Audi RS 5 Avant vs BMW 520i G60: which is truly faster?

Off the line, the RS 5 Avant hits 100 km/h in 3.66 s versus 7.56 s for the Bmw 520i. The instant torque of 825 Nm from the electric motor makes the difference. At this point, the RS 5 Avant leads by 3.90 s and sits roughly 25 m ahead.

At 200 metres, the RS 5 Avant is doing 156 km/h against 119 km/h for the Bmw 520i. The gap is 2.59 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 15.58 s. The 3.87 s gap represents roughly 149 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Past 400 metres, the RS 5 Avant continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 218 km/h versus 166 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the RS 5 Avant finishes in 21.35 s versus 28.25 s, with a 6.90 s lead.

The RS 5 Avant features all-wheel drive (AWD) against the Bmw 520i’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 RS 5 Avant is capped at 250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) km/h, the Bmw 520i at 230 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 12.02 seconds. The 3.90 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.