Mercedes E 400 e 4MATIC W214 vs BMW 120i F40: which is truly faster?

Off the line, the E 400 e 4MATIC hits 100 km/h in 5.31 s versus 6.95 s for the Bmw 120i. The instant torque of 650 Nm from the electric motor makes the difference. At this point, the E 400 e 4MATIC leads by 1.65 s and sits roughly 15 m ahead.

At 200 metres, the E 400 e 4MATIC is doing 135 km/h against 123 km/h for the Bmw 120i. The gap is 0.99 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the E 400 e 4MATIC crosses the line in 13.57 s versus 15.05 s. The 1.48 s gap represents roughly 61 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Past 400 metres, the E 400 e 4MATIC continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 190 km/h versus 171 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the E 400 e 4MATIC finishes in 24.58 s versus 27.31 s, with a 2.73 s lead.

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the E 400 e 4MATIC is capped at 250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) km/h, the Bmw 120i at 235 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 11.01 seconds. The 1.65 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.