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ACayennevsBQ3Petrol
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  • SpecsCayenne · Q3

Porsche Cayenne S vs Audi Q3 SUV: 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.

large SUV · 2012 vs 2026 · Methodology
PorschePetrolFaster

Cayenne S

420 hp · 550 Nm · 2,065 kg · 2012

VS
AudiPetrol

Q3 SUV

150 hp · 250 Nm · 1,560 kg · 2026

Result · 0–100 km/h

APorsche Cayenne S

5.73 s

Gap3.43 sin favour of Cayenne S
BAudi Q3 SUV

9.16 s

Summary · Caralogy simulation
MeasureCayenne SQ3 SUVGap
0–100 km/h5.73 s9.16 s3.43 s · Cayenne S
400 m standing start13.92 s16.93 s3.01 s · Cayenne S
1,000 m standing start25.21 s30.85 s5.64 s · Cayenne S
Top speed (electronically limited)255 km/h209 km/h46 km/h · Cayenne S
Power-to-weight ratio4.92 kg/hp10.40 kg/hpbetter ratio · Cayenne S

Watch the race

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

PorschePetrolCayenne S
Speed
0km/h
Timer
0,00s
Distance
0m
AudiPetrolQ3 SUV
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.
StageCayenne SQ3 SUV
0–30 km/h1.41 s2.19 s
0–50 km/h2.31 s3.65 s
0–80 km/h4.14 s6.48 s
0–100 km/h5.73 s9.16 s
0–120 km/h7.71 s13.38 s
0–160 km/h12.97 s25.21 s
0–200 km/h21.63 s54.13 s
400 m standing start13.92 s16.93 s
1,000 m standing start25.21 s30.85 s
Top speed255 km/h209 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.

Porsche

Cayenne S

4,92kg/hpratio better by 5,48 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power420 hpEngine block and cylinder heads formed in aluminum
Torque550 Nm
Weight2 065 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainIntegrale (AWD)
GearboxTORQUE_CONVERTER
Audi

Q3 SUV

10,40kg/hpcompensated by −505 kg
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power150 hpPending
Torque250 Nm
Weight1 560 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainTraction
Gearbox7-speed S tronic

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the Cayenne S hits 100 km/h in 5.73 s versus 9.16 s for the Q3 SUV. At this point, the Cayenne S leads by 3.43 s and sits roughly 28 m ahead.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the Cayenne S is doing 133 km/h against 111 km/h for the Q3 SUV. The gap is 1.90 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the Cayenne S crosses the line in 13.92 s versus 16.93 s. The 3.01 s gap represents roughly 107 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play

Past 400 metres, the Cayenne S continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 186 km/h versus 151 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the Cayenne S finishes in 25.21 s versus 30.84 s, with a 5.63 s lead.

What the numbers don’t tell you

The Cayenne S features all-wheel drive (AWD) against the Q3 SUV’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 Cayenne S is capped at 258 km/h, the Q3 SUV at 209 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 (4.92 kg/hp vs 10.40 kg/hp) and transmission (Unknown vs Automatic).

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 16.01 seconds. The 3.43 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.

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Frequently asked questions

Over 0–100 km/h, Cayenne S wins (5,73 s vs 9,16 s).

Cayenne S goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 5,73 seconds (calibrated simulation).

Cayenne S: 420 hp, ratio 4,92 kg/hp. Q3 SUV: 150 hp, ratio 10,40 kg/hp.

Cayenne S: 255 km/h. Q3 SUV: 209 km/h.