Audi S6 Sportback e-tron vs Audi SQ5 Sportback: which is truly faster?

Off the line, the S6 Sportback e-tron hits 100 km/h in 4.08 s versus 4.42 s for the SQ5 Sportback. The instant torque of 855 Nm from the electric motor makes the difference. The 0.34 s gap is negligible: both vehicles are neck and neck.

At 200 metres, the S6 Sportback e-tron is doing 146 km/h against 142 km/h for the SQ5 Sportback. The gap is 0.18 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the S6 Sportback e-tron crosses the line in 12.52 s versus 12.76 s. The 0.24 s gap represents roughly 11 m of track - two to three car lengths.

Past 400 metres, the situation changes. The S6 Sportback e-tron maxes out at 233 km/h while the SQ5 Sportback keeps accelerating towards 250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) km/h. At 600 metres, the gap has dropped to 0.18 s.

Around 905 metres, both vehicles are level. This is the inversion point: the SQ5 Sportback overcomes its launch deficit thanks to a 17 km/h higher top speed.

At 1,000 metres, the SQ5 Sportback finishes in 23.50 s versus 23.58 s. The 0.08 s delta shows an extremely tight race.

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the S6 Sportback e-tron is capped at 240 km/h, the SQ5 Sportback at 250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) 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 6.96 seconds. The 0.34 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.