Real Range: which electric car can go farthest in the real world?

One by one, the barriers to electric car ownership are being removed, as charging infrastructure improves, costs come down and the cars themselves become as luxurious as conventional models. But what about range anxiety?

For all the improvements, this nagging concern that the battery will run flat before you get to where you’re going continues to put many people off.

It doesn’t help that official figures are unrealistic. So, twice a year (in the height of summer and the depths of winter) we put a selection of electric cars through a ‘drive ’em till they die’ endurance test to find out how far they can really go on a full charge.

The reason for carrying out tests in both hot and cold weather is that battery efficiency can decline significantly when the temperature falls.

Below we reveal all of the results we have so far, from best to worst

Read more: 2024 electric car range test >>

Polestar 2 Long Range Single Motor

Official range 406 miles Summer Real Range 333 miles (tested 2024) Winter Real Range na

Read our Polestar 2 review or find Polestar 2 deals >>

Mercedes EQE 300 AMG Line Premium

Official range 365 miles Summer Real Range 329 miles (tested 2023) Winter Real Range 300 miles (tested 2024)

Read our Mercedes EQE review or find Mercedes EQE deals >>

Tesla Model 3 Long Range (pre-facelift)

Official range 374 miles Summer Real Range 324 miles (2023) Winter Real Range 281 miles (2022)

Read our used Tesla Model 3 review or find used Tesla Model 3s for sale >>

Renault Scenic E-Tech Long Range Techno

Official range 379 miles Summer Real Range 322 miles (2024) Winter Real Range na

Read our Renault Scenic review or find Renault Scenic deals >>

BMW i4 eDrive40 M Sport/M Sport Pro Pack

Official range 340-345 miles Summer Real Range 316 miles (2022) Winter Real Range 261 miles (2023)

Read our BMW i4 review or find BMW i4 deals >>

Kia EV9 RWD Air

Official range 349 miles Summer Real Range 314 miles (2024) Winter Real Range na

Read our Kia EV9 review or find Kia EV9 deals >>

BMW i5 eDrive40 M Sport Pro

Official range 338 miles Summer Real Range 310 miles (2024) Winter Real Range 253 miles (2024)

Read our BMW i5 review or find BMW i5 deals >>

Tesla Model Y Long Range

Official range 331 miles Summer Real Range 304 miles (2022) Winter Real Range 272 miles (2023)

Read our Tesla Model Y review or find Tesla Model Y deals >>

Cupra Born VZ

Official range 334 miles Summer Real Range 294 miles (2024) Winter Real Range na

Read our Cupra Born review or find Cupra Born deals >>

Tesla Model 3 Long Range

Official range 390 miles Summer Real Range na Winter Real Range 293 miles (2024)

Read our Tesla Model 3 review or find Tesla Model 3 deals >>

Hyundai Ioniq 6 RWD Ultimate

Official range 338 miles Summer Real Range 292 miles (2023) Winter Real Range na

Read our Hyundai Ioniq 6 review or find Hyundai Ioniq 6 deals >>

Audi Q6 e-tron Launch Edition

Official range 344 miles Summer Real Range 289 miles (2024) Winter Real Range na

Read our Audi Q6 e-tron review or find Audi Q6 e-tron deals >>

Volkswagen ID 5 Pro Performance Style

Official range 315 miles Summer Real Range 281 miles (2022) Winter Real Range na

Read our Volkswagen ID 5 review or find Volkswagen ID 5 deals >>

Genesis GV60 RWD Premium

Official range 321 miles Summer Real Range 280 miles (2023) Winter Real Range 251 miles (2023)

Read our Genesis GV60 review or find Genesis GV60 deals >>

Kia EV6 RWD GT-Line

Official range 328 miles Summer Real Range 278 miles (2022) Winter Real Range 228 miles (2022)

Read our Kia EV9 review or find Kia EV9 deals >>

Nissan Ariya 87kWh Evolve

Official range 322 miles Summer Real Range na Winter Real Range 269 miles (2023)

