BMW 320e G20 vs Peugeot 508 PureTech 180 EAT8: which is truly faster?

Off the line, the 320e hits 100 km/h in 7.46 s versus 8.32 s for the 508 PureTech 180 EAT8. The instant torque of 350 Nm from the electric motor makes the difference. At this point, the 320e leads by 0.86 s and sits roughly 28 m ahead.

At 200 metres, the 320e is doing 115 km/h against 119 km/h for the 508 PureTech 180 EAT8. The gap is 0.99 s. The gap remains stable from the start.

At 400 metres standing start, the 320e crosses the line in 15.43 s versus 16.20 s. The 0.77 s gap represents roughly 31 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Past 400 metres, the gap narrows. The 320e maxes out at 215 km/h while the 508 PureTech 180 EAT8 keeps accelerating towards 238 km/h. At 600 metres, the gap is down to 0.52 s from 0.77 s at 400 metres.

At 1,000 metres, the 320e finishes in 28.77 s versus 28.78 s, with just 0.02 s to spare. The 508 PureTech 180 EAT8 fails to fully close the launch gap.

Electronically capped at 220 km/h, the 320e 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.

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 12.74 seconds. The 0.86 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.