Skip to main content
CaralogyCaralogy
HomeBrandsRoad TripBudgetDuelGuides
Caralogy

The car comparison platform. Physics simulation, road trips, real costs.

Navigation
All brandsCar duelRunning costsMotorwayMethodology
Simulators
Motorway simulatorRunning costsPerformance duel
Brands
VolkswagenBMWMercedesToyotaTeslaAudi
FRENDEESIT
© 2026 Caralogy · All rights reserved
  1. Home
  2. /Duel
  3. /Estates
AA5PetrolvsB520dDiesel
  • MotorwayMotorwayRange and charging
  • PerformancePerformance0-100, top speed
  • ConsumptionConsumptionYearly cost
  • SpecsA5 · 520d

Audi A5 Avant vs BMW 520d xDrive Touring G30: 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 2019 · Methodology
AudiPetrol

A5 Avant

204 hp · 340 Nm · 1,710 kg · 2026

VS
BMWDieselFaster

520d xDrive Touring G30

190 hp · 400 Nm · 1,805 kg · 2019

Result · 0–100 km/h

AAudi A5 Avant

7.72 s

Gap0.19 sin favour of 520d xDrive Touring
BBMW 520d xDrive Touring G30

7.53 s

Summary · Caralogy simulation
MeasureA5 Avant520d xDrive Touring G30Gap
0–100 km/h7.72 s7.53 s0.19 s · 520d xDrive Touring G30
400 m standing start15.71 s15.46 s0.25 s · 520d xDrive Touring G30
1,000 m standing start27.94 s28.68 s0.74 s · A5 Avant
Top speed (electronically limited)245 km/h222 km/h23 km/h · A5 Avant
Power-to-weight ratio8.38 kg/hp9.50 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
BMWDiesel520d xDrive Touring G30
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 Avant520d xDrive Touring G30
0–30 km/h2.12 s1.25 s
0–50 km/h3.53 s2.36 s
0–80 km/h5.76 s5.06 s
0–100 km/h7.72 s7.53 s
0–120 km/h10.23 s10.75 s
0–160 km/h17.35 s20.54 s
0–200 km/h29.43 s40.97 s
400 m standing start15.71 s15.46 s
1,000 m standing start27.94 s28.68 s
Top speed245 km/h222 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 1,12 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power204 hpPending
Torque340 Nm
Weight1 710 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainTraction
Gearbox7-speed S tronic
BMW

520d xDrive Touring G30

9,50kg/hpcompensated by −95 kg
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power190 hp4 cyl
Torque400 Nm
Weight1 805 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainIntegrale (AWD)
Gearbox8-speed Steptronic

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the 520d xDrive Touring hits 100 km/h in 7.53 s versus 7.72 s for the A5 Avant. At this point, the 520d xDrive Touring leads by 0.19 s and sits roughly 20 m ahead.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the 520d xDrive Touring is doing 115 km/h against 122 km/h for the A5 Avant. The gap is 0.59 s. The gap widens compared to the 0-100.

At 400 metres standing start, the 520d xDrive Touring crosses the line in 15.46 s versus 15.70 s. The 0.25 s gap represents roughly 10 m of track - two to three car lengths.

Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play

Past 400 metres, the situation changes. The 520d xDrive Touring maxes out at 222 km/h while the A5 Avant keeps accelerating towards 245 km/h. At 600 metres, the gap has dropped to 0.09 s.

Around 543 metres, both vehicles are level. This is the inversion point: the A5 Avant overcomes its launch deficit thanks to a 23 km/h higher top speed.

At 1,000 metres, the A5 Avant finishes in 27.94 s versus 28.67 s. The 0.74 s delta in favour of the A5 Avant shows that top speed makes a clear difference.

What the numbers don’t tell you

The 520d xDrive Touring features all-wheel drive (AWD) against the A5 Avant’s FWD. At low speeds (0-30, 0-50, 0-80 km/h), AWD doubles the driven contact area: all four wheels transmit torque to the road, virtually eliminating wheelspin at launch. This traction advantage is decisive in the range where the motor delivers peak torque, before power and aerodynamics take over.

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the A5 Avant is capped at 245 km/h, the 520d xDrive Touring at 222 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 9.50 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Automatic).

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 12.70 seconds. The 0.19 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 A6 AvantAudi A6 Avant TDI S tronic 150 kW
Instead of 520d xDrive Touring G30
BMW 320i TouringBMW 318i TouringBMW 320i Touring

Other duels you might be interested in

AudiVSBMW

A5 Avant vs 320i

AudiVSBMW

A6 Avant vs 520d xDrive Touring

AudiVSBMW

A5 Avant vs 320i Sedan

AudiVSBMW

A6 Avant TDI S tronic 150 kW vs 520d xDrive Touring

Frequently asked questions

Over 0–100 km/h, 520d xDrive Touring G30 wins (7,53 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. 520d xDrive Touring G30: 190 hp, ratio 9,50 kg/hp.

A5 Avant: 245 km/h. 520d xDrive Touring G30: 222 km/h.