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ARS 5PHEVvsBSQ5Petrol
  • MotorwayMotorwayRange and charging
  • PerformancePerformance0-100, top speed
  • ConsumptionConsumptionYearly cost
  • SpecsRS 5 · SQ5

Audi RS 5 Avant vs Audi SQ5 Sportback: 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 2026 · Methodology
AudiPHEVFaster

RS 5 Avant

639 hp · 825 Nm · 2,370 kg · 2026

VS
AudiPetrol

SQ5 Sportback

367 hp · 550 Nm · 2,040 kg · 2026

Result · 0–100 km/h

AAudi RS 5 Avant

3.66 s

Gap0.76 sin favour of RS 5 Avant
BAudi SQ5 Sportback

4.42 s

Summary · Caralogy simulation
MeasureRS 5 AvantSQ5 SportbackGap
0–100 km/h3.66 s4.42 s0.76 s · RS 5 Avant
400 m standing start11.72 s12.76 s1.04 s · RS 5 Avant
1,000 m standing start21.36 s23.50 s2.14 s · RS 5 Avant
Top speed (electronically limited)250 km/h250 km/hSame
Power-to-weight ratio3.71 kg/hp5.56 kg/hpbetter ratio · RS 5 Avant

Watch the race

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

AudiPHEVRS 5 Avant
Speed
0km/h
Timer
0,00s
Distance
0m
AudiPetrolSQ5 Sportback
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.
StageRS 5 AvantSQ5 Sportback
0–30 km/h0.97 s · tight gap1.06 s
0–50 km/h1.61 s1.78 s
0–80 km/h2.67 s3.15 s
0–100 km/h3.66 s4.42 s
0–120 km/h4.82 s6.02 s
0–160 km/h7.97 s10.50 s
0–200 km/h12.48 s17.55 s
400 m standing start11.72 s12.76 s
1,000 m standing start21.36 s23.50 s
Top speed limited250 km/h250 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

RS 5 Avant

3,71kg/hpratio better by 1,85 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power639 hpPending
Torque825 Nm
Weight2 370 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainIntegrale (AWD)
Gearbox8-speed tiptronic
Audi

SQ5 Sportback

5,56kg/hpcompensated by −330 kg
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power367 hpPending
Torque550 Nm
Weight2 040 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainIntegrale (AWD)
Gearbox7-speed S tronic

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the RS 5 Avant hits 100 km/h in 3.66 s versus 4.42 s for the SQ5 Sportback. The instant torque of 825 Nm from the electric motor makes the difference. At this point, the RS 5 Avant leads by 0.76 s and sits roughly 6 m ahead.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the RS 5 Avant is doing 156 km/h against 142 km/h for the SQ5 Sportback. The gap is 0.61 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the RS 5 Avant crosses the line in 11.72 s versus 12.76 s. The 1.04 s gap represents roughly 50 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play

Past 400 metres, the RS 5 Avant continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 218 km/h versus 196 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the RS 5 Avant finishes in 21.35 s versus 23.50 s, with a 2.15 s lead. Both vehicles have similar top speeds (250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) vs 250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) km/h), preventing any comeback.

What the numbers don’t tell you

Both rivals share the same electronic speed cap: the RS 5 Avant and the SQ5 Sportback are governed to 250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) km/h. At that speed, standard-fit tyres approach their safety threshold - an industrial ceiling common to most electric vehicles in this segment. Neither car shows its true aerodynamic potential in this duel.

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 6.96 seconds. The 0.76 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, RS 5 Avant wins (3,66 s vs 4,42 s).

RS 5 Avant goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 3,66 seconds (calibrated simulation).

RS 5 Avant: 639 hp, ratio 3,71 kg/hp. SQ5 Sportback: 367 hp, ratio 5,56 kg/hp.

RS 5 Avant: 250 km/h. SQ5 Sportback: 250 km/h.