Audi A4 45 TFSI quattro vs Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus: which is truly faster?

Off the line, the A4 45 TFSI quattro hits 100 km/h in 5.78 s versus 5.81 s for the Model 3 Standard Range Plus. Despite lacking instant torque, 245 hp of power compensates. The 0.03 s gap is negligible: both vehicles are neck and neck.

At 200 metres, the A4 45 TFSI quattro is doing 129 km/h against 129 km/h for the Model 3 Standard Range Plus. The gap is 0.08 s. The gap remains stable from the start.

At 400 metres standing start, the A4 45 TFSI quattro crosses the line in 14.09 s versus 14.26 s. The 0.18 s gap represents roughly 8 m of track - barely a car length.

Past 400 metres, the A4 45 TFSI quattro continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 179 km/h versus 171 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the A4 45 TFSI quattro finishes in 25.82 s versus 26.61 s, with a 0.79 s lead.

The A4 45 TFSI quattro features all-wheel drive (AWD) against the Model 3 Standard Range Plus’s RWD. 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.

Electronically capped at 225 km/h, the Model 3 Standard Range Plus never reaches its natural aerodynamic ceiling in this duel. That’s not a physical limit of the motor - it’s a deliberate manufacturer decision, typically tied to standard-fit tyre ratings or model-range positioning.

Instant electric torque gives an advantage off the line. The higher top speed of the combustion engine gives an advantage over longer distances. The distance at which one catches the other depends on the top speed differential.

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 9.43 seconds. The 0.03 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.