Xpeng P7 vs BMW 320i G20: which is truly faster?

Off the line, the P7 hits 100 km/h in 6.58 s versus 7.05 s for the Bmw 320i. The instant torque of 390 Nm from the electric motor makes the difference. Despite the faster sprint time, the Bmw 320i is 5 m further along the track at this moment: stronger low-speed acceleration offsets a slower run beyond 100 km/h.

At 200 metres, the Bmw 320i is doing 119 km/h against 127 km/h for the P7. The gap is 0.00 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the P7 crosses the line in 14.81 s versus 15.11 s. The 0.30 s gap represents roughly 12 m of track - two to three car lengths.

Past 400 metres, the gap narrows. The P7 maxes out at 170 km/h while the Bmw 320i keeps accelerating towards 234 km/h. At 600 metres, the gap is down to 0.53 s from 0.30 s at 400 metres.

At 1,000 metres, the P7 finishes in 27.64 s versus 27.81 s, with just 0.17 s to spare. The Bmw 320i fails to fully close the launch gap.

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the P7 is capped at 170 km/h, the Bmw 320i at 235 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 11.54 seconds. The 0.47 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.