Mercedes G 450 d W463 vs Tesla Model Y Long Range RWD: which is truly faster?

Off the line, the Model Y Long Range RWD hits 100 km/h in 5.37 s versus 5.83 s for the G 450 d. The instant torque of 582 Nm from the electric motor makes the difference. The 0.46 s gap is negligible: both vehicles are neck and neck.

At 200 metres, the Model Y Long Range RWD is doing 131 km/h against 128 km/h for the G 450 d. The gap is 0.16 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the Model Y Long Range RWD crosses the line in 13.90 s versus 14.11 s. The 0.21 s gap represents roughly 9 m of track - barely a car length.

Past 400 metres, the gap narrows. The G 450 d maxes out at 210 km/h while the Model Y Long Range RWD keeps accelerating towards 216 km/h. At 600 metres, the gap has dropped to 0.18 s.

At 1,000 metres, the Model Y Long Range RWD finishes in 26.20 s versus 26.22 s, with just 0.02 s to spare. The G 450 d fails to fully close the launch gap.

The G 450 d features all-wheel drive (AWD) against the Model Y Long Range RWD’s RWD. At low speeds (0-30, 0-50, 0-80 km/h), AWD doubles the driven contact area: all four wheels transmit torque to the road, virtually eliminating wheelspin at launch. This traction advantage is decisive in the range where the motor delivers peak torque, before power and aerodynamics take over.

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the G 450 d is capped at 210 km/h, the Model Y Long Range RWD at 217 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 9.41 seconds. The 0.46 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.