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AA5vsB520iPetrol
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  • PerformancePerformance0-100, top speed
  • ConsumptionConsumptionYearly cost
  • SpecsA5 · 520i

Audi A5 Avant vs BMW 520i 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 2018 · Methodology
AudiPetrol

A5 Avant

204 hp · 340 Nm · 1,710 kg · 2026

VS
BMWPetrol

520i G30

184 hp · 290 Nm · 1,540 kg · 2018

Result · 0–100 km/h

AAudi A5 Avant

7.72 s

Gap0.03 sNot a significant gap
BBMW 520i G30

7.75 s

Summary · Caralogy simulation
MeasureA5 Avant520i G30Gap
0–100 km/h7.72 s7.75 s0.03 s · A5 Avant
400 m standing start15.71 s15.66 s0.05 s · 520i G30
1,000 m standing start27.94 s28.68 s0.74 s · A5 Avant
Top speed (electronically limited)245 km/h231 km/h14 km/h · A5 Avant
Power-to-weight ratio8.38 kg/hp8.37 kg/hpbetter ratio · 520i G30

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
BMWPetrol520i 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 Avant520i G30
0–30 km/h2.12 s1.56 s
0–50 km/h3.53 s2.75 s
0–80 km/h5.76 s5.34 s
0–100 km/h7.72 s · tight gap7.75 s
0–120 km/h10.23 s10.84 s
0–160 km/h17.35 s19.96 s
0–200 km/h29.43 s37.89 s
400 m standing start15.71 s15.66 s · tight gap
1,000 m standing start27.94 s28.68 s
Top speed245 km/h231 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/hpcompensated by −170 kg
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power204 hpPending
Torque340 Nm
Weight1 710 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainTraction
Gearbox7-speed S tronic
BMW

520i G30

8,37kg/hpratio better by 0,01 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power184 hp4 cyl
Torque290 Nm
Weight1 540 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainPropulsion
Gearbox8-speed Steptronic

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the A5 Avant hits 100 km/h in 7.72 s versus 7.75 s for the 520i. The 0.03 s gap is negligible: both vehicles are neck and neck.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the 520i is doing 116 km/h against 122 km/h for the A5 Avant. The gap is 0.34 s. The gap widens compared to the 0-100.

At 400 metres standing start, the 520i crosses the line in 15.66 s versus 15.70 s. The 0.05 s gap represents roughly 2 m of track

Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play

Past 400 metres, the situation changes. The 520i maxes out at 231 km/h while the A5 Avant keeps accelerating towards 245 km/h. At 600 metres, the gap has dropped to 0.22 s.

Around 435 metres, both vehicles are level. This is the inversion point: the A5 Avant overcomes its launch deficit thanks to a 14 km/h higher top speed.

At 1,000 metres, the A5 Avant finishes in 27.94 s versus 28.68 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

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the A5 Avant is capped at 245 km/h, the 520i at 235 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 8.37 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 0.03 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 Avant TFSI S tronic 150 kW
Instead of 520i G30
BMW 320iBMW 320i SedanBMW 320i xDrive

Other duels you might be interested in

AudiVSBMW

A5 Avant vs 320i

AudiVSBMW

A6 Avant TFSI S tronic 150 kW vs 520i

AudiVSBMW

A5 Avant vs 320i Sedan

AudiVSBMW

A6 Sedan vs 520i

Frequently asked questions

Over 0–100 km/h, A5 Avant and 520i G30 are neck and neck (7,72 s vs 7,75 s, no significant gap).

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

A5 Avant: 204 hp, ratio 8,38 kg/hp. 520i G30: 184 hp, ratio 8,37 kg/hp.

A5 Avant: 245 km/h. 520i G30: 231 km/h.