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AA5PetrolvsB420dDiesel
  • MotorwayMotorwayRange and charging
  • PerformancePerformance0-100, top speed
  • ConsumptionConsumptionYearly cost
  • SpecsA5 · 420d

Audi A5 Avant vs BMW 420d F32: 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.

saloon · 2026 vs 2020 · Methodology
AudiPetrol

A5 Avant

204 hp · 340 Nm · 1,710 kg · 2026

VS
BMWDieselFaster

420d F32

190 hp · 400 Nm · 1,605 kg · 2020

Result · 0–100 km/h

AAudi A5 Avant

7.72 s

Gap0.68 sin favour of 420d
BBMW 420d F32

7.04 s

Summary · Caralogy simulation
MeasureA5 Avant420d F32Gap
0–100 km/h7.72 s7.04 s0.68 s · 420d F32
400 m standing start15.71 s15.11 s0.60 s · 420d F32
1,000 m standing start27.94 s27.78 s0.16 s · 420d F32
Top speed (electronically limited)245 km/h240 km/h5 km/h · A5 Avant
Power-to-weight ratio8.38 kg/hp8.45 kg/hpbetter ratio · A5 Avant

Watch the race

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

AudiPetrolA5 Avant
Speed
0km/h
Timer
0,00s
Distance
0m
BMWDiesel420d F32
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.
StageA5 Avant420d F32
0–30 km/h2.12 s1.37 s
0–50 km/h3.53 s2.40 s
0–80 km/h5.76 s4.80 s
0–100 km/h7.72 s7.04 s
0–120 km/h10.23 s9.85 s
0–160 km/h17.35 s18.13 s
0–200 km/h29.43 s33.30 s
400 m standing start15.71 s15.11 s
1,000 m standing start27.94 s27.78 s
Top speed245 km/h240 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.

Audi

A5 Avant

8,38kg/hpratio better by 0,07 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power204 hpPending
Torque340 Nm
Weight1 710 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainTraction
Gearbox7-speed S tronic
BMW

420d F32

8,45kg/hpcompensated by −105 kg
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power190 hp4 cyl
Torque400 Nm
Weight1 605 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
Drivetrain-
GearboxEight-speed Steptronic transmission

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the 420d hits 100 km/h in 7.04 s versus 7.72 s for the A5 Avant. At this point, the 420d leads by 0.68 s and sits roughly 21 m ahead.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the 420d is doing 119 km/h against 122 km/h for the A5 Avant. The gap is 0.75 s. The gap remains stable from the start.

At 400 metres standing start, the 420d crosses the line in 15.10 s versus 15.70 s. The 0.60 s gap represents roughly 25 m of track - two to three car lengths.

Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play

Past 400 metres, the gap narrows. The 420d maxes out at 240 km/h while the A5 Avant keeps accelerating towards 245 km/h. At 600 metres, the gap is down to 0.45 s from 0.60 s at 400 metres.

At 1,000 metres, the 420d finishes in 27.77 s versus 27.94 s, with just 0.16 s to spare. The A5 Avant fails to fully close the launch gap.

What the numbers don’t tell you

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the A5 Avant is capped at 245 km/h, the 420d at 240 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.

With two combustion powertrains, the difference comes down to power-to-weight ratio (8.38 kg/hp vs 8.45 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Automatic).

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 11.72 seconds. The 0.68 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.

Compare with other alternatives

Swap one of the two models to explore an equivalent duel in the same segment.

Instead of A5 Avant
Audi A5 Avant
Instead of 420d F32
BMW 420iBMW 420i xDrive Gran CoupeBMW 430i xDrive

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Frequently asked questions

Over 0–100 km/h, 420d F32 wins (7,04 s vs 7,72 s).

A5 Avant goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 7,72 seconds (calibrated simulation).

A5 Avant: 204 hp, ratio 8,38 kg/hp. 420d F32: 190 hp, ratio 8,45 kg/hp.

A5 Avant: 245 km/h. 420d F32: 240 km/h.