Xpeng P7 vs Mercedes CLA 220 Limousine: which is truly faster?

Off the line, the P7 hits 100 km/h in 6.58 s versus 7.31 s for the CLA 220 Limousine. The instant torque of 390 Nm from the electric motor makes the difference. At this point, the P7 leads by 0.73 s and sits roughly 5 m ahead.

At 200 metres, the P7 is doing 127 km/h against 122 km/h for the CLA 220 Limousine. The gap is 0.33 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the P7 crosses the line in 14.81 s versus 15.32 s. The 0.51 s gap represents roughly 21 m of track - two to three car lengths.

Past 400 metres, the situation changes. The P7 maxes out at 170 km/h while the CLA 220 Limousine keeps accelerating towards 240 km/h. At 600 metres, the gap has dropped to 0.58 s.

Around 962 metres, both vehicles are level. This is the inversion point: the CLA 220 Limousine overcomes its launch deficit thanks to a 70 km/h higher top speed.

At 1,000 metres, the CLA 220 Limousine finishes in 27.53 s versus 27.64 s. The 0.11 s delta shows an extremely tight race.

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the P7 is capped at 170 km/h, the CLA 220 Limousine at 240 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 11.41 seconds. The 0.73 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.