Audi A5 Sedan vs BYD Atto 3 Extended Range: which is truly faster?

Off the line, the Atto 3 Extended Range hits 100 km/h in 7.41 s versus 7.79 s for the A5 Sedan. The instant torque of 310 Nm from the electric motor makes the difference. Despite the faster sprint time, the A5 Sedan is 2 m further along the track at this moment: stronger low-speed acceleration offsets a slower run beyond 100 km/h.

At 200 metres, the Atto 3 Extended Range is doing 121 km/h against 117 km/h for the A5 Sedan. The gap is 0.04 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the Atto 3 Extended Range crosses the line in 15.57 s versus 15.74 s. The 0.17 s gap represents roughly 7 m of track - barely a car length.

Past 400 metres, the situation changes. The Atto 3 Extended Range maxes out at 160 km/h while the A5 Sedan keeps accelerating towards 242 km/h. At 600 metres, the gap has dropped to 0.23 s.

Around 790 metres, both vehicles are level. This is the inversion point: the A5 Sedan overcomes its launch deficit thanks to a 82 km/h higher top speed.

At 1,000 metres, the A5 Sedan finishes in 28.62 s versus 29.19 s. The 0.57 s delta in favour of the A5 Sedan shows that top speed makes a clear difference.

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the A5 Sedan is capped at 242 km/h, the Atto 3 Extended Range at 160 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.

Instant electric torque gives an advantage off the line. The higher top speed of the combustion engine gives an advantage over longer distances. The distance at which one catches the other depends on the top speed differential.

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 12.41 seconds. The 0.38 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.