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ASQ5PetrolvsBGLCDiesel
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  • PerformancePerformance0-100, top speed
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  • SpecsSQ5 · GLC

Audi SQ5 SUV vs Mercedes GLC 220 d 4MATIC X254: 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 2023 · Methodology
AudiPetrolFaster

SQ5 SUV

367 hp · 550 Nm · 2,040 kg · 2026

VS
MercedesDiesel

GLC 220 d 4MATIC X254

197 hp · 440 Nm · 1,910 kg · 2023

Result · 0–100 km/h

AAudi SQ5 SUV

4.42 s

Gap3.35 sin favour of SQ5 SUV
BMercedes GLC 220 d 4MATIC X254

7.77 s

Summary · Caralogy simulation
MeasureSQ5 SUVGLC 220 d 4MATIC X254Gap
0–100 km/h4.42 s7.77 s3.35 s · SQ5 SUV
400 m standing start12.76 s15.67 s2.91 s · SQ5 SUV
1,000 m standing start23.50 s28.57 s5.07 s · SQ5 SUV
Top speed (electronically limited)250 km/h222 km/h28 km/h · SQ5 SUV
Power-to-weight ratio5.56 kg/hp9.70 kg/hpbetter ratio · SQ5 SUV

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
MercedesDieselGLC 220 d 4MATIC X254
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 SUVGLC 220 d 4MATIC X254
0–30 km/h1.06 s1.65 s
0–50 km/h1.78 s2.83 s
0–80 km/h3.15 s5.50 s
0–100 km/h4.42 s7.77 s
0–120 km/h6.02 s10.79 s
0–160 km/h10.50 s19.54 s
0–200 km/h17.55 s36.44 s
400 m standing start12.76 s15.67 s
1,000 m standing start23.50 s28.57 s
Top speed limited250 km/h222 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/hpratio better by 4,14 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power367 hpPending
Torque550 Nm
Weight2 040 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainIntegrale (AWD)
Gearbox7-speed S tronic
Mercedes

GLC 220 d 4MATIC X254

9,70kg/hpcompensated by −130 kg
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power197 hpPending
Torque440 Nm
Weight1 910 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainIntegrale (AWD)
Gearbox9G-Tronic

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the SQ5 SUV hits 100 km/h in 4.42 s versus 7.77 s for the GLC 220 d 4MATIC. At this point, the SQ5 SUV leads by 3.35 s and sits roughly 22 m ahead.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the SQ5 SUV is doing 142 km/h against 116 km/h for the GLC 220 d 4MATIC. The gap is 1.95 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the SQ5 SUV crosses the line in 12.76 s versus 15.67 s. The 2.91 s gap represents roughly 112 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

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 163 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the SQ5 SUV finishes in 23.50 s versus 28.57 s, with a 5.07 s lead.

What the numbers don’t tell you

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the SQ5 SUV is capped at 250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) km/h, the GLC 220 d 4MATIC at 222 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 9.70 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Unknown).

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 12.53 seconds. The 3.35 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.

Other duels you might be interested in

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SQ5 SUV vs X3 M40i

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Q5 Sportback vs GLC 220 d 4MATIC

AudiVSBMW

SQ5 SUV vs X3 M40i

MercedesVSBMW

GLC 220 d 4MATIC vs X3 xDrive20d

Frequently asked questions

Over 0–100 km/h, SQ5 SUV wins (4,42 s vs 7,77 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. GLC 220 d 4MATIC X254: 197 hp, ratio 9,70 kg/hp.

SQ5 SUV: 250 km/h. GLC 220 d 4MATIC X254: 222 km/h.