In our Budapest to Bucharest EV duel, the BMW iX3 beats the Audi SQ8 e-tron by 31 minutes, completing the 824km route in 9h 32min. The key advantage? Faster charging speeds. Route calculated on September 23, 2026 using real-time charging station data.
Despite costing 30,800 less, the BMW iX3 beats the Audi SQ8 e-tron by 31 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 32min (31 min faster)
- Charging stops: 3
- Charging time: 44min
- Energy: ~167 kWh
- Distance: 824km
Quick Comparison
| Metric |
Audi SQ8 e-tron |
BMW iX3 |
| Travel time |
10h 3min |
9h 32min |
| Charging time: |
1h 15min |
44min |
| Charging stops: |
3 |
3 |
| Energy used |
~148 kWh |
~148 kWh |
Charging Strategy Breakdown
Audi SQ8 e-tron Route
- Start: Budapest (100% charge)
-
Stop 1:
Spatiu Servicii A1 Giarmata Sens Timisoara (30 min, 13% → 71%)
-
Stop 2:
OMV Miercurea Sibiului stanga (Truck) (27 min, 10% → 65%)
-
Stop 3:
Kaufland Gavana (18 min, 10% → 45%)
- Arrival: Bucharest
BMW iX3 Route
- Start: Budapest (100% charge)
-
Stop 1:
Spatiu Servicii A1 Recas Sens Bucuresti (16 min, 13% → 63%)
-
Stop 2:
OMV Miercurea Sibiului stanga (Truck) (16 min, 10% → 62%)
-
Stop 3:
Kaufland Gavana (12 min, 10% → 43%)
- Arrival: Bucharest
Why the BMW iX3 Won
The BMW iX3 achieved a 31-minute advantage over Audi SQ8 e-tron on this 824km route. Key factors:
- Faster charging: Total charging time of 44min vs 1h 15min 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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