Mercedes G 450 d W463 vs Xpeng G6: which is truly faster?

Off the line, the G 450 d hits 100 km/h in 5.83 s versus 6.82 s for the G6. Despite lacking instant torque, 367 hp of power compensates. At this point, the G 450 d leads by 0.99 s and sits roughly 19 m ahead.

At 200 metres, the G 450 d is doing 128 km/h against 126 km/h for the G6. The gap is 0.81 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the G 450 d crosses the line in 14.11 s versus 14.96 s. The 0.85 s gap represents roughly 36 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Past 400 metres, the gap narrows. The G6 maxes out at 200 km/h while the G 450 d keeps accelerating towards 210 km/h. At 600 metres, the gap has dropped to 0.79 s.

At 1,000 metres, the G 450 d finishes in 26.22 s versus 26.81 s, with just 0.59 s to spare. The G6 fails to fully close the launch gap.

The G 450 d features all-wheel drive (AWD) against the G6’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 G6 at 200 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 10.49 seconds. The 0.99 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.