Toyota Prius PHEV vs Mercedes CLA 220 Saloon: which is truly faster?

Off the line, the Prius PHEV hits 100 km/h in 6.88 s versus 7.31 s for the CLA 220 Saloon. The instant torque of 270 Nm from the electric motor makes the difference. At this point, the Prius PHEV leads by 0.43 s and sits roughly 6 m ahead.

At 200 metres, the Prius PHEV is doing 121 km/h against 122 km/h for the CLA 220 Saloon. The gap is 0.22 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the Prius PHEV crosses the line in 15.09 s versus 15.32 s. The 0.23 s gap represents roughly 9 m of track - barely a car length.

Past 400 metres, the gap narrows. The CLA 220 Saloon maxes out at 240 km/h while the Prius PHEV keeps accelerating towards 262 km/h. At 600 metres, the gap has dropped to 0.16 s.

At 1,000 metres, the Prius PHEV finishes in 27.46 s versus 27.53 s, with just 0.07 s to spare. The CLA 220 Saloon fails to fully close the launch gap.

The Prius PHEV features all-wheel drive (AWD) against the CLA 220 Saloon’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 240 km/h, the CLA 220 Saloon 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 11.41 seconds. The 0.43 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.