Audi S6 Avant e-tron vs Tesla Model 3 Long Range RWD: which is truly faster?

Off the line, the S6 Avant e-tron hits 100 km/h in 4.03 s versus 5.72 s for the Model 3 Long Range RWD. At this point, the S6 Avant e-tron leads by 1.69 s and sits roughly 15 m ahead.

At 200 metres, the S6 Avant e-tron is doing 150 km/h against 131 km/h for the Model 3 Long Range RWD. The gap is 1.22 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the S6 Avant e-tron crosses the line in 12.29 s versus 14.16 s. The 1.87 s gap represents roughly 80 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Past 400 metres, the S6 Avant e-tron continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 206 km/h versus 174 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the S6 Avant e-tron finishes in 22.44 s versus 26.28 s, with a 3.84 s lead.

The S6 Avant e-tron features all-wheel drive (AWD) against the Model 3 Long Range RWD’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.

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the S6 Avant e-tron is capped at 240 km/h, the Model 3 Long Range RWD at 225 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 electric powertrains, the difference comes down to power-to-weight ratio (4.30 kg/hp vs 6.71 kg/hp) and transmission (Unknown vs Automatic).

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 9.03 seconds. The 1.69 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.