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AA5DieselvsB218iPetrol
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  • PerformancePerformance0-100, top speed
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  • SpecsA5 · 218i

Audi A5 Sedan vs BMW 218i F22: 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
AudiDieselFaster

A5 Sedan

204 hp · 400 Nm · 1,820 kg · 2026

VS
BMWPetrol

218i F22

140 hp · 220 Nm · 1,355 kg · 2018

Result · 0–100 km/h

AAudi A5 Sedan

7.79 s

Gap1.65 sin favour of A5 Sedan
BBMW 218i F22

9.44 s

Summary · Caralogy simulation
MeasureA5 Sedan218i F22Gap
0–100 km/h7.79 s9.44 s1.65 s · A5 Sedan
400 m standing start15.74 s17.00 s1.26 s · A5 Sedan
1,000 m standing start28.63 s30.74 s2.11 s · A5 Sedan
Top speed (electronically limited)242 km/h205 km/h37 km/h · A5 Sedan
Power-to-weight ratio8.92 kg/hp9.68 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
BMWPetrol218i F22
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 Sedan218i F22
0–30 km/h1.83 s2.30 s
0–50 km/h3.04 s3.85 s
0–80 km/h5.46 s6.75 s
0–100 km/h7.79 s9.44 s
0–120 km/h10.74 s12.97 s
0–160 km/h19.81 s24.54 s
0–200 km/h34.87 s66.35 s
400 m standing start15.74 s17.00 s
1,000 m standing start28.63 s30.74 s
Top speed242 km/h205 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 0,76 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power204 hpPending
Torque400 Nm
Weight1 820 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainTraction
Gearbox7-speed S tronic
BMW

218i F22

9,68kg/hpcompensated by −465 kg
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power140 hp3 cyl
Torque220 Nm
Weight1 355 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
Drivetrain-
Gearbox6-speed manual (7-speed Steptronic with double clutch)

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the A5 Sedan hits 100 km/h in 7.79 s versus 9.44 s for the 218i. At this point, the A5 Sedan leads by 1.65 s and sits roughly 20 m ahead.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the A5 Sedan is doing 117 km/h against 111 km/h for the 218i. The gap is 0.94 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the A5 Sedan crosses the line in 15.74 s versus 16.99 s. The 1.26 s gap represents roughly 47 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 153 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the A5 Sedan finishes in 28.62 s versus 30.73 s, with a 2.11 s lead.

What the numbers don’t tell you

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the A5 Sedan is capped at 242 km/h, the 218i at 205 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 (8.92 kg/hp vs 9.68 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Automatic).

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 15.17 seconds. The 1.65 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 Sedan
Audi A3 Sedan
Instead of 218i F22
BMW 318dBMW 318d

Other duels you might be interested in

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A5 Sedan vs S60 B4

AudiVSBMW

A3 allstreet vs 218i

AudiVSBMW

A5 Sedan vs 320d

AudiVSBMW

A3 allstreet vs 218i

Frequently asked questions

Over 0–100 km/h, A5 Sedan wins (7,79 s vs 9,44 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. 218i F22: 140 hp, ratio 9,68 kg/hp.

A5 Sedan: 242 km/h. 218i F22: 205 km/h.