← My Auto Racer All cars Comparisons Answers 0-60 by make Fastest lists

Mercedes-Benz A-Class (W176) 200 156 vs Volkswagen Golf GTI (Mk8)

Over a standing quarter mile on dry asphalt the Volkswagen Golf GTI (Mk8) is the quicker car, covering it in 13.94 s at 101.6 mph against the Mercedes-Benz A-Class (W176) 200 156’s 15.66 s — a margin of 1.73 s. To 60 mph the Volkswagen Golf GTI (Mk8) takes 5.44 s and the Mercedes-Benz A-Class (W176) 200 156 7.34 s.

Simulated, not measured — computed from each car’s published kerb mass, rated power and drivetrain, then fitted to its own published acceleration figures. Dry asphalt, 20 °C, sea level, 1 ft rollout.

Mercedes-Benz A-Class (W176) 200 156 Volkswagen Golf GTI (Mk8)

Watch the run in full — then change the surface, the weather or the distance and run it again.

Down the strip

Standing startMercedes-Benz A-Class (W176) 200 156Volkswagen Golf GTI (Mk8)
0–60 mph7.34 s5.44 s
0–100 mph—13.45 s
60 ft2.47 s2.27 s
1/8 mile10.18 s9.06 s
1/4 mile15.66 s13.94 s
Trap speed90.8 mph101.6 mph

Each car is trimmed to its own published figures — 2/2 for the Mercedes-Benz A-Class (W176) 200 156, 9/10 for the Volkswagen Golf GTI (Mk8) — so a heavier car can still be the quicker one if that is what it tests.

On paper

SpecificationMercedes-Benz A-Class (W176) 200 156Volkswagen Golf GTI (Mk8)
Year20152021
Power154 bhp241 bhp
Kerb mass1,370 kg1,408 kg
Power to weight113 bhp/t171 bhp/t
DrivetrainFront driveFront drive
EngineTurbochargedTurbocharged

Where these times sit

0-60 under 6 seconds3,252 cars0-100 km/h under 6 seconds2,897 carsQuarter mile under 14 seconds2,646 cars0-100 under 16 seconds2,743 carsSlower in the wetevery car, re-runThe cost of altitudeevery car, re-runThe cost of a passengerevery car, re-run
Mercedes-Benz 0-60 timesevery modelVolkswagen 0-60 timesevery modelFastest hatchbacks4,527 cars

Try another matchup

Put this race on your own page

Free to use anywhere, no attribution required beyond the credit line included above. How to embed →

Or open the full simulator →

Questions

Is the Mercedes-Benz A-Class (W176) 200 156 or the Volkswagen Golf GTI (Mk8) faster?
The Volkswagen Golf GTI (Mk8). Over a standing quarter mile it runs 13.94 s to the Mercedes-Benz A-Class (W176) 200 156's 15.66 s, a margin of 1.73 s, and it reaches 60 mph in 5.44 s against 7.34 s. These are theoretical times from a physics simulation, not measured runs.
What is the Mercedes-Benz A-Class (W176) 200 156 0-60 time?
The Mercedes-Benz A-Class (W176) 200 156 reaches 60 mph in 7.34 s, simulated on dry asphalt at 20 °C with a 1 ft rollout. It covers the standing quarter mile in 15.66 s at 90.8 mph.
What is the Volkswagen Golf GTI (Mk8) 0-60 time?
The Volkswagen Golf GTI (Mk8) reaches 60 mph in 5.44 s, simulated on dry asphalt at 20 °C with a 1 ft rollout. It covers the standing quarter mile in 13.94 s at 101.6 mph.
What trap speed does each car run?
The Mercedes-Benz A-Class (W176) 200 156 trips the lights at 90.8 mph and the Volkswagen Golf GTI (Mk8) at 101.6 mph at the end of the quarter mile. These are theoretical times from a physics simulation, not measured runs.
Are these real measured times?
No. Every time on this page is produced by a physics simulation, not by a stopwatch at a drag strip. Each car is modelled from its published kerb mass, rated power, drivetrain and gearing, then trimmed until it matches its own published acceleration figures — 2 of 2 for the Mercedes-Benz A-Class (W176) 200 156 and 9 of 10 for the Volkswagen Golf GTI (Mk8). Conditions are identical for both cars: dry asphalt, 20 °C, sea level, 1 ft rollout.

Figures regenerated 2026-10-12. Every number on this page is computed by the simulator at build time, so the page and the app can never disagree.