Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus vs Mercedes CLA 220 Saloon: which is truly faster?

Off the line, the Model 3 Standard Range Plus hits 100 km/h in 5.81 s versus 7.31 s for the CLA 220 Saloon. The instant torque of 449 Nm from the electric motor makes the difference. At this point, the Model 3 Standard Range Plus leads by 1.50 s and sits roughly 15 m ahead.

At 200 metres, the Model 3 Standard Range Plus is doing 129 km/h against 122 km/h for the CLA 220 Saloon. The gap is 0.87 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the Model 3 Standard Range Plus crosses the line in 14.26 s versus 15.32 s. The 1.06 s gap represents roughly 44 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Past 400 metres, the gap narrows. The Model 3 Standard Range Plus maxes out at 224 km/h while the CLA 220 Saloon keeps accelerating towards 240 km/h. At 600 metres, the gap has dropped to 1.08 s.

At 1,000 metres, the Model 3 Standard Range Plus finishes in 26.61 s versus 27.53 s, with just 0.92 s to spare. The CLA 220 Saloon fails to fully close the launch gap.

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the Model 3 Standard Range Plus is capped at 225 km/h, the CLA 220 Saloon at 240 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 11.41 seconds. The 1.50 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.