Mercedes C 400 e 4MATIC Limousine W206 vs Audi SQ2: which is truly faster?

Off the line, the SQ2 hits 100 km/h in 4.94 s versus 5.29 s for the C 400 e 4MATIC Limousine. Despite lacking instant torque, 300 hp of power compensates. At this point, the SQ2 leads by 0.35 s and sits roughly 4 m ahead.

At 200 metres, the SQ2 is doing 133 km/h against 135 km/h for the C 400 e 4MATIC Limousine. The gap is 0.11 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the SQ2 crosses the line in 13.47 s versus 13.55 s. The 0.08 s gap represents roughly 4 m of track - barely a car length.

Past 400 metres, the situation changes. The C 400 e 4MATIC Limousine maxes out at 240 km/h while the SQ2 keeps accelerating towards 257 km/h. At 600 metres, the gap has dropped to 0.08 s.

Around 958 metres, both vehicles are level. This is the inversion point: the C 400 e 4MATIC Limousine overcomes its launch deficit thanks to a 17 km/h higher top speed.

At 1,000 metres, the C 400 e 4MATIC Limousine finishes in 24.53 s versus 24.55 s. The 0.01 s delta shows an extremely tight race.

Electronically capped at 240 km/h, the C 400 e 4MATIC Limousine 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 8.36 seconds. The 0.35 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.