E-car winter test: Two electric cars achieved over 500 kilometers
January in Norway – piercing cold, snowy roads, and icy conditions. Perfect, then, to put the performance of electric cars to a stress test. This is exactly what the Norwegian Automobile Club NAF and the magazine Motor have done for the sixth time in their major winter range test. However, this year the weather god had other plans: instead of arctic cold, there were temperatures of up to five degrees above zero. Despite the relatively mild conditions, the results of the 24 models tested provided some drastic insights into the real range of electric cars under adverse conditions.
Range Check: Winners, Losers, and Surprising Results
The range test "El Prix" is organized twice a year by the Norwegian Automobile Association (NAF) and the magazine Motor. It measures how far electric cars actually go on a single charge compared to their official WLTP range. The annual winter edition of the test, which takes place during the Norwegian winter season, includes a route with an elevation gain of about 1,000 meters. This year, the route was particularly challenging with wet and slippery road conditions, although the temperatures were milder than in previous events.
Between Oslo and Bergen, where the test took place, drivers had to contend with challenging conditions such as slippery roads, rain, and freezing rain – all factors that can significantly affect the range of electric cars. Nevertheless, two models came out on top: the Tesla Model 3 Long Range with rear-wheel drive and the Polestar 3 Long Range Dual Motor with Performance Package. Both managed an impressive 531 kilometers before the battery ran out.
Yet looking at the official WLTP ranges reveals interesting differences:
- Tesla Model 3: The manufacturer officially states a WLTP range of 702 kilometers. The actual test result corresponds to a decrease of 24 percent.
- Polestar 3: Here the WLTP range is 560 kilometers. With a real range of 531 kilometers, the difference was minimal – only five percent.
At the other end of the spectrum was the Voyah Dream. The battery of this model gave out after just 344 kilometers, which corresponds to a 29 percent decrease compared to the WLTP range of 482 kilometers. Only the Peugeot 3008 deviated more: it reached only 347 instead of 510 kilometers, which corresponds to a minus of 32 percent (!).
The smallest deviations were seen in the Polestar 3 (with only five percent less) and the BYD Tang, which was only nine percent worse than WLTP suggested. Kia's EV3 also performed solidly, which coincidentally matches our test results.
WLTP km actual km Deviation
Polestar 3 Long Range Dual Motor Performance 560 531 -5%
Tesla Model 3 Long Range RWD 702 531 -24%
Porsche Taycan 592 499 -16%
Kia EV3 Long Range 590 499 -15%
BYD Tang 530 482 -9%
Audi Q6 e-tron 616 481 -22%
Hongqi EHS7 540 452 -16%
VW ID.7 GTX Tourer 571 440 -23%
Ford Explorer Extended Range 525 437 -17%
BYD Sealion 7 Excellence AWD 502 436 -13%
Lotus Emeya S 500 436 -13%
Hyundai Ioniq 5 546 436 -20%
Xpeng G6 AWD 550 429 -22%
Porsche Macan 552 429 -22%
BYD Seal U Design 500 421 -16%
Nio EL8 Long Range 503 412 -18%
BMW i5 Touring 497 392 -21%
Mercedes G 580 EQ 443 381 -14%
Volvo EX30 Single Motor Ext. Range 472 371 -21%
Peugeot E-5008 210 Standard Range 510 361 -26%
Mini Countryman SE All4 399 355 -11%
Peugeot E-3008 210 Standard Range 510 347 -32%
Smart #3 415 346 -17%
Voyah Dream 482 344 -29%
Why Real Winter Conditions Matter
This year's test shows how significantly external factors such as weather and road conditions can affect the range. Even though the temperatures were milder this time, rain and freezing rain took their toll. The test is an impressive proof that the real range of electric cars is often significantly below the laboratory values—especially in the cold season. The fact that some models still managed to get close to the WLTP value, which is hardly achievable even in summer, is due to the fact that you can hardly drive fast anywhere in Norway.
More results can be found at
https://www.motor.no/bil/vinterens-store-rekkeviddetest-2025/302344.
What Does This Mean?
For buyers of electric cars, the realization remains: It's worth taking a close look at the test results rather than relying solely on the manufacturers' WLTP figures. The annual winter tests in Norway provide valuable guidance—even if the winter is not as frosty as expected.
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