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
ASPHEVvsB320iPetrol
  • MotorwayMotorwayRange and charging
  • PerformancePerformance0-100, top speed
  • ConsumptionConsumptionYearly cost
  • SpecsS · 320i

Mercedes S 580 e 4MATIC W223 vs BMW 320i 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.

limousine · 2024 vs 2019 · Methodology
MercedesPHEVFaster

S 580 e 4MATIC W223

510 hp · 750 Nm · 2,470 kg · 2024

VS
BMWPetrol

320i G20

184 hp · 300 Nm · 1,460 kg · 2019

Result · 0–100 km/h

AMercedes S 580 e 4MATIC W223

4.87 s

Gap2.18 sin favour of S 580 e 4MATIC
BBMW 320i G20

7.05 s

Summary · Caralogy simulation
MeasureS 580 e 4MATIC W223320i G20Gap
0–100 km/h4.87 s7.05 s2.18 s · S 580 e 4MATIC W223
400 m standing start12.96 s15.12 s2.16 s · S 580 e 4MATIC W223
1,000 m standing start23.11 s27.81 s4.70 s · S 580 e 4MATIC W223
Top speed (electronically limited)250 km/h234 km/h16 km/h · S 580 e 4MATIC W223
Power-to-weight ratio4.84 kg/hp7.93 kg/hpbetter ratio · S 580 e 4MATIC W223

Watch the race

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

MercedesPHEVS 580 e 4MATIC W223
Speed
0km/h
Timer
0,00s
Distance
0m
BMWPetrol320i 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.
StageS 580 e 4MATIC W223320i G20
0–30 km/h1.38 s · tight gap1.38 s
0–50 km/h2.17 s2.44 s
0–80 km/h3.58 s4.84 s
0–100 km/h4.87 s7.05 s
0–120 km/h6.33 s9.85 s
0–160 km/h10.27 s18.13 s
0–200 km/h15.71 s33.99 s
400 m standing start12.96 s15.12 s
1,000 m standing start23.11 s27.81 s
Top speed limited250 km/h234 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

S 580 e 4MATIC W223

4,84kg/hpratio better by 3,09 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power510 hp6 cyl
Torque750 Nm
Weight2 470 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainIntegrale (AWD)
GearboxUnknown
BMW

320i G20

7,93kg/hpcompensated by −1 010 kg
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power184 hpPending
Torque300 Nm
Weight1 460 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
Drivetrain-
GearboxEight-speed Steptronic transmission

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the S 580 e 4MATIC hits 100 km/h in 4.87 s versus 7.05 s for the 320i. The instant torque of 750 Nm from the electric motor makes the difference. At this point, the S 580 e 4MATIC leads by 2.18 s and sits roughly 10 m ahead.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the S 580 e 4MATIC is doing 144 km/h against 119 km/h for the 320i. The gap is 1.19 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the S 580 e 4MATIC crosses the line in 12.95 s versus 15.11 s. The 2.16 s gap represents roughly 86 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play

Past 400 metres, the S 580 e 4MATIC continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 206 km/h versus 166 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the S 580 e 4MATIC finishes in 23.10 s versus 27.81 s, with a 4.70 s lead.

What the numbers don’t tell you

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the S 580 e 4MATIC is capped at 250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) km/h, the 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 2.18 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.

Other duels you might be interested in

BMWVSMercedes

760i xDrive vs S 580 e 4MATIC

AudiVSBMW

A4 40 TFSI vs 320i

MercedesVSAudi

S 580 e 4MATIC vs A8 60 TFSI e quattro tiptronic 340 kW

AudiVSBMW

A5 Avant vs 320i

Frequently asked questions

Over 0–100 km/h, S 580 e 4MATIC W223 wins (4,87 s vs 7,05 s).

S 580 e 4MATIC W223 goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 4,87 seconds (calibrated simulation).

S 580 e 4MATIC W223: 510 hp, ratio 4,84 kg/hp. 320i G20: 184 hp, ratio 7,93 kg/hp.

S 580 e 4MATIC W223: 250 km/h. 320i G20: 234 km/h.