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. /Motorway
  3. /compact
AA3vsB520iPetrol
  • MotorwayMotorwayRange and charging
  • PerformancePerformance0-100, top speed
  • ConsumptionConsumptionYearly cost
  • SpecsA3 · 520i

Audi A3 Sedan vs BMW 520i G30

Trip mapped at a glance. Charging stops visible, total duration predictable. Caralogy simulation at 130 km/h.

compact · 2026 vs 2020 · Paris → Marseille · 775 km · 130 km/h
AudiPetrol

A3 Sedan

204 ch · 2026

VS
BMWPetrolPlus rapide

520i G30

184 ch · 2020

Simulation trip
Assumptions: 130 km/h · start réservoir plein · mild weather

Result · total trip time

AAudi A3 Sedan

7h06charging included

1 stop · 145.30 €

Gap5 minin favour of 520i
BBMW 520i G30

7h01no stop

0 stops · 79.04 €

Paris → Marseille · 130 km/h · Caralogy simulation
MeasureA3 Sedan520i G30Gap
Total time7h067h015 min · 520i G30
Charging stops1 stop0 stops1 stop · 520i G30
Cost of energy used145.30 €79.04 €66.26 € · 520i G30

Visualise the trip

Both vehicles drive at 130 km/h. The difference comes from charging stops.

AudiPetrol
A3 Sedan
100%
573 km
Range
Paris
0 km · departure
Refuel 1
5 min · +50 L · 107.41 €
Marseille
775 km · Arrival 7h06
1
Stops
7h06
Duration
145.30 €
Cost of energy used
BMWPetrolFastest
520i G30
100%
1447 km
Range
Paris
0 km · departure
Marseille
775 km · Arrival 7h01
0
Stops
7h01
Duration
79.04 €
Cost of energy used

The 5-minute lead of the 520i G30 does not come from driving speed, but from one fewer charging stop on this route (0 vs 1).

Both vehicles drove at 130 km/h for the entire trip. The gap is built at the stops: no stop for the 520i G30 versus 1 stop of 5 min for the A3 Sedan.

Motorway consumption: the Caralogy methodology

The official WLTP figures (7,2 L/100km for A3 Sedan and 5,5 L/100km for 520i G30) are measured on a mixed cycle averaging ~46 km/h. At a steady 130 km/h, aerodynamic drag weighs much more heavily - it grows with the square of speed. Caralogy calculates a motorway consumption specific to each vehicle based on its aerodynamic profile (SCx), weight and power curve - not a uniform correction factor. For this trip, the simulation yields 8,6 L/100km (A3 Sedan) and 4,7 L/100km (520i G30). Full methodology: see the assumptions below the controls.

Energy cost breakdown for your trip Paris → Marseille

The cost per kilometre depends on the electricity rate applied to each segment - based on the energy source used at that point of the trip.

Audi A3 Sedan

SegmentEnergy usedDistanceConsumption€/kmCost (€)
Paris → Montélimar, A7fuel · 2.17 €/L573 km50 L consumed0.187 €/km107.41 €
Montélimar, A7 → Marseillefuel · 2.17 €/L202 km17 L consumed0.188 €/km37.89 €
Trip total145.30 €

BMW 520i G30

SegmentEnergy usedDistanceConsumption€/kmCost (€)
Paris → Marseillefuel · 2.17 €/L775 km36 L consumed0.102 €/km79.04 €
Trip total79.04 €

What produces these figures

WLTP combined consumption
7.2 L/100 km · 5.5 L/100 km
Fuel tank
55 L · 68 L

Compare with another vehicle

Replace one of the two with an alternative from the same segment

AudiPetrol

A3 Sedan

204 ch · 2026

BMWPetrol

520i G30

184 ch · 2020

Other duels you might be interested in

AudiVSBMW

A3 Sedan vs 220i

AudiVSBMW

A6 Avant TFSI S tronic 150 kW vs 520i

AudiVSBMW

A3 Sedan vs 120i

AudiVSBMW

A6 Sedan vs 520i

Frequently asked questions

On Paris → Marseille (775 km at 130 km/h), the 520i G30 arrives in 7h01 with 0 fuel stops.

WLTP consumption does not reflect motorway reality. Aerodynamic drag grows with the square of speed, so real consumption is 15 to 25 % higher than WLTP combined. Caralogy calculates a highway consumption specific to each vehicle based on its aerodynamic profile (SCx), weight and power curve.

Total time = driving time + charging time. Driving time is calculated at an average speed of 130 km/h on the motorway (adjustable). Charging time is calculated based on the real power curve of each vehicle, respecting the optimal 10 → 80 % range and the maximum power accepted by the chargers on the route.

No. The displayed cost covers only the energy consumed during the trip: kWh × energy rate, with a mix of home charging and DC fast chargers. Battery wear is a long-term ownership cost, not a trip cost.

On this trip, the energy used costs 145.30 € (A3 Sedan) and 79.04 € (520i G30). For reference, an equivalent Peugeot 308 1.2 PureTech 130 (~6.8 L/100 km) would cost about 97 € in fuel.