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
A525dvsB320dDiesel
  • MotorwayMotorwayRange and charging
  • PerformancePerformance0-100, top speed
  • ConsumptionConsumptionYearly cost
  • Specs525d · 320d

BMW 525d G30 vs BMW 320d Steptronic G20: 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 · 2018 vs 2019 · Methodology
BMWDieselFaster

525d G30

231 hp · 500 Nm · 1,595 kg · 2018

VS
BMWDiesel

320d Steptronic G20

190 hp · 400 Nm · 1,455 kg · 2019

Result · 0–100 km/h

ABMW 525d G30

6.69 s

Gap0.28 sin favour of 525d
BBMW 320d Steptronic G20

6.97 s

Summary · Caralogy simulation
Measure525d G30320d Steptronic G20Gap
0–100 km/h6.69 s6.97 s0.28 s · 525d G30
400 m standing start14.83 s15.11 s0.28 s · 525d G30
1,000 m standing start26.50 s27.70 s1.20 s · 525d G30
Top speed (electronically limited)250 km/h237 km/h13 km/h · 525d G30
Power-to-weight ratio6.90 kg/hp7.66 kg/hpbetter ratio · 525d G30

Watch the race

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

BMWDiesel525d G30
Speed
0km/h
Timer
0,00s
Distance
0m
BMWDiesel320d Steptronic G20
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.
Stage525d G30320d Steptronic G20
0–30 km/h1.88 s1.49 s
0–50 km/h3.09 s2.52 s
0–80 km/h4.98 s4.85 s · tight gap
0–100 km/h6.69 s6.97 s
0–120 km/h8.84 s9.73 s
0–160 km/h14.85 s17.81 s
0–200 km/h24.65 s32.74 s
400 m standing start14.83 s15.11 s
1,000 m standing start26.50 s27.70 s
Top speed limited250 km/h237 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

525d G30

6,90kg/hpratio better by 0,75 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power231 hp4 cyl
Torque500 Nm
Weight1 595 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainPropulsion
Gearbox8-speed Steptronic
BMW

320d Steptronic G20

7,66kg/hpcompensated by −140 kg
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power190 hpPending
Torque400 Nm
Weight1 455 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
Drivetrain-
GearboxEight-speed Steptronic transmission

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the 525d hits 100 km/h in 6.69 s versus 6.97 s for the 320d Steptronic. Despite the faster sprint time, the 320d Steptronic is 7 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 320d Steptronic is doing 120 km/h against 128 km/h for the 525d. The gap is 0.08 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the 525d crosses the line in 14.83 s versus 15.10 s. The 0.28 s gap represents roughly 11 m of track - two to three car lengths.

Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play

Past 400 metres, the 525d continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 180 km/h versus 167 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the 525d finishes in 26.49 s versus 27.70 s, with a 1.21 s lead. Both vehicles have similar top speeds (250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) vs 237 km/h), preventing any comeback.

What the numbers don’t tell you

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the 525d is capped at 250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) km/h, the 320d Steptronic at 240 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 (6.90 kg/hp vs 7.66 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Automatic).

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 11.35 seconds. The 0.28 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 525d G30
Audi A5 Sedan
Instead of 320d Steptronic G20
Audi A6 SedanAudi A6 Sedan

Other duels you might be interested in

BMWVSAudi

525d vs A6 Avant

AudiVSBMW

A4 40 TDI vs 320d Steptronic

BMWVSAudi

525d vs A6 Avant TDI S tronic 150 kW

VolvoVSBMW

S60 B4 vs 320d Steptronic

Frequently asked questions

Over 0–100 km/h, 525d G30 wins (6,69 s vs 6,97 s).

525d G30 goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 6,69 seconds (calibrated simulation).

525d G30: 231 hp, ratio 6,90 kg/hp. 320d Steptronic G20: 190 hp, ratio 7,66 kg/hp.

525d G30: 250 km/h. 320d Steptronic G20: 237 km/h.