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A530ivsBA5Petrol
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  • Specs530i · A5

BMW 530i G30 vs Audi A5 Sedan: 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.

grand tourer · 2018 vs 2026 · Methodology
BMWPetrolFaster

530i G30

252 hp · 350 Nm · 1,640 kg · 2018

VS
AudiPetrol

A5 Sedan

204 hp · 340 Nm · 1,695 kg · 2026

Result · 0–100 km/h

ABMW 530i G30

6.49 s

Gap1.23 sin favour of 530i
BAudi A5 Sedan

7.72 s

Summary · Caralogy simulation
Measure530i G30A5 SedanGap
0–100 km/h6.49 s7.72 s1.23 s · 530i G30
400 m standing start14.67 s15.71 s1.04 s · 530i G30
1,000 m standing start26.57 s28.00 s1.43 s · 530i G30
Top speed (electronically limited)248 km/h247 km/h1 km/h · 530i G30
Power-to-weight ratio6.51 kg/hp8.31 kg/hpbetter ratio · 530i G30

Watch the race

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

BMWPetrol530i G30
Speed
0km/h
Timer
0,00s
Distance
0m
AudiPetrolA5 Sedan
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.
Stage530i G30A5 Sedan
0–30 km/h1.63 s2.12 s
0–50 km/h2.72 s3.54 s
0–80 km/h4.72 s5.76 s
0–100 km/h6.49 s7.72 s
0–120 km/h8.75 s10.24 s
0–160 km/h15.15 s17.44 s
0–200 km/h26.28 s30.10 s
400 m standing start14.67 s15.71 s
1,000 m standing start26.57 s28.00 s
Top speed248 km/h247 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.

BMW

530i G30

6,51kg/hpratio better by 1,80 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power252 hp4 cyl
Torque350 Nm
Weight1 640 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainPropulsion
Gearbox8-speed Steptronic
Audi

A5 Sedan

8,31kg/hpcompensated by −55 kg
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power204 hpPending
Torque340 Nm
Weight1 695 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainTraction
Gearbox7-speed S tronic

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the 530i hits 100 km/h in 6.49 s versus 7.72 s for the A5 Sedan. At this point, the 530i leads by 1.23 s and sits roughly 18 m ahead.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the 530i is doing 127 km/h against 122 km/h for the A5 Sedan. The gap is 0.85 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the 530i crosses the line in 14.67 s versus 15.71 s. The 1.04 s gap represents roughly 43 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play

Past 400 metres, the 530i continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 177 km/h versus 171 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the 530i finishes in 26.56 s versus 27.99 s, with a 1.43 s lead. Both vehicles have similar top speeds (248 vs 247 km/h), preventing any comeback.

What the numbers don’t tell you

Both rivals share the same electronic speed cap: the 530i and the A5 Sedan 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 (6.51 kg/hp vs 8.31 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Automatic).

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 11.72 seconds. The 1.23 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 530i G30
BMW 320iBMW 320i Sedan

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A5 Sedan vs 320i Sedan

Frequently asked questions

Over 0–100 km/h, 530i G30 wins (6,49 s vs 7,72 s).

530i G30 goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 6,49 seconds (calibrated simulation).

530i G30: 252 hp, ratio 6,51 kg/hp. A5 Sedan: 204 hp, ratio 8,31 kg/hp.

530i G30: 248 km/h. A5 Sedan: 247 km/h.