,000 m standing start26.80 s28.23 s
Top speed231 km/h238 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

225d Convertible F22

7,25kg/hpratio better by 1,03 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power224 hp4 cyl
Torque450 Nm
Weight1 625 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
Drivetrain-
Gearbox8-speed Steptronic
BMW

420i F32

8,29kg/hpcompensated by −100 kg
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power184 hp4 cyl
Torque300 Nm
Weight1 525 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
Drivetrain-
GearboxEight-speed Steptronic transmission

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the 225d Convertible hits 100 km/h in 6.54 s versus 7.44 s for the 420i. The 0.90 s gap is negligible: both vehicles are neck and neck.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the 225d Convertible is doing 127 km/h against 117 km/h for the 420i. The gap is 0.22 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the 225d Convertible crosses the line in 14.76 s versus 15.38 s. The 0.62 s gap represents roughly 25 m of track - two to three car lengths.

Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play

Past 400 metres, the 225d Convertible continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 175 km/h versus 163 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the 225d Convertible finishes in 26.79 s versus 28.23 s, with a 1.44 s lead. Both vehicles have similar top speeds (231 vs 238 km/h), preventing any comeback.

What the numbers don’t tell you

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the 225d Convertible is capped at 231 km/h, the 420i at 240 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 (7.25 kg/hp vs 8.29 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Automatic).

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 12.15 seconds. The 0.90 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.

Other duels you might be interested in

BMWVSAudi

225d Convertible vs A3 Sedan

AudiVSBMW

A4 40 TFSI vs 420i

BMWVSAudi

225d Convertible vs A3 Sportback

AudiVSBMW

A5 Avant vs 420i

Frequently asked questions

Over 0–100 km/h, 225d Convertible F22 wins (6,54 s vs 7,44 s).

225d Convertible F22 goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 6,54 seconds (calibrated simulation).

225d Convertible F22: 224 hp, ratio 7,25 kg/hp. 420i F32: 184 hp, ratio 8,29 kg/hp.

225d Convertible F22: 231 km/h. 420i F32: 238 km/h.