Audi A6 Avant e-tron vs Porsche Panamera 4 970.1: which is truly faster?

Off the line, the A6 Avant e-tron hits 100 km/h in 5.45 s versus 5.77 s for the Panamera 4. The instant torque of 565 Nm from the electric motor makes the difference. Despite the faster sprint time, the Panamera 4 is 4 m further along the track at this moment: stronger low-speed acceleration offsets a slower run beyond 100 km/h.

At 200 metres, the A6 Avant e-tron is doing 136 km/h against 128 km/h for the Panamera 4. The gap is 0.09 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the A6 Avant e-tron crosses the line in 13.77 s versus 14.11 s. The 0.34 s gap represents roughly 15 m of track — two to three car lengths.

Past 400 metres, the A6 Avant e-tron continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 187 km/h versus 177 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the A6 Avant e-tron finishes in 25.00 s versus 25.94 s, with a 0.94 s lead. Despite a higher top speed (247 km/h), the Panamera 4 never recovers its launch deficit.

The Panamera 4 features all-wheel drive (AWD) against the A6 Avant e-tron’s RWD. At low speeds (0-30, 0-50, 0-80 km/h), AWD doubles the driven contact area: all four wheels transmit torque to the road, virtually eliminating wheelspin at launch. This traction advantage is decisive in the range where the motor delivers peak torque, before power and aerodynamics take over.

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the A6 Avant e-tron is capped at 210 km/h, the Panamera 4 at 256 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 9.39 seconds. The 0.32 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.