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. /Sedans
A320dvsB218dDiesel
  • MotorwayMotorwayRange and charging
  • PerformancePerformance0-100, top speed
  • ConsumptionConsumptionYearly cost
  • Specs320d · 218d

BMW 320d G20 vs BMW 218d xDrive 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.

saloon · 2019 vs 2021 · Methodology
BMWDieselFaster

320d G20

190 hp · 400 Nm · 1,450 kg · 2019

VS
BMWDiesel

218d xDrive F44

150 hp · 350 Nm · 1,545 kg · 2021

Result · 0–100 km/h

ABMW 320d G20

7.03 s

Gap2.01 sin favour of 320d
BBMW 218d xDrive F44

9.04 s

Summary · Caralogy simulation
Measure320d G20218d xDrive F44Gap
0–100 km/h7.03 s9.04 s2.01 s · 320d G20
400 m standing start15.13 s16.55 s1.42 s · 320d G20
1,000 m standing start27.24 s30.52 s3.28 s · 320d G20
Top speed (electronically limited)240 km/h209 km/h31 km/h · 320d G20
Power-to-weight ratio7.63 kg/hp10.30 kg/hpbetter ratio · 320d G20

Watch the race

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

BMWDiesel320d G20
Speed
0km/h
Timer
0,00s
Distance
0m
BMWDiesel218d xDrive 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.
Stage320d G20218d xDrive F44
0–30 km/h1.81 s1.69 s · tight gap
0–50 km/h3.00 s · tight gap3.01 s
0–80 km/h5.11 s6.09 s
0–100 km/h7.03 s9.04 s
0–120 km/h9.49 s12.90 s
0–160 km/h16.32 s25.37 s
0–200 km/h28.13 s62.83 s
400 m standing start15.13 s16.55 s
1,000 m standing start27.24 s30.52 s
Top speed240 km/h209 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

320d G20

7,63kg/hpratio better by 2,67 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power190 hpPending
Torque400 Nm
Weight1 450 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
Drivetrain-
GearboxSix-speed manual
BMW

218d xDrive F44

10,30kg/hpcompensated by −95 kg
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power150 hp4 cyl
Torque350 Nm
Weight1 545 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainIntegrale (AWD)
Gearbox8-speed Steptronic

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the 320d hits 100 km/h in 7.03 s versus 9.04 s for the 218d xDrive. At this point, the 320d leads by 2.01 s and sits roughly 8 m ahead.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the 320d is doing 123 km/h against 109 km/h for the 218d xDrive. The gap is 0.70 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the 320d crosses the line in 15.13 s versus 16.54 s. The 1.42 s gap represents roughly 52 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play

Past 400 metres, the 320d continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 173 km/h versus 151 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the 320d finishes in 27.23 s versus 30.52 s, with a 3.28 s lead.

What the numbers don’t tell you

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the 320d is capped at 240 km/h, the 218d xDrive at 211 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 (7.63 kg/hp vs 10.30 kg/hp) and transmission (Manual vs Automatic).

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 15.31 seconds. The 2.01 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.

Other duels you might be interested in

AudiVSBMW

A4 40 TDI vs 320d

BMWVSAudi

218d xDrive vs A3 Sedan

VolvoVSBMW

S60 B4 vs 320d

BMWVSAudi

218d xDrive vs A3 Sportback

Frequently asked questions

Over 0–100 km/h, 320d G20 wins (7,03 s vs 9,04 s).

320d G20 goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 7,03 seconds (calibrated simulation).

320d G20: 190 hp, ratio 7,63 kg/hp. 218d xDrive F44: 150 hp, ratio 10,30 kg/hp.

320d G20: 240 km/h. 218d xDrive F44: 209 km/h.