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ACLAvsBModel 3BEV
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  • SpecsCLA · Model 3

Mercedes CLA 250+ with EQ technology vs Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus: which is truly faster?

Simulated drag race 0 → 1,000 m in real time. Synchronised speed counters and stopwatch. Physics calibration on 7 manufacturer measurements.

compact · 2025 vs 2019 · Methodology
MercedesBEV

CLA 250+ with EQ technology

272 hp · 335 Nm · 2,055 kg · 2025

VS
TeslaBEVFaster

Model 3 Standard Range Plus

227 hp · 449 Nm · 1,655 kg · 2019

Result · 0–100 km/h

AMercedes CLA 250+ with EQ technology

6.83 s

Gap1.02 sin favour of Model 3 Standard Range Plus
BTesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus

5.81 s

Summary · Caralogy simulation
MeasureCLA 250+ with EQ technologyModel 3 Standard Range PlusGap
0–100 km/h6.83 s5.81 s1.02 s · Model 3 Standard Range Plus
400 m standing start15.00 s14.27 s0.73 s · Model 3 Standard Range Plus
1,000 m standing start26.90 s26.61 s0.29 s · Model 3 Standard Range Plus
Top speed (electronically limited)210 km/h224 km/h14 km/h · Model 3 Standard Range Plus
Power-to-weight ratio7.56 kg/hp7.29 kg/hpbetter ratio · Model 3 Standard Range Plus

Watch the race

Standing-start drag race, calibrated on manufacturer splits. The gap shows at each stage.

MercedesBEVCLA 250+ with EQ technology
Speed
0km/h
Timer
0,00s
Distance
0m
TeslaBEVModel 3 Standard Range Plus
Speed
0km/h
Timer
0,00s
Distance
0m
100 m
200 m
300 m
400 m
500 m
600 m
700 m
800 m
900 m
1000 m
0m → 1000m
Gap0m

Stage-by-stage comparison

Simulated performance at each stage. Best value in bold.
StageCLA 250+ with EQ technologyModel 3 Standard Range Plus
0–30 km/h1.93 s1.44 s
0–50 km/h3.23 s2.40 s
0–80 km/h5.20 s4.14 s
0–100 km/h6.83 s5.81 s
0–120 km/h8.93 s8.01 s
0–160 km/h15.59 s15.57 s · tight gap
0–200 km/h26.18 s32.27 s
400 m standing start15.00 s14.27 s
1,000 m standing start26.90 s26.61 s
Top speed210 km/h224 km/h

Parameters and assumptions

Simulation

Start
Standing, straight line
Surface
Dry asphalt, 23°C
Wind
None
Driver
1 person, 75 kg

Calibration

Splits
0–100, 0–200 manufacturer
Power curve
Real measurement (Caralogy)
VMax
Manufacturer limited
Transmission
Losses integrated in model

Physics model calibrated on manufacturer splits. The limited top speed is not the real aerodynamic top speed of the vehicles.

Under the bonnet

Manufacturer technical specifications. The power-to-weight ratio is the key physical factor in a drag race.

Mercedes

CLA 250+ with EQ technology

7,56kg/hpcompensated by −400 kg
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power272 hpPending
Torque335 Nm
Weight2 055 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainPropulsion
GearboxUnknown
Tesla

Model 3 Standard Range Plus

7,29kg/hpratio better by 0,26 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power227 hpPermanent Magnet Synchronous Motor
Torque449 Nm
Weight1 655 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainPropulsion
GearboxSingle-speed fixed gear

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the Model 3 Standard Range Plus hits 100 km/h in 5.81 s versus 6.83 s for the CLA 250+ with EQ technology. At this point, the Model 3 Standard Range Plus leads by 1.02 s and sits roughly 18 m ahead.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the Model 3 Standard Range Plus is doing 129 km/h against 128 km/h for the CLA 250+ with EQ technology. The gap is 0.77 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 15.00 s. The 0.74 s gap represents roughly 32 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play

Past 400 metres, the gap narrows. The CLA 250+ with EQ technology maxes out at 210 km/h while the Model 3 Standard Range Plus keeps accelerating towards 224 km/h. At 600 metres, the gap is down to 0.63 s from 0.74 s at 400 metres.

At 1,000 metres, the Model 3 Standard Range Plus finishes in 26.61 s versus 26.90 s, with just 0.29 s to spare. The CLA 250+ with EQ technology fails to fully close the launch gap.

What the numbers don’t tell you

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the CLA 250+ with EQ technology is capped at 210 km/h, the Model 3 Standard Range Plus 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 (7.56 kg/hp vs 7.29 kg/hp) and transmission (Unknown vs Automatic).

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 10.25 seconds. The 1.02 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.

Compare with other alternatives

Swap one of the two models to explore an equivalent duel in the same segment.

Instead of CLA 250+ with EQ technology
BMW i4 eDrive35Xpeng P7
Instead of Model 3 Standard Range Plus
Xpeng MONA M03

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CLA 250+ with EQ technology vs Megane E-Tech Electric 217

VolvoVSTesla

V60 T8 AWD Recharge vs Model 3 Standard Range Plus

Frequently asked questions

Over 0–100 km/h, Model 3 Standard Range Plus wins (5,81 s vs 6,83 s).

CLA 250+ with EQ technology goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 6,83 seconds (calibrated simulation).

CLA 250+ with EQ technology: 272 hp, ratio 7,56 kg/hp. Model 3 Standard Range Plus: 227 hp, ratio 7,29 kg/hp.

CLA 250+ with EQ technology: 210 km/h. Model 3 Standard Range Plus: 224 km/h.