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E-car winter test: Two electric cars achieved over 500 kilometers

Every year in Norway, electric cars are tested in winter for their maximum range: There are sometimes significant deviations from the WLTP values. A Swede is in front, a Frenchman at the back.

Alongside Tesla's Model 3 Long Range, the Polestar 3 also achieved a total of 531 kilometers - but deviated far less from the WLTP value. | Photo: Polestar
Alongside Tesla's Model 3 Long Range, the Polestar 3 also achieved a total of 531 kilometers - but deviated far less from the WLTP value. | Photo: Polestar
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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.

Translated automatically from German.
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