There's a lot of hype around the Tesla Model S P85D. Not surprising, really, for a car equipped with an "Insane Mode" button.

The sleek electric sedan may not make much sound on the move but the American brand has been making a lot of noise since it first arrived with the Model S in 2014. The single-motor P85+ won its class at Drive Car of the Year in 2014; and ran the Mercedes-Benz C200 close for the overall award.

But what happens when you put the P85D up against one of the established players in a straight fight? Can the Model S really stack up against Europe's finest in a battle of sport sedans?

To find out we are lining it up against the BMW M5. And not just any M5, but the limited edition Nighthawk which is equipped with more power, a more finely honed chassis and more luxury comforts.

Let the battle between electricity and internal combustion begin.

Tesla Model S P85D

The "D" in the name is the giveaway that this is the king of the Model S range. It stands for "Dual", because this new model has two electric motors instead of one.

In addition to the mid-mounted electric motor found in the rest of the Model S range the D models get another (smaller) electric motor under the front bonnet that drives the front wheels. So in addition to more power the P85D (and its less powerful 70D and 85D siblings) are also all-wheel-drive.

It needs all-wheel traction too because the rear motor is packing 375kW and the front motor adds a further 193kW for a total system output of 515kW. Total torque for the car is a, dare I say, insane 967Nm.

Petrol vs electricity: The BMW M5 Nighthawk meets the Tesla Model S P85D. Photo: Mark Bean

No wonder then that the Model S offers up ballistic performance in the form of a claimed 3.3 second zero to 100km/h sprint with the aforementioned "Insane Mode" activated. Unlike a lot of manufacturers who make bold claims that are hard to repeat in the real world Drive's own testing returned a 3.4 second 0-100km/h run.

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In other words, it is stomach-turning quick. Something that feels strange given the fact it runs so quietly, with only a gentle hum from the drivetrain under acceleration.

And if that isn't enough you get the extra benefit of having that level of performance without using a drop of petrol or diesel.

Tesla doesn't offer an average electricity consumption figure but during our time in the car – which featured a mixture of city, open road and performance testing – it used an average of 248Wh/km.

The company claims a range of between roughly 390-600km for the P85D, depending on wheel size, ambient temperature, speed and airconditioning use. During our testing we saw a range of about 430km, which was enough to make us feel comfortable testing the car well outside the city limits.

We headed outside the urban sprawl to put the P85D to test in a series of sweeping and twisting back roads, to see how its sports sedan credentials really stacked up.

Steering remains the Tesla's weak point; it is direct but it lacks consistent weighting and meaningful feedback. You can select "Normal", "Comfort" or "Sport" modes but that only alters the weighting and not how responsive it becomes.

Petrol vs electricity: The BMW M5 Nighthawk meets the Tesla Model S P85D. Photo: Mark Bean

Braking is another area where the Model S can't match its conventionally powered rival. The Tesla relies heavily on regenerative braking and that means wiping off speed for bends requires a different approach. You can leave your braking slightly later because as soon as you take your foot off the accelerator the car slows dramatically; it doesn't coast like a conventional car. Depending on the severity of the corner you may not even need to hit the brake pedal.

While it is effective it doesn't offer up the same bite as the M5 or the same level of feedback for the driver.

As for how the Model S handles the bends, it is surprisingly agile for a car weighing more than 2200kg. Because most of the weight (the batteries) is mounted low down, the floor of the car sits relatively flat in the bends

The Model S also offers up a new take on luxury when you step inside the cabin. For starters there is no "on" button. Simply sit in the driver's seat with the key in your pocket and the Model S is ready for action.

The interior is thoroughly modern, with the skateboard-style platform giving the designers the freedom to create a fresh take on a luxury cabin.

Small-item storage is limited (with no centre console box and a small glovebox) but there is a large open-plan console running between the two front seats, complete with grippy strips, to store your phone, glasses, etc.

The seats offer good support but feel set too high and lacking enough adjustment to make all body shapes happy.

Overall though the interior is excellent, with good room front and rear and with the huge 17-inch touchscreen as the centrepiece. While it may seem like it is only for IT experts in reality it is an incredibly intuitive system to use that allows you to tailor not only the infotainment system (navigation, audio system, phone, etc) but also the car's settings (activate Insane Mode, reduce regenerative braking, change steering settings, etc).

With a starting price of $178,937 the Model S isn't cheap but it does put it right in the middle of its established, European rivals. Our test car featured a number of options including 21-inch alloys ($5800), carbon-fibre trim ($1300), carbon-fibre rear spoiler ($1300), Autopilot ($3200), Premium Interior and Lighting ($3900), Smart Air Suspension ($3200) and Ultra High Fidelity sound system ($3200) which meant an on-road price of $233,887 – one that still undercuts the M5 Nighthawk.

Tesla Model S P85D pricing and specifications

Price: From $178,937 plus on-road costs

Engine: Dual electric motors

Power: 515kW at 0rpm

Torque: 967 Nm at 0rpm

Transmission: Single-speed automatic, all-wheel-drive

Fuel use: 248Wh/km (0L/100km)

BMW M5 Nighthawk

The BMW M5 is four years old – call it middle aged for a car – which means the German brand is looking for ways to keep it fresh and appealing.

