Peugeot 508 PureTech 180 EAT8 vs Nissan Leaf 40kWh ZE1 : which one is faster?
0-100 km/h, 400 m, 1000 m, top speed — physics simulation calibrated on 7 measures.
Simulation de performance
Race simulation at real speed
CONFIDENCE 93%Reading the duel
At 400 m, Nissan Leaf 40kWh ZE1 leads by 0.16 s. At 1 000 m, Peugeot 508 PureTech 180 EAT8 takes the lead by 2.26 s.
Calibrated physics simulation: SCx via VMax, power curves, Crr via WLTP, drivetrain losses. Manufacturer 0-100 is the calibration target. Confidence 93 %.
508 PureTech 180 EAT8 vs Leaf 40kWh ZE1: chronicle of a drag race at 238 km/h
The launch: 0 to 100 km/h
Off the line, the Leaf 40kWh ZE1 hits 100 km/h in 8.05 s versus 8.32 s for the 508 PureTech 180 EAT8. The instant torque of 320 Nm from the electric motor makes the difference. At this point, the Leaf 40kWh ZE1 leads by 0.27 s and sits roughly 13 m ahead.
From 100 km/h to 400 metres
At 200 metres, the Leaf 40kWh ZE1 is doing 116 km/h against 119 km/h for the 508 PureTech 180 EAT8. The gap is 0.41 s. The gap widens compared to the 0-100.
At 400 metres standing start, the Leaf 40kWh ZE1 crosses the line in 16.03 s versus 16.20 s. The 0.17 s gap represents roughly 7 m of track — barely a car length.
Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play
Past 400 metres, the situation changes. The Leaf 40kWh ZE1 maxes out at 144 km/h while the 508 PureTech 180 EAT8 keeps accelerating towards 238 km/h. At 600 metres, the gap has dropped to 0.30 s.
Around 498 metres, both vehicles are level. This is the inversion point: the 508 PureTech 180 EAT8 overcomes its launch deficit thanks to a 94 km/h higher top speed.
At 1,000 metres, the 508 PureTech 180 EAT8 finishes in 28.78 s versus 31.05 s. The 2.27 s delta in favour of the 508 PureTech 180 EAT8 shows that top speed makes a clear difference.
What the numbers don’t tell you
Electronically capped at 144 km/h, the Leaf 40kWh ZE1 never reaches its natural aerodynamic ceiling in this duel. That’s not a physical limit of the motor — it’s a deliberate manufacturer decision, typically tied to standard-fit tyre ratings or model-range positioning.
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 13.39 seconds. The 0.27 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.
Nissan Leaf 40kWh ZE1 is slightly faster than the Peugeot 508 PureTech 180 EAT8 to 100 km/h. The edge holds on standing starts but may narrow at higher speeds depending on aerodynamic load.