Audi S6 Sportback e-tron vs BMW 318d Steptronic F30: which is truly faster?

Off the line, the S6 Sportback e-tron hits 100 km/h in 4.08 s versus 9.32 s for the 318d Steptronic. The instant torque of 855 Nm from the electric motor makes the difference. At this point, the S6 Sportback e-tron leads by 5.25 s and sits roughly 30 m ahead.

At 200 metres, the S6 Sportback e-tron is doing 146 km/h against 111 km/h for the 318d Steptronic. The gap is 3.09 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 16.91 s. The 4.39 s gap represents roughly 156 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Past 400 metres, the S6 Sportback e-tron continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 191 km/h versus 153 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the S6 Sportback e-tron finishes in 23.58 s versus 30.62 s, with a 7.04 s lead.

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the S6 Sportback e-tron is capped at 240 km/h, the 318d Steptronic at 212 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 15.08 seconds. The 5.25 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.