Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus vs Audi A3 allstreet: which is truly faster?

Off the line, the Model 3 Standard Range Plus hits 100 km/h in 5.81 s versus 6.33 s for the A3 allstreet. The instant torque of 449 Nm from the electric motor makes the difference. The 0.52 s gap is negligible: both vehicles are neck and neck.

At 200 metres, the Model 3 Standard Range Plus is doing 129 km/h against 119 km/h for the A3 allstreet. The gap is 0.22 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the Model 3 Standard Range Plus crosses the line in 14.26 s versus 14.84 s. The 0.57 s gap represents roughly 23 m of track - two to three car lengths.

Past 400 metres, the Model 3 Standard Range Plus continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 171 km/h versus 167 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the Model 3 Standard Range Plus finishes in 26.61 s versus 27.40 s, with a 0.79 s lead. Both vehicles have similar top speeds (224 vs 238 km/h), preventing any comeback.

The A3 allstreet 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.

Electronically capped at 225 km/h, the Model 3 Standard Range Plus 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 11.49 seconds. The 0.52 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.