Enter the Nighthawk and White Shadow limited edition models. Effectively a run of 10 BMW Individual designs in both black (Nighthawk) and white (White Shadow), these cars have been upgraded to ward off the competition not only from Tesla but also Mercedes-AMG, Audi Sport Quattro and the forthcoming Lexus GS F.

The M5 was already an impressive and potent sports sedan but the Nighthawk extras take it to another level.

For starters the M Division "Competition Package" is added, bringing a new exhaust system that helps boost power from the twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8 to 423kW (an 11kW bump) but torque remains the same at 680Nm.

Other changes include tweaks to the Dynamic Damper Control system, more direct steering and changes to M Dynamic Mode (which allows you to adjust the responsiveness of the engine/transmission, steering and suspension).

The Competition Package also lowers the suspension and the Nighthawk rides on black 20-inch alloy wheels.

The mechanical changes don't dramatically alter the character of the M5, but it didn't need it because it was already one of the most engaging sports sedans on the market.

The engine almost offers up too much performance because the rear Michelin tyres are seemingly in a constant battle for traction as peak torque hits at just 1500rpm. Unlike the Tesla which builds speed with minimal fuss thanks to its all-wheel-drive system, the M5 requires extra care to get the best out of it and not overwhelm the rear rubber.

Once it does hook up though the M5 builds speed with ease; the V8 has excellent mid-range punch thanks to those two turbochargers.

BMW claims the Nighthawk can do the 0-100km/h sprint in 4.2 seconds (down from 4.4secs for the regular M5) but our testing returned a 4.0 second run. The Tesla may be faster but the M5 is not slow.

It is a shame then that the engine is let down by its noise. BMW developed what it calls an "Active Sound Design" system for the M5 that, simply put, plays a reproduction of the engine noise through the car's sound system speakers.

There is the V8 growl at times but it is artificial and sounds like it. It lacks the feel and noise you expect a powerful V8-powered sports sedan to make which detracts from the experience.

The seven-speed dual-clutch automatic is nicely matched with the engine, for the most part. It offers up sharp shifts on the move but at slow speed there is the trademark hesitation dual-clutch transmissions are infamous for.

In theory the partnership of the turbocharged engine and dual-clutch gearbox is good enough to return a fuel consumption figure of 9.9-litres per 100km. In reality we saw a figure of 17.5L/100km on our mix of city, country and freeway driving. At that rate and given the car's 80-litre fuel tank the M5 has a range of about 450km per fill of the tank – or roughly the same as the Tesla manages on a charge.

But you quickly forget those shortcomings when you throw the M5 into some corners. It has a balance and precision that few cars can match; especially the Model S. It doesn't feel like a large sedan, instead it hides its weight with a responsive chassis that feels made for cornering.

The steering, in "Sports Plus", "Sport" or "Comfort", offers up great response and feedback for the driver. The brakes, High Performance Compound as standard, offer up good pedal feel and plenty of bite too. And the Michelin tyres and taut suspension generate excellent grip in the bends.

But performance is just half of the story with the M5 Nighthawk, as BMW has also added plenty of extra equipment.

As the name suggests the Nighthawk is available only in black (the White Shadow only white) but either a metallic version or the striking matte finish of our test car.

Inside there is carbon-fibre trim as standard, full merino leather on the seats and dashboard, four-zone airconditioning, sunroof, TV tuner and 360 degree parking cameras.

The Nighthawk is also equipped with the latest active safety features including cruise control, lane departure warning, forward collision warning, pedestrian warning and blind spot monitoring.

It makes for a premium look and feel to the cabin. The seats are more supportive and offer more adjustability than the Tesla's but overall space isn't as generous.

The BMW has a more traditional cabin layout – upright dashboard with loads of buttons, transmission tunnel, etc – so compared to the Model S it feels smaller and more cramped.

BMW M5 Nighthawk pricing specifications

Price: $235,930 plus on-road costs

Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 petrol

Power: 423kW at 6000-7000rpm

Torque: 680Nm at 1500-5750rpm

Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, rear-wheel-drive

Fuel use: 9.9L/100km

Verdict

Obviously neither of these two cars can be deemed a "loser".

While the Tesla is really impressive in a straight line it isn't embarrassed by the M5 in the corners. Does the Model S have the same emotional appeal as the M5 though, because after all sports sedans are about being fast, engaging and dynamic? In a word, no. It doesn't have the same kind of sensory excitement and it feels more digital in its driving character.

What it does have, however, is a very different kind of appeal, something new that we are only now able to experience thanks to modern electric cars – neck-snapping performance in peace and near silence. The Tesla packs so much punch, offers a new take on luxury and is loaded with technology it is impossible not to appreciate it as the better machine in this contest.

Ultimately though, they are two cars from two different eras: the M5 is the evolution of one species and the Model S the beginning of another.

Interested in buying Tesla Model S? Visit our Tesla showroom for more information.

Interested in buying BMW M5? Visit our BMW showroom for more information.