Mercedes S 580 e 4MATIC W223 vs Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus: which is truly faster?

Off the line, the S 580 e 4MATIC hits 100 km/h in 4.45 s versus 5.81 s for the Model 3 Standard Range Plus. At this point, the S 580 e 4MATIC leads by 1.36 s and sits roughly 10 m ahead.

At 200 metres, the S 580 e 4MATIC is doing 149 km/h against 129 km/h for the Model 3 Standard Range Plus. The gap is 0.94 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the S 580 e 4MATIC crosses the line in 12.54 s versus 14.26 s. The 1.72 s gap represents roughly 72 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Past 400 metres, the S 580 e 4MATIC continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 212 km/h versus 171 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the S 580 e 4MATIC finishes in 22.40 s versus 26.61 s, with a 4.21 s lead.

The S 580 e 4MATIC features all-wheel drive (AWD) against the Model 3 Standard Range Plus’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 S 580 e 4MATIC is capped at 250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) 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 plug-in hybrid powertrains, the difference comes down to power-to-weight ratio (4.30 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 9.43 seconds. The 1.36 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.