Read our Nissan Ariya review or find Nissan Ariya deals >>

Volkswagen ID 7 Pro Match (with heat pump)

Official range 381 miles Summer Real Range na Winter Real Range 268 miles (2024)

Read our Volkswagen ID 7 review or find Volkswagen ID 7 deals >>

Tesla Model 3 RWD (pre-facelift)

Official range 305 miles Summer Real Range 262 miles (2023) Winter Real Range na

Read our used Tesla Model 3 review or find used Tesla Model 3s for sale >>

BYD Seal Design

Official range 355 miles Summer Real Range na Winter Real Range 255 miles (2024)

Read our BYD Seal review or find BYD Seal deals >>

Tesla Model 3 RWD

Official range 318 miles Summer Real Range 255 miles (2024) Winter Real Range na

Read our Tesla Model 3 review or find Tesla Model 3 deals >>

Hyundai Kona Electric Ultimate

Official range 282 miles Summer Real Range 255 miles (2024) Winter Real Range na

Read our Hyundai Kona Electric review or find Hyundai Kona Electric deals >>

Volkswagen ID 7 Pro Match (no heat pump)

Official range 383 miles Summer Real Range na Winter Real Range 254 miles (2024)

Read our Volkswagen ID 7 review or find Volkswagen ID 7 deals >>

BMW iX3 M Sport Pro

Official range 282 miles Summer Real Range 253 miles (2022) Winter Real Range 212 miles (2022)

Read our BMW iX3 review or find BMW iX3 deals >>

Kia Niro EV 4

Official range 285 miles Summer Real Range 253 miles (2022) Winter Real Range na

Read our Kia Niro EV review or find Kia Niro EV deals >>

MG 4 Long Range SE/Trophy

Official range 270-281 miles Summer Real Range 253 miles (2023) Winter Real Range 196 miles (2023)

Read our MG 4 EV review or find MG 4 EV deals >>

Ford Mustang Mach-E Extended Range RWD

Official range 379 miles Summer Real Range na Winter Real Range 247 miles (2022)

Read our Ford Mustang Mach-E review or find Ford Mustang Mach-E deals >>

MG ZS EV Long Range SE

Official range 273 miles Summer Real Range 246 miles (2022) Winter Real Range na

Read our MG ZS EV review or find MG ZS EV deals >>

Smart #1 Premium

Official range 273 miles Summer Real Range 245 miles (2023) Winter Real Range na

Read our Smart #1 review or find Smart #1 deals >>

Volvo EX30 Single Motor Extended Range Ultra

Official range 295 miles Summer Real Range 242 miles (2024) Winter Real Range na

Read our Volvo EX30 review or find Volvo EX30 deals >>

Volkswagen ID Buzz Style

Official range 255 miles Summer Real Range 236 miles (2023) Winter Real Range 192 miles (2023)

Read our Volkswagen ID Buzz review or find Volkswagen ID Buzz deals >>

Volvo XC40 Recharge Twin Motor Plus

Official range 331 miles Summer Real Range na Winter Real Range 232 miles (2024)

Read our Volvo XC40 Recharge review or find Volvo XC40 Recharge deals >>

MG 4 Extended Range Trophy

Official range 323 miles Summer Real Range na Winter Real Range 227 miles (2024)

Read our MG 4 EV review or find MG 4 EV deals >>

Volvo XC40 Recharge Single Motor Plus

Official range 263 miles Summer Real Range 226 miles (2022) Winter Real Range na

Read our Volvo XC40 Recharge review or find Volvo XC40 Recharge deals >>

Porsche Taycan 4S Performance Battery Plus

Official range 287 miles Summer Real Range na Winter Real Range 224 miles (2022)

Read our Porsche Taycan review or find Porsche Taycan deals >>

Cupra Born 58kWh V3

Official range 249-255 miles Summer Real Range 219 miles (2022) Winter Real Range 182 miles (2023)

