Nissan Leaf 40kWh ZE1 vs BMW 218i F22: which is truly faster?

Off the line, the Leaf 40kWh ZE1 hits 100 km/h in 8.05 s versus 9.44 s for the 218i. The instant torque of 320 Nm from the electric motor makes the difference. At this point, the Leaf 40kWh ZE1 leads by 1.39 s and sits roughly 17 m ahead.

At 200 metres, the Leaf 40kWh ZE1 is doing 116 km/h against 111 km/h for the 218i. The gap is 0.79 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the Leaf 40kWh ZE1 crosses the line in 16.03 s versus 16.99 s. The 0.96 s gap represents roughly 36 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Past 400 metres, the situation changes. The Leaf 40kWh ZE1 maxes out at 144 km/h while the 218i keeps accelerating towards 205 km/h. At 600 metres, the gap has dropped to 0.89 s.

Around 921 metres, both vehicles are level. This is the inversion point: the 218i overcomes its launch deficit thanks to a 61 km/h higher top speed.

At 1,000 metres, the 218i finishes in 30.73 s versus 31.05 s. The 0.31 s delta shows an extremely tight race.

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the Leaf 40kWh ZE1 is capped at 144 km/h, the 218i at 205 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 15.17 seconds. The 1.39 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.