Skip to main content
CaralogyCaralogy
HomeBrandsRoad TripBudgetDuelGuides
Caralogy

The car comparison platform. Physics simulation, road trips, real costs.

Navigation
All brandsCar duelRunning costsMotorwayMethodology
Simulators
Motorway simulatorRunning costsPerformance duel
Brands
VolkswagenBMWMercedesToyotaTeslaAudi
FRENDEESIT
© 2026 Caralogy · All rights reserved
  1. Home
  2. /Duel
  3. /SUV
ASQ5vsBX3Petrol
  • MotorwayMotorwayRange and charging
  • PerformancePerformance0-100, top speed
  • ConsumptionConsumptionYearly cost
  • SpecsSQ5 · X3

Audi SQ5 SUV vs BMW X3 M40i G01: 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 2018 · Methodology
AudiPetrolFaster

SQ5 SUV

367 hp · 550 Nm · 2,040 kg · 2026

VS
BMWPetrol

X3 M40i G01

354 hp · 500 Nm · 1,810 kg · 2018

Result · 0–100 km/h

AAudi SQ5 SUV

4.42 s

Gap0.34 sin favour of SQ5 SUV
BBMW X3 M40i G01

4.76 s

Summary · Caralogy simulation
MeasureSQ5 SUVX3 M40i G01Gap
0–100 km/h4.42 s4.76 s0.34 s · SQ5 SUV
400 m standing start12.76 s13.02 s0.26 s · SQ5 SUV
1,000 m standing start23.50 s23.71 s0.21 s · SQ5 SUV
Top speed (electronically limited)250 km/h250 km/hSame
Power-to-weight ratio5.56 kg/hp5.11 kg/hpbetter ratio · X3 M40i G01

Watch the race

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

AudiPetrolSQ5 SUV
Speed
0km/h
Timer
0,00s
Distance
0m
BMWPetrolX3 M40i G01
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 SUVX3 M40i G01
0–30 km/h1.06 s1.28 s
0–50 km/h1.78 s2.13 s
0–80 km/h3.15 s3.52 s
0–100 km/h4.42 s4.76 s
0–120 km/h6.02 s6.33 s
0–160 km/h10.50 s10.65 s
0–200 km/h17.55 s · tight gap17.58 s
400 m standing start12.76 s13.02 s
1,000 m standing start23.50 s23.71 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

SQ5 SUV

5,56kg/hpcompensated by −230 kg
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power367 hpPending
Torque550 Nm
Weight2 040 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainIntegrale (AWD)
Gearbox7-speed S tronic
BMW

X3 M40i G01

5,11kg/hpratio better by 0,45 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power354 hp6 cyl
Torque500 Nm
Weight1 810 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainIntegrale (AWD)
Gearbox8-speed Steptronic

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the SQ5 SUV hits 100 km/h in 4.42 s versus 4.76 s for the X3 M40i. At this point, the SQ5 SUV leads by 0.34 s and sits roughly 7 m ahead.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the SQ5 SUV is doing 142 km/h against 142 km/h for the X3 M40i. The gap is 0.28 s. The gap remains stable from the start.

At 400 metres standing start, the SQ5 SUV crosses the line in 12.76 s versus 13.01 s. The 0.26 s gap represents roughly 13 m of track - two to three car lengths.

Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play

Past 400 metres, the SQ5 SUV continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 196 km/h versus 197 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the SQ5 SUV finishes in 23.50 s versus 23.71 s, with a 0.21 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 SQ5 SUV and the X3 M40i 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.

With two combustion powertrains, the difference comes down to power-to-weight ratio (5.56 kg/hp vs 5.11 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Automatic).

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 7.24 seconds. The 0.34 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.

Compare with other alternatives

Swap one of the two models to explore an equivalent duel in the same segment.

Instead of SQ5 SUV
Audi SQ5 Sportback
Instead of X3 M40i G01
BMW X3 M40iBMW X3 M40i

Other duels you might be interested in

AudiVSBMW

SQ5 SUV vs X3 M40i

BMWVSPorsche

X3 M40i vs Macan S

AudiVSBMW

SQ5 SUV vs X3 M40i

PorscheVSBMW

Macan GTS vs X3 M40i

Frequently asked questions

Over 0–100 km/h, SQ5 SUV wins (4,42 s vs 4,76 s).

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

SQ5 SUV: 367 hp, ratio 5,56 kg/hp. X3 M40i G01: 354 hp, ratio 5,11 kg/hp.

SQ5 SUV: 250 km/h. X3 M40i G01: 250 km/h.