Lexus IS 300 RWD vs MG4 Long Range RWD: which is truly faster?

Off the line, the 4 Long Range RWD hits 100 km/h in 6.73 s versus 7.40 s for the IS 300 RWD. The instant torque of 350 Nm from the electric motor makes the difference. At this point, the 4 Long Range RWD leads by 0.67 s and sits roughly 7 m ahead.

At 200 metres, the 4 Long Range RWD is doing 129 km/h against 124 km/h for the IS 300 RWD. The gap is 0.40 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the 4 Long Range RWD crosses the line in 14.92 s versus 15.44 s. The 0.52 s gap represents roughly 22 m of track - two to three car lengths.

Past 400 metres, the gap narrows. The 4 Long Range RWD maxes out at 180 km/h while the IS 300 RWD keeps accelerating towards 225 km/h. At 600 metres, the gap has dropped to 0.59 s.

At 1,000 metres, the 4 Long Range RWD finishes in 27.23 s versus 27.59 s, with just 0.36 s to spare. The IS 300 RWD fails to fully close the launch gap.

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the IS 300 RWD is capped at 225 km/h, the 4 Long Range RWD at 180 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 11.11 seconds. The 0.67 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.