Xpeng P7 vs Mercedes E 220 d W214: which is truly faster?

Off the line, the P7 hits 100 km/h in 6.58 s versus 7.59 s for the E 220 d. The instant torque of 390 Nm from the electric motor makes the difference. At this point, the P7 leads by 1.01 s and sits roughly 3 m ahead.

At 200 metres, the P7 is doing 127 km/h against 118 km/h for the E 220 d. The gap is 0.36 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the P7 crosses the line in 14.81 s versus 15.51 s. The 0.70 s gap represents roughly 28 m of track - two to three car lengths.

Past 400 metres, the gap narrows. The P7 maxes out at 170 km/h while the E 220 d keeps accelerating towards 236 km/h. At 600 metres, the gap is down to 0.93 s from 0.70 s at 400 metres.

At 1,000 metres, the P7 finishes in 27.64 s versus 28.12 s, with just 0.48 s to spare. The E 220 d fails to fully close the launch gap.

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the P7 is capped at 170 km/h, the E 220 d at 236 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 12.11 seconds. The 1.01 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.