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ASQ5PetrolvsB116dDiesel
  • MotorwayMotorwayRange and charging
  • PerformancePerformance0-100, top speed
  • ConsumptionConsumptionYearly cost
  • SpecsSQ5 · 116d

Audi SQ5 Sportback vs BMW 116d F40: 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 · 2026 vs 2019 · Methodology
AudiPetrolFaster

SQ5 Sportback

367 hp · 550 Nm · 2,040 kg · 2026

VS
BMWDiesel

116d F40

116 hp · 270 Nm · 1,375 kg · 2019

Result · 0–100 km/h

AAudi SQ5 Sportback

4.42 s

Gap5.96 sin favour of SQ5 Sportback
BBMW 116d F40

10.38 s

Summary · Caralogy simulation
MeasureSQ5 Sportback116d F40Gap
0–100 km/h4.42 s10.38 s5.96 s · SQ5 Sportback
400 m standing start12.76 s17.63 s4.87 s · SQ5 Sportback
1,000 m standing start23.50 s31.80 s8.30 s · SQ5 Sportback
Top speed (electronically limited)250 km/h200 km/h50 km/h · SQ5 Sportback
Power-to-weight ratio5.56 kg/hp11.85 kg/hpbetter ratio · SQ5 Sportback

Watch the race

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

AudiPetrolSQ5 Sportback
Speed
0km/h
Timer
0,00s
Distance
0m
BMWDiesel116d F40
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.
StageSQ5 Sportback116d F40
0–30 km/h1.06 s2.54 s
0–50 km/h1.78 s4.17 s
0–80 km/h3.15 s7.33 s
0–100 km/h4.42 s10.38 s
0–120 km/h6.02 s14.41 s
0–160 km/h10.50 s27.61 s
0–200 km/h17.55 s74.22 s
400 m standing start12.76 s17.63 s
1,000 m standing start23.50 s31.80 s
Top speed limited250 km/h200 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

SQ5 Sportback

5,56kg/hpratio better by 6,29 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power367 hpPending
Torque550 Nm
Weight2 040 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainIntegrale (AWD)
Gearbox7-speed S tronic
BMW

116d F40

11,85kg/hpcompensated by −665 kg
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power116 hpPending
Torque270 Nm
Weight1 375 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
Drivetrain-
GearboxSix-speed manual (seven-speed Steptronic dual-clutch transmission)

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the SQ5 Sportback hits 100 km/h in 4.42 s versus 10.38 s for the 116d. At this point, the SQ5 Sportback leads by 5.96 s and sits roughly 37 m ahead.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the SQ5 Sportback is doing 142 km/h against 107 km/h for the 116d. The gap is 3.41 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the SQ5 Sportback crosses the line in 12.76 s versus 17.62 s. The 4.87 s gap represents roughly 166 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play

Past 400 metres, the SQ5 Sportback continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 196 km/h versus 148 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the SQ5 Sportback finishes in 23.50 s versus 31.80 s, with a 8.30 s lead.

What the numbers don’t tell you

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the SQ5 Sportback is capped at 250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) km/h, the 116d at 200 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.

With two combustion powertrains, the difference comes down to power-to-weight ratio (5.56 kg/hp vs 11.85 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Automatic).

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 16.91 seconds. The 5.96 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.

Other duels you might be interested in

AudiVSBMW

SQ5 Sportback vs X3 M40i

AudiVSBMW

A3 Sedan vs 116d

AudiVSBMW

SQ5 Sportback vs X3 M40i

AudiVSBMW

A3 Sportback vs 116d

Frequently asked questions

Over 0–100 km/h, SQ5 Sportback wins (4,42 s vs 10,38 s).

SQ5 Sportback goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 4,42 seconds (calibrated simulation).

SQ5 Sportback: 367 hp, ratio 5,56 kg/hp. 116d F40: 116 hp, ratio 11,85 kg/hp.

SQ5 Sportback: 250 km/h. 116d F40: 200 km/h.