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
A320dDieselvsB218iPetrol
  • MotorwayMotorwayRange and charging
  • PerformancePerformance0-100, top speed
  • ConsumptionConsumptionYearly cost
  • Specs320d · 218i

BMW 320d xDrive G20 vs BMW 218i F22: 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 2018 · Methodology
BMWDieselFaster

320d xDrive G20

190 hp · 400 Nm · 1,540 kg · 2019

VS
BMWPetrol

218i F22

140 hp · 220 Nm · 1,355 kg · 2018

Result · 0–100 km/h

ABMW 320d xDrive G20

6.97 s

Gap2.47 sin favour of 320d xDrive
BBMW 218i F22

9.44 s

Summary · Caralogy simulation
Measure320d xDrive G20218i F22Gap
0–100 km/h6.97 s9.44 s2.47 s · 320d xDrive G20
400 m standing start15.09 s17.00 s1.91 s · 320d xDrive G20
1,000 m standing start27.84 s30.74 s2.90 s · 320d xDrive G20
Top speed (electronically limited)232 km/h205 km/h27 km/h · 320d xDrive G20
Power-to-weight ratio8.11 kg/hp9.68 kg/hpbetter ratio · 320d xDrive G20

Watch the race

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

BMWDiesel320d xDrive G20
Speed
0km/h
Timer
0,00s
Distance
0m
BMWPetrol218i F22
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 xDrive G20218i F22
0–30 km/h1.35 s2.30 s
0–50 km/h2.38 s3.85 s
0–80 km/h4.78 s6.75 s
0–100 km/h6.97 s9.44 s
0–120 km/h9.84 s12.97 s
0–160 km/h18.31 s24.54 s
0–200 km/h34.62 s66.35 s
400 m standing start15.09 s17.00 s
1,000 m standing start27.84 s30.74 s
Top speed232 km/h205 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 xDrive G20

8,11kg/hpratio better by 1,57 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power190 hpPending
Torque400 Nm
Weight1 540 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainIntegrale (AWD)
GearboxEight-speed Steptronic transmission
BMW

218i F22

9,68kg/hpcompensated by −185 kg
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power140 hp3 cyl
Torque220 Nm
Weight1 355 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
Drivetrain-
Gearbox6-speed manual (7-speed Steptronic with double clutch)

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the 320d xDrive hits 100 km/h in 6.97 s versus 9.44 s for the 218i. At this point, the 320d xDrive leads by 2.47 s and sits roughly 31 m ahead.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the 320d xDrive is doing 119 km/h against 111 km/h for the 218i. The gap is 1.52 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the 320d xDrive crosses the line in 15.09 s versus 16.99 s. The 1.91 s gap represents roughly 71 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play

Past 400 metres, the 320d xDrive continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 165 km/h versus 153 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the 320d xDrive finishes in 27.84 s versus 30.73 s, with a 2.90 s lead.

What the numbers don’t tell you

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the 320d xDrive is capped at 233 km/h, the 218i at 205 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 (8.11 kg/hp vs 9.68 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Automatic).

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 15.17 seconds. The 2.47 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.

Compare with other alternatives

Swap one of the two models to explore an equivalent duel in the same segment.

Instead of 320d xDrive G20
Audi A3 Sedan

Other duels you might be interested in

AudiVSBMW

A4 40 TDI vs 320d xDrive

AudiVSBMW

A3 allstreet vs 218i

VolvoVSBMW

S60 B4 vs 320d xDrive

AudiVSBMW

A3 allstreet vs 218i

Frequently asked questions

Over 0–100 km/h, 320d xDrive G20 wins (6,97 s vs 9,44 s).

320d xDrive G20 goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 6,97 seconds (calibrated simulation).

320d xDrive G20: 190 hp, ratio 8,11 kg/hp. 218i F22: 140 hp, ratio 9,68 kg/hp.

320d xDrive G20: 232 km/h. 218i F22: 205 km/h.