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AA5vsBA3Diesel
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  • PerformancePerformance0-100, top speed
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  • SpecsA5 · A3

Audi A5 Sedan vs Audi A3 Sportback: 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 2026 · Methodology
AudiDieselFaster

A5 Sedan

204 hp · 400 Nm · 1,820 kg · 2026

VS
AudiDiesel

A3 Sportback

116 hp · 300 Nm · 1,355 kg · 2026

Result · 0–100 km/h

AAudi A5 Sedan

7.79 s

Gap2.11 sin favour of A5 Sedan
BAudi A3 Sportback

9.90 s

Summary · Caralogy simulation
MeasureA5 SedanA3 SportbackGap
0–100 km/h7.79 s9.90 s2.11 s · A5 Sedan
400 m standing start15.74 s17.23 s1.49 s · A5 Sedan
1,000 m standing start28.63 s31.34 s2.71 s · A5 Sedan
Top speed (electronically limited)242 km/h209 km/h33 km/h · A5 Sedan
Power-to-weight ratio8.92 kg/hp11.68 kg/hpbetter ratio · A5 Sedan

Watch the race

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

AudiDieselA5 Sedan
Speed
0km/h
Timer
0,00s
Distance
0m
AudiDieselA3 Sportback
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 SedanA3 Sportback
0–30 km/h1.83 s2.22 s
0–50 km/h3.04 s3.75 s
0–80 km/h5.46 s6.86 s
0–100 km/h7.79 s9.90 s
0–120 km/h10.74 s13.90 s
0–160 km/h19.81 s26.77 s
0–200 km/h34.87 s64.77 s
400 m standing start15.74 s17.23 s
1,000 m standing start28.63 s31.34 s
Top speed242 km/h209 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 Sedan

8,92kg/hpratio better by 2,76 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power204 hpPending
Torque400 Nm
Weight1 820 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainTraction
Gearbox7-speed S tronic
Audi

A3 Sportback

11,68kg/hpcompensated by −465 kg
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power116 hpPending
Torque300 Nm
Weight1 355 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainTraction
Gearbox6-speed manual gearbox

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the A5 Sedan hits 100 km/h in 7.79 s versus 9.90 s for the A3 Sportback. At this point, the A5 Sedan leads by 2.11 s and sits roughly 19 m ahead.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the A5 Sedan is doing 117 km/h against 108 km/h for the A3 Sportback. The gap is 1.00 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the A5 Sedan crosses the line in 15.74 s versus 17.23 s. The 1.49 s gap represents roughly 54 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play

Past 400 metres, the A5 Sedan continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 162 km/h versus 149 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the A5 Sedan finishes in 28.62 s versus 31.33 s, with a 2.71 s lead.

What the numbers don’t tell you

Electronically capped at 242 km/h, the A5 Sedan never reaches its natural aerodynamic ceiling in this duel. That’s not a physical limit of the motor - it’s a deliberate manufacturer decision, typically tied to standard-fit tyre ratings or model-range positioning.

With two combustion powertrains, the difference comes down to power-to-weight ratio (8.92 kg/hp vs 11.68 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Manual).

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 16.37 seconds. The 2.11 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.

Other duels you might be interested in

AudiVSVolvo

A5 Sedan vs S60 B4

AudiVSBMW

A3 Sportback vs 116d

AudiVSBMW

A5 Sedan vs 320d

AudiVSBMW

A3 Sportback vs 116d

Frequently asked questions

Over 0–100 km/h, A5 Sedan wins (7,79 s vs 9,90 s).

A5 Sedan goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 7,79 seconds (calibrated simulation).

A5 Sedan: 204 hp, ratio 8,92 kg/hp. A3 Sportback: 116 hp, ratio 11,68 kg/hp.

A5 Sedan: 242 km/h. A3 Sportback: 209 km/h.