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AA5PetrolvsB118dDiesel
  • MotorwayMotorwayRange and charging
  • PerformancePerformance0-100, top speed
  • ConsumptionConsumptionYearly cost
  • SpecsA5 · 118d

Audi A5 Sedan vs BMW 118d F40: 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 2020 · Methodology
AudiPetrolFaster

A5 Sedan

204 hp · 340 Nm · 1,695 kg · 2026

VS
BMWDiesel

118d F40

150 hp · 350 Nm · 1,405 kg · 2020

Result · 0–100 km/h

AAudi A5 Sedan

7.72 s

Gap0.93 sin favour of A5 Sedan
BBMW 118d F40

8.65 s

Summary · Caralogy simulation
MeasureA5 Sedan118d F40Gap
0–100 km/h7.72 s8.65 s0.93 s · A5 Sedan
400 m standing start15.71 s16.41 s0.70 s · A5 Sedan
1,000 m standing start28.00 s29.83 s1.83 s · A5 Sedan
Top speed (electronically limited)247 km/h218 km/h29 km/h · A5 Sedan
Power-to-weight ratio8.31 kg/hp9.37 kg/hpbetter ratio · A5 Sedan

Watch the race

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

AudiPetrolA5 Sedan
Speed
0km/h
Timer
0,00s
Distance
0m
BMWDiesel118d F40
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 Sedan118d F40
0–30 km/h2.12 s2.07 s · tight gap
0–50 km/h3.54 s3.39 s · tight gap
0–80 km/h5.76 s6.08 s
0–100 km/h7.72 s8.65 s
0–120 km/h10.24 s11.98 s
0–160 km/h17.44 s22.37 s
0–200 km/h30.10 s47.11 s
400 m standing start15.71 s16.41 s
1,000 m standing start28.00 s29.83 s
Top speed247 km/h218 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

8,31kg/hpratio better by 1,06 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power204 hpPending
Torque340 Nm
Weight1 695 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainTraction
Gearbox7-speed S tronic
BMW

118d F40

9,37kg/hpcompensated by −290 kg
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power150 hp4 cyl
Torque350 Nm
Weight1 405 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
Drivetrain-
GearboxSix-speed manual (8-speed Steptronic transmission)

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the A5 Sedan hits 100 km/h in 7.72 s versus 8.65 s for the 118d. At this point, the A5 Sedan leads by 0.93 s and sits roughly 2 m ahead.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the A5 Sedan is doing 122 km/h against 113 km/h for the 118d. The gap is 0.27 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the A5 Sedan crosses the line in 15.71 s versus 16.41 s. The 0.70 s gap represents roughly 27 m of track - two to three car lengths.

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 171 km/h versus 157 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the A5 Sedan finishes in 27.99 s versus 29.82 s, with a 1.83 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 248 km/h, the 118d at 218 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 (8.31 kg/hp vs 9.37 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Automatic).

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 14.03 seconds. The 0.93 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.

Other duels you might be interested in

AudiVSBMW

A5 Sedan vs 320i

BMWVSAudi

118d vs A3 Sedan

AudiVSBMW

A5 Sedan vs 320i Sedan

BMWVSAudi

118d vs A3 Sportback

Frequently asked questions

Over 0–100 km/h, A5 Sedan wins (7,72 s vs 8,65 s).

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

A5 Sedan: 204 hp, ratio 8,31 kg/hp. 118d F40: 150 hp, ratio 9,37 kg/hp.

A5 Sedan: 247 km/h. 118d F40: 218 km/h.