What Car? Real Range: which electric car can go farthest in the real world?
With demand for electric models soaring, What Car? has developed a test that shows their Real Range between charges. Here we reveal the best and worst performers...
5. Tesla Model X 100D
- Real Range - 233 miles
- Miles per kWh - 2.0
- Full charge cost - £15.95
- Cost per mile - £0.068
Tesla's sporty yet plush Model X was the first prestige electric SUV. A practical seven-seat rival to the Audi Q7, it gets a four-star overall rating from us.
The 100D variant that we put through our Real Range test represents the mid-point in the Model X line-up although, as with the Model S, we've so far only tested a 2018 car, meaning it didn't have the latest upgrades designed to maximise range.
Read our full Tesla Model X review or let us help you buy a Model X
4. Tesla Model 3 Performance
- Real Range - 239 miles
- Miles per kWh - 2.8
- Full charge cost - £12.04
- Cost per mile - £0.050
Like all Model 3s, the Performance is surprisingly practical and stuffed with useful technology. But this version is also great to drive and ridiculously fast.
Indeed, the Model 3 Performance is a strong contender in the executive car class, not just when compared with other electric cars.
=2 Kia e-Niro 64kWh
- Real Range - 253 miles
- Miles per kWh - 3.5
- Full charge cost - £10.19
- Cost per mile - £0.040
While the number of electric cars on sale in the UK is growing fast, there are still few that have a range nudging what you would expect from petrol and diesel models. But with a realistic 253 miles, the e-Niro is certainly one of them.
It’s also seriously quick, good to drive and has plenty of space for five adults inside, all of which explains why we named it our 2019 Car of the Year.
Read our full Kia e-Niro review or let us help you buy a Kia e-Niro
=2. Jaguar I-Pace
- Real Range - 253 miles
- Miles per kWh - 2.6
- Full charge cost - £13.84
- Cost per mile - £0.055
The I-Pace took a landslide victory in the 2018 What Car? Reader Award, and has since lived up to the anticipation, mixing show-stopping looks, space for four adults, a Real Range of 253 miles and entertaining handling.
From the latest 150kW public chargers, it can obtain an 80% charge in 46 minutes, although this rises to 85 minutes from the more common 50kW chargers.
Read our full Jaguar I-Pace review or let us help you buy a Jaguar I-Pace
1. Hyundai Kona Electric 64kWh
- Real Range - 259 miles
- Miles per kWh - 3.6
- Full charge cost - £10.09
- Cost per mile - £0.039
A Real Range figure of 259 miles makes the 201bhp (or 64kWh) version of the Kona Electric the best performing car we’ve tested to date.
Like the Kia e-Niro, to which it's closely related, it's a sensibly priced electric car that won’t require the majority of motorists to adjust their lifestyle in order to live with it. However, it's not as spacious as the e-Niro and is less composed to drive, so we don't rate it quite as highly.
Read our full Hyundai Kona Electric review
*Full charge cost based on a rate of 15p per kWh
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