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A420dDieselvsBAPetrol
  • MotorwayMotorwayRange and charging
  • PerformancePerformance0-100, top speed
  • ConsumptionConsumptionYearly cost
  • Specs420d · A

BMW 420d G22 vs Mercedes A 200 W177: 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 · 2021 vs 2019 · Methodology
BMWDieselFaster

420d G22

190 hp · 400 Nm · 1,605 kg · 2021

VS
MercedesPetrol

A 200 W177

163 hp · 250 Nm · 1,375 kg · 2019

Result · 0–100 km/h

ABMW 420d G22

7.04 s

Gap1.04 sin favour of 420d
BMercedes A 200 W177

8.08 s

Summary · Caralogy simulation
Measure420d G22A 200 W177Gap
0–100 km/h7.04 s8.08 s1.04 s · 420d G22
400 m standing start15.11 s16.06 s0.95 s · 420d G22
1,000 m standing start27.78 s28.43 s0.65 s · 420d G22
Top speed (electronically limited)240 km/h225 km/h15 km/h · 420d G22
Power-to-weight ratio8.45 kg/hp8.44 kg/hpbetter ratio · A 200 W177

Watch the race

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

BMWDiesel420d G22
Speed
0km/h
Timer
0,00s
Distance
0m
MercedesPetrolA 200 W177
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.
Stage420d G22A 200 W177
0–30 km/h1.37 s2.58 s
0–50 km/h2.40 s3.88 s
0–80 km/h4.80 s5.99 s
0–100 km/h7.04 s8.08 s
0–120 km/h9.85 s10.60 s
0–160 km/h18.13 s18.03 s · tight gap
0–200 km/h33.30 s31.47 s
400 m standing start15.11 s16.06 s
1,000 m standing start27.78 s28.43 s
Top speed240 km/h225 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

420d G22

8,45kg/hpcompensated by −230 kg
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power190 hp4 cyl
Torque400 Nm
Weight1 605 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
Drivetrain-
GearboxEight-speed Steptronic transmission
Mercedes

A 200 W177

8,44kg/hpratio better by 0,01 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power163 hpPending
Torque250 Nm
Weight1 375 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainTraction
Gearbox7G-DCT dual-clutch

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the 420d hits 100 km/h in 7.04 s versus 8.08 s for the A 200. At this point, the 420d leads by 1.04 s and sits roughly 29 m ahead.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the 420d is doing 119 km/h against 121 km/h for the A 200. The gap is 1.06 s. The gap remains stable from the start.

At 400 metres standing start, the 420d crosses the line in 15.10 s versus 16.05 s. The 0.95 s gap represents roughly 39 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play

Past 400 metres, the gap narrows. The A 200 maxes out at 225 km/h while the 420d keeps accelerating towards 240 km/h. At 600 metres, the gap is down to 0.84 s from 0.95 s at 400 metres.

At 1,000 metres, the 420d finishes in 27.77 s versus 28.42 s, with just 0.65 s to spare. The A 200 fails to fully close the launch gap.

What the numbers don’t tell you

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the 420d is capped at 240 km/h, the A 200 at 225 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 (8.45 kg/hp vs 8.44 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Automatic).

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 12.11 seconds. The 1.04 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.

Other duels you might be interested in

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VolvoVSBMW

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MercedesVSAudi

A 200 vs A3 allstreet

Frequently asked questions

Over 0–100 km/h, 420d G22 wins (7,04 s vs 8,08 s).

420d G22 goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 7,04 seconds (calibrated simulation).

420d G22: 190 hp, ratio 8,45 kg/hp. A 200 W177: 163 hp, ratio 8,44 kg/hp.

420d G22: 240 km/h. A 200 W177: 225 km/h.