Tesla Model 3 Performance vs Audi A4 40 TFSI: which is truly faster?

Off the line, the Model 3 Performance hits 100 km/h in 3.04 s versus 7.28 s for the A4 40 TFSI. The instant torque of 769 Nm from the electric motor makes the difference. At this point, the Model 3 Performance leads by 4.24 s and sits roughly 22 m ahead.

At 200 metres, the Model 3 Performance is doing 162 km/h against 119 km/h for the A4 40 TFSI. The gap is 2.84 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the Model 3 Performance crosses the line in 11.12 s versus 15.36 s. The 4.24 s gap represents roughly 162 m of track — a gap visible to the naked eye.

Past 400 metres, the Model 3 Performance continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 224 km/h versus 165 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the Model 3 Performance finishes in 20.48 s versus 28.08 s, with a 7.59 s lead.

The Model 3 Performance features all-wheel drive (AWD) against the A4 40 TFSI’s FWD. 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.

Electronically capped at 261 km/h, the Model 3 Performance never reaches its natural aerodynamic ceiling in this duel. That’s not a physical limit of the motor — it’s a deliberate manufacturer decision, typically tied to standard-fit tyre ratings or model-range positioning.

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 11.78 seconds. The 4.24 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.