Audi RS 5 Avant vs Mercedes G 450 d W463: which is truly faster?

Off the line, the RS 5 Avant hits 100 km/h in 3.66 s versus 5.83 s for the G 450 d. The instant torque of 825 Nm from the electric motor makes the difference. At this point, the RS 5 Avant leads by 2.18 s and sits roughly 12 m ahead.

At 200 metres, the RS 5 Avant is doing 156 km/h against 128 km/h for the G 450 d. The gap is 1.45 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the RS 5 Avant crosses the line in 11.72 s versus 14.11 s. The 2.39 s gap represents roughly 100 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Past 400 metres, the RS 5 Avant continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 218 km/h versus 174 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the RS 5 Avant finishes in 21.35 s versus 26.22 s, with a 4.87 s lead.

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the RS 5 Avant is capped at 250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) km/h, the G 450 d at 210 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.

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 9.41 seconds. The 2.18 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.