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. /Hatchbacks
AAPetrolvsB120dDiesel
  • MotorwayMotorwayRange and charging
  • PerformancePerformance0-100, top speed
  • ConsumptionConsumptionYearly cost
  • SpecsA · 120d

Mercedes A 250 W177 vs BMW 120d F40: 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.

compact · 2019 vs 2020 · Methodology
MercedesPetrolFaster

A 250 W177

224 hp · 350 Nm · 1,450 kg · 2019

VS
BMWDiesel

120d F40

190 hp · 400 Nm · 1,450 kg · 2020

Result · 0–100 km/h

AMercedes A 250 W177

6.26 s

Gap1.12 sin favour of A 250
BBMW 120d F40

7.38 s

Summary · Caralogy simulation
MeasureA 250 W177120d F40Gap
0–100 km/h6.26 s7.38 s1.12 s · A 250 W177
400 m standing start14.39 s15.41 s1.02 s · A 250 W177
1,000 m standing start25.56 s27.90 s2.34 s · A 250 W177
Top speed (electronically limited)250 km/h231 km/h19 km/h · A 250 W177
Power-to-weight ratio6.47 kg/hp7.63 kg/hpbetter ratio · A 250 W177

Watch the race

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

MercedesPetrolA 250 W177
Speed
0km/h
Timer
0,00s
Distance
0m
BMWDiesel120d F40
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.
StageA 250 W177120d F40
0–30 km/h1.96 s1.87 s · tight gap
0–50 km/h3.04 s3.04 s · tight gap
0–80 km/h4.70 s5.29 s
0–100 km/h6.26 s7.38 s
0–120 km/h8.08 s9.97 s
0–160 km/h13.25 s17.66 s
0–200 km/h21.39 s32.84 s
400 m standing start14.39 s15.41 s
1,000 m standing start25.56 s27.90 s
Top speed limited250 km/h231 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.

Mercedes

A 250 W177

6,47kg/hpratio better by 1,16 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power224 hpPending
Torque350 Nm
Weight1 450 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainTraction
Gearbox7G-DCT dual-clutch
BMW

120d F40

7,63kg/hp0
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power190 hpPending
Torque400 Nm
Weight1 450 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
Drivetrain-
Gearbox8-speed Steptronic transmission

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the A 250 hits 100 km/h in 6.26 s versus 7.38 s for the 120d. At this point, the A 250 leads by 1.12 s and sits roughly 4 m ahead.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the A 250 is doing 134 km/h against 121 km/h for the 120d. The gap is 0.51 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the A 250 crosses the line in 14.39 s versus 15.41 s. The 1.02 s gap represents roughly 42 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play

Past 400 metres, the A 250 continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 188 km/h versus 168 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the A 250 finishes in 25.56 s versus 27.90 s, with a 2.34 s lead.

What the numbers don’t tell you

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the A 250 is capped at 250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) km/h, the 120d at 231 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 (6.47 kg/hp vs 7.63 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Automatic).

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 11.54 seconds. The 1.12 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 120d F40
BMW 125i

Other duels you might be interested in

BMWVSMercedes

125i vs A 250

BMWVSAudi

120d vs A3 Sedan

DS4VSMercedes

PureTech 225 EAT8 vs A 250

BMWVSAudi

120d vs A3 Sportback

Frequently asked questions

Over 0–100 km/h, A 250 W177 wins (6,26 s vs 7,38 s).

A 250 W177 goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 6,26 seconds (calibrated simulation).

A 250 W177: 224 hp, ratio 6,47 kg/hp. 120d F40: 190 hp, ratio 7,63 kg/hp.

A 250 W177: 250 km/h. 120d F40: 231 km/h.