BMW 330d xDrive Touring G20 vs Audi A6 45 TFSI: which is truly faster?

Off the line, the 330d xDrive Touring hits 100 km/h in 5.31 s versus 6.33 s for the A6 45 TFSI. At this point, the 330d xDrive Touring leads by 1.03 s and sits roughly 16 m ahead.

At 200 metres, the 330d xDrive Touring is doing 133 km/h against 128 km/h for the A6 45 TFSI. The gap is 0.74 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the 330d xDrive Touring crosses the line in 13.64 s versus 14.54 s. The 0.89 s gap represents roughly 39 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Past 400 metres, the 330d xDrive Touring continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 185 km/h versus 180 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the 330d xDrive Touring finishes in 24.99 s versus 26.23 s, with a 1.24 s lead. Both vehicles have similar top speeds (250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) vs 247 km/h), preventing any comeback.

The 330d xDrive Touring features all-wheel drive (AWD) against the A6 45 TFSI’s FWD. At low speeds (0-30, 0-50, 0-80 km/h), AWD doubles the driven contact area: all four wheels transmit torque to the road, virtually eliminating wheelspin at launch. This traction advantage is decisive in the range where the motor delivers peak torque, before power and aerodynamics take over.

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the 330d xDrive Touring is capped at 250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) km/h, the A6 45 TFSI at 247 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 (6.58 kg/hp vs 6.69 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Automatic).

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 9.77 seconds. The 1.03 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.