MG4 Long Range RWD vs Volkswagen Golf 7.5 GTI Performance: which is truly faster?

Off the line, the Golf 7.5 GTI Performance hits 100 km/h in 6.11 s versus 6.73 s for the 4 Long Range RWD. Despite lacking instant torque, 230 hp of power compensates. At this point, the Golf 7.5 GTI Performance leads by 0.62 s and sits roughly 7 m ahead.

At 200 metres, the Golf 7.5 GTI Performance is doing 136 km/h against 129 km/h for the 4 Long Range RWD. The gap is 0.42 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the Golf 7.5 GTI Performance crosses the line in 14.19 s versus 14.92 s. The 0.73 s gap represents roughly 32 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Past 400 metres, the Golf 7.5 GTI Performance continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 190 km/h versus 176 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the Golf 7.5 GTI Performance finishes in 25.22 s versus 27.23 s, with a 2.01 s lead.

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the 4 Long Range RWD is capped at 180 km/h, the Golf 7.5 GTI Performance at 248 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 10.07 seconds. The 0.62 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.