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
A520ePHEVvsBCooperBEV
  • MotorwayMotorwayRange and charging
  • PerformancePerformance0-100, top speed
  • ConsumptionConsumptionYearly cost
  • Specs520e · Cooper

BMW 520e G30 vs MINI Cooper SE FWD: 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.

grand tourer · 2021 vs 2021 · Methodology
BMWPHEV

520e G30

204 hp · 350 Nm · 1,900 kg · 2021

VS
MINIBEVFaster

Cooper SE FWD

184 hp · 270 Nm · 1,365 kg · 2021

Result · 0–100 km/h

ABMW 520e G30

8.07 s

Gap0.75 sin favour of Cooper SE FWD
BMINI Cooper SE FWD

7.32 s

Summary · Caralogy simulation
Measure520e G30Cooper SE FWDGap
0–100 km/h8.07 s7.32 s0.75 s · Cooper SE FWD
400 m standing start15.87 s15.46 s0.41 s · Cooper SE FWD
1,000 m standing start29.49 s29.86 s0.37 s · 520e G30
Top speed (electronically limited)213 km/h150 km/h63 km/h · 520e G30
Power-to-weight ratio9.31 kg/hp7.42 kg/hpbetter ratio · Cooper SE FWD

Watch the race

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

BMWPHEV520e G30
Speed
0km/h
Timer
0,00s
Distance
0m
MINIBEVCooper SE FWD
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.
Stage520e G30Cooper SE FWD
0–30 km/h1.44 s2.03 s
0–50 km/h2.58 s3.40 s
0–80 km/h5.37 s · tight gap5.51 s
0–100 km/h8.07 s7.32 s
0–120 km/h11.61 s9.71 s
0–160 km/h22.82 s-
0–200 km/h52.29 s-
400 m standing start15.87 s15.46 s
1,000 m standing start29.49 s29.86 s
Top speed213 km/h150 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

520e G30

9,31kg/hpcompensated by −535 kg
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power204 hp4 cyl
Torque350 Nm
Weight1 900 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainPropulsion
GearboxEight-speed Steptronic transmission
MINI

Cooper SE FWD

7,42kg/hpratio better by 1,90 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power184 hpPending
Torque270 Nm
Weight1 365 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainTraction
GearboxSingle-speed fixed gear

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the Cooper SE FWD hits 100 km/h in 7.32 s versus 8.07 s for the 520e. Despite the faster sprint time, the 520e is 10 m further along the track at this moment: stronger low-speed acceleration offsets a slower run beyond 100 km/h.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the 520e is doing 113 km/h against 124 km/h for the Cooper SE FWD. The gap is 0.11 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the Cooper SE FWD crosses the line in 15.46 s versus 15.86 s. The 0.40 s gap represents roughly 16 m of track - two to three car lengths.

Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play

Past 400 metres, the situation changes. The Cooper SE FWD maxes out at 150 km/h while the 520e keeps accelerating towards 213 km/h. At 600 metres, the gap has dropped to 0.51 s.

Around 880 metres, both vehicles are level. This is the inversion point: the 520e overcomes its launch deficit thanks to a 63 km/h higher top speed.

At 1,000 metres, the 520e finishes in 29.49 s versus 29.86 s. The 0.37 s delta shows an extremely tight race.

What the numbers don’t tell you

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the 520e is capped at 218 km/h, the Cooper SE FWD at 150 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 plug-in hybrid powertrains, the difference comes down to power-to-weight ratio (9.31 kg/hp vs 7.42 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Automatic).

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 13.80 seconds. The 0.75 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.

Other duels you might be interested in

AudiVSBMW

A6 Avant e-hybrid quattro S tronic 220 kW vs 520e

MINIVSBMW

Cooper SE FWD vs i3

AudiVSBMW

A6 Sedan e-hybrid quattro S tronic 220 kW vs 520e

BYDVSMINI

Dolphin Boost 150kW vs Cooper SE FWD

Frequently asked questions

Over 0–100 km/h, Cooper SE FWD wins (7,32 s vs 8,07 s).

520e G30 goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 8,07 seconds (calibrated simulation).

520e G30: 204 hp, ratio 9,31 kg/hp. Cooper SE FWD: 184 hp, ratio 7,42 kg/hp.

520e G30: 213 km/h. Cooper SE FWD: 150 km/h.