Read our Cupra Born review or find Cupra Born deals >>

BYD Atto 3 Design

Official range 260 miles Summer Real Range 215 miles (2023) Winter Real Range na

Read our BYD Atto 3 review or find BYD Atto 3 deals >>

Peugeot e-308 SW GT

Official range 254 miles Summer Real Range 212 miles (2024) Winter Real Range na

Read our Peugeot e-308 review or find Peugeot e-308 deals >>

Mini Cooper SE Exclusive (Level 2)

Official range 242 miles Summer Real Range 211 miles (2024) Winter Real Range na

Read our Mini Cooper Electric review or find Mini Cooper Electric deals >>

Audi Q4 e-tron 50 quattro S line

Official range 290 miles Summer Real Range na Winter Real Range 201 miles (2022)

Read our Audi Q4 e-tron review or find Audi Q4 e-tron deals >>

Jaguar I-Pace EV400 R-Dynamic HSE Black

Official range 261 miles Summer Real Range na Winter Real Range 197 miles (2023)

Read our Jaguar I-Pace review or find Jaguar I-Pace deals >>

Renault Megane E-Tech Techno (20in wheels)

Official range 270 miles Summer Real Range na Winter Real Range 189 miles (2023)

Read our Renault Megane E-Tech review or find Renault Megane E-Tech deals >>

BYD Dolphin Design

Official range 265 miles Summer Real Range na Winter Real Range 188 miles (2024)

Read our BYD Dolphin review or find BYD Dolphin deals >>

Renault Megane E-Tech Equilibre (18in wheels)

Official range 275 miles Summer Real Range na Winter Real Range 187 miles (2023)

Read our Renault Megane E-Tech review or find Renault Megane E-Tech deals >>

Skoda Enyaq iV 60

Official range 249 miles Summer Real Range na Winter Real Range 174 miles (2022)

Read our Skoda Enyaq review or find Skoda Enyaq deals >>

Lexus UX 300e Takumi

Official range 273 miles Summer Real Range na Winter Real Range 170 miles (2024)

Read our Lexus UX 300e review or find Lexus UX 300e deals >>

MG 5 Long Range Exclusive

Official range 250 miles Summer Real Range na Winter Real Range 167 miles (2022)

Read our MG 5 review or find MG 5 deals >>

Jeep Avenger Summit

Official range 244 miles Summer Real Range na Winter Real Range 163 miles (2024)

Read our Jeep Avenger review or find Jeep Avenger deals >>

Lexus RZ 450e Takumi

Official range 251 miles Summer Real Range na Winter Real Range 159 miles (2024)

Read our Lexus RZ review or find Lexus RZ deals >>

Abarth 500e Turismo

Official range 157 miles Summer Real Range 138 miles (2023) Winter Real Range na

Read our Abarth 500e review or find Abarth 500e deals >>

Ora Funky Cat First Edition

Official range 183 miles Summer Real Range na Winter Real Range 130 miles (2023)

Read our Ora Funky Cat review or find Ora Funky Cat deals >>

Fiat 500 42kWh Icon

Official range 198 miles Summer Real Range na Winter Real Range 118 miles (2022)

Read our Fiat 500 review or find Fiat 500 deals >>

Mini Electric Resolute

Official range 141 miles Summer Real Range na Winter Real Range 113 miles (2023)

Read our used Mini Electric review or find used Mini Electric deals >>

And the used electric cars we've tested...

2015 Tesla Model S 90D

Summer Real Range 213 miles (2024) Winter Real Range na

Read our used Tesla Model S buying guide or find used Tesla Model S cars for sale >>

2017 Renault Zoe ZE40 R90 Dynamique Nav

Summer Real Range na Winter Real Range 145 miles (2023)

Read our used Renault Zoe buying guide or find used Renault Zoes for sale >>

2013 BMW i3 60Ah

Summer Real Range na Winter Real Range 64 miles (2023)

Read our used BMW i3 buying guide or find used BMW i3s for sale >>

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Read more: Best and worst electric cars >>