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AQ5PHEVvsBQ3Petrol
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  • PerformancePerformance0-100, top speed
  • ConsumptionConsumptionYearly cost
  • SpecsQ5 · Q3

Audi Q5 SUV vs Audi Q3 SUV: 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.

family SUV · 2025 vs 2026 · Methodology
AudiPHEVFaster

Q5 SUV

367 hp · 500 Nm · 2,170 kg · 2025

VS
AudiPetrol

Q3 SUV

150 hp · 250 Nm · 1,560 kg · 2026

Result · 0–100 km/h

AAudi Q5 SUV

5.00 s

Gap4.16 sin favour of Q5 SUV
BAudi Q3 SUV

9.16 s

Summary · Caralogy simulation
MeasureQ5 SUVQ3 SUVGap
0–100 km/h5.00 s9.16 s4.16 s · Q5 SUV
400 m standing start13.38 s16.93 s3.55 s · Q5 SUV
1,000 m standing start24.55 s30.85 s6.30 s · Q5 SUV
Top speed (electronically limited)250 km/h209 km/h41 km/h · Q5 SUV
Power-to-weight ratio5.91 kg/hp10.40 kg/hpbetter ratio · Q5 SUV

Watch the race

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

AudiPHEVQ5 SUV
Speed
0km/h
Timer
0,00s
Distance
0m
AudiPetrolQ3 SUV
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.
StageQ5 SUVQ3 SUV
0–30 km/h1.19 s2.19 s
0–50 km/h2.00 s3.65 s
0–80 km/h3.57 s6.48 s
0–100 km/h5.00 s9.16 s
0–120 km/h6.88 s13.38 s
0–160 km/h12.14 s25.21 s
0–200 km/h20.28 s54.13 s
400 m standing start13.38 s16.93 s
1,000 m standing start24.55 s30.85 s
Top speed limited250 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

Q5 SUV

5,91kg/hpratio better by 4,49 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power367 hpPending
Torque500 Nm
Weight2 170 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainIntegrale (AWD)
Gearbox7-speed S tronic
Audi

Q3 SUV

10,40kg/hpcompensated by −610 kg
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power150 hpPending
Torque250 Nm
Weight1 560 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainTraction
Gearbox7-speed S tronic

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the Q5 SUV hits 100 km/h in 5.00 s versus 9.16 s for the Q3 SUV. The instant torque of 500 Nm from the electric motor makes the difference. At this point, the Q5 SUV leads by 4.16 s and sits roughly 32 m ahead.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the Q5 SUV is doing 136 km/h against 111 km/h for the Q3 SUV. The gap is 2.37 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the Q5 SUV crosses the line in 13.38 s versus 16.93 s. The 3.55 s gap represents roughly 125 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play

Past 400 metres, the Q5 SUV continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 188 km/h versus 151 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the Q5 SUV finishes in 24.54 s versus 30.84 s, with a 6.30 s lead.

What the numbers don’t tell you

The Q5 SUV features all-wheel drive (AWD) against the Q3 SUV’s FWD. 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 Q5 SUV is capped at 250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) km/h, the Q3 SUV at 209 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 16.01 seconds. The 4.16 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.

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Frequently asked questions

Over 0–100 km/h, Q5 SUV wins (5,00 s vs 9,16 s).

Q5 SUV goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 5,00 seconds (calibrated simulation).

Q5 SUV: 367 hp, ratio 5,91 kg/hp. Q3 SUV: 150 hp, ratio 10,40 kg/hp.

Q5 SUV: 250 km/h. Q3 SUV: 209 km/h.