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AA5vsB318dDiesel
  • MotorwayMotorwayRange and charging
  • PerformancePerformance0-100, top speed
  • ConsumptionConsumptionYearly cost
  • SpecsA5 · 318d

Audi A5 Sedan vs BMW 318d F30: 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 2012 · Methodology
AudiDieselFaster

A5 Sedan

204 hp · 400 Nm · 1,820 kg · 2026

VS
BMWDiesel

318d F30

143 hp · 320 Nm · 1,495 kg · 2012

Result · 0–100 km/h

AAudi A5 Sedan

7.79 s

Gap1.34 sin favour of A5 Sedan
BBMW 318d F30

9.13 s

Summary · Caralogy simulation
MeasureA5 Sedan318d F30Gap
0–100 km/h7.79 s9.13 s1.34 s · A5 Sedan
400 m standing start15.74 s16.56 s0.82 s · A5 Sedan
1,000 m standing start28.63 s30.51 s1.88 s · A5 Sedan
Top speed (electronically limited)242 km/h209 km/h33 km/h · A5 Sedan
Power-to-weight ratio8.92 kg/hp10.45 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
BMWDiesel318d F30
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 Sedan318d F30
0–30 km/h1.83 s1.65 s
0–50 km/h3.04 s3.00 s · tight gap
0–80 km/h5.46 s6.15 s
0–100 km/h7.79 s9.13 s
0–120 km/h10.74 s12.95 s
0–160 km/h19.81 s25.23 s
0–200 km/h34.87 s61.46 s
400 m standing start15.74 s16.56 s
1,000 m standing start28.63 s30.51 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 1,53 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power204 hpPending
Torque400 Nm
Weight1 820 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainTraction
Gearbox7-speed S tronic
BMW

318d F30

10,45kg/hpcompensated by −325 kg
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power143 hpPending
Torque320 Nm
Weight1 495 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainPropulsion
Gearbox8-speed automatic (Steptronic)

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the A5 Sedan hits 100 km/h in 7.79 s versus 9.13 s for the 318d. At this point, the A5 Sedan leads by 1.34 s and sits roughly 5 m ahead.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the A5 Sedan is doing 117 km/h against 109 km/h for the 318d. The gap is 0.39 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the A5 Sedan crosses the line in 15.74 s versus 16.56 s. The 0.82 s gap represents roughly 30 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 151 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the A5 Sedan finishes in 28.62 s versus 30.51 s, with a 1.89 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 318d at 210 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 10.45 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Automatic).

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 15.33 seconds. The 1.34 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

A4 40 TDI vs 318d

AudiVSBMW

A5 Sedan vs 320d

VolvoVSBMW

S60 B4 vs 318d

Frequently asked questions

Over 0–100 km/h, A5 Sedan wins (7,79 s vs 9,13 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. 318d F30: 143 hp, ratio 10,45 kg/hp.

A5 Sedan: 242 km/h. 318d F30: 209 km/h.