In our Bucharest to Budapest EV duel, the BMW iX3 beats the Audi SQ8 e-tron by 22 minutes, completing the 825km route in 9h 34min. The key advantage? Faster charging speeds. Route calculated on September 15, 2026 using real-time charging station data.
Despite costing 30,800 less, the BMW iX3 beats the Audi SQ8 e-tron by 22 minutes on this route.
The Audi SQ8 e-tron's 366km range doesn't beat the BMW iX3's 360km here - charging speed and efficiency matter more.
Winner
BMW iX3
- Total time: 9h 34min (22 min faster)
- Charging stops: 3
- Charging time: 49min
- Energy: ~167 kWh
- Distance: 825km
Quick Comparison
| Metric |
Audi SQ8 e-tron |
BMW iX3 |
| Travel time |
9h 56min |
9h 34min |
| Charging time: |
1h 14min |
49min |
| Charging stops: |
3 |
3 |
| Energy used |
~149 kWh |
~148 kWh |
Charging Strategy Breakdown
Audi SQ8 e-tron Route
- Start: Bucharest (100% charge)
-
Stop 1:
OMV Miercurea Sibiului dreapta (Truck) (39 min, 12% → 82%)
-
Stop 2:
OMV DN69 (25 min, 10% → 63%)
-
Stop 3:
IONITY Csalánosi Csárda (10 min, 10% → 36%)
- Arrival: Budapest
BMW iX3 Route
- Start: Bucharest (100% charge)
-
Stop 1:
OMV Miercurea Sibiului dreapta (18 min, 17% → 69%)
-
Stop 2:
Spatiu Servicii A1 Giarmata Sens Arad (21 min, 10% → 70%)
-
Stop 3:
IONITY Csalánosi Csárda (10 min, 10% → 44%)
- Arrival: Budapest
Why the BMW iX3 Won
The BMW iX3 achieved a 22-minute advantage over Audi SQ8 e-tron on this 825km route. Key factors:
- Faster charging: Total charging time of 49min vs 1h 14min thanks to higher peak charging speeds or better charging curve.
- Better efficiency: Lower energy consumption (~167 kWh vs ~239 kWh) means less time spent charging.
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