Nine year-old, 260,000-mile Tesla Model S impresses in real-life range test, Model 3 'Highland' disappoints as Polestar 2 clinches the crown
Despite the fact that Electric Vehicles (EVs) have surged forward with numerous technological breakthroughs, range anxiety is still a major factor that drives the subconscious decision-making of a good portion of prospective EV buyers, subtly dissuading them even though most EVs nowadays have more than respectable range figures.
The automotive YouTube channel What Car recently put a whopping 12 EVs from the most prominent car makers to the test, in a bid to uncover how far they can go before running out of charge, and compare that value with their official WLTP figures.
The contenders for the range test included the Tesla Model 3 RWD, Polestar 2, Renault Scenic, Kia EV9, Audi Q6 e-tron, BMW i5, Cupra Born, Volvo EX30, Hyundai Kona, Peugeot e-308 SW, Mini Cooper, and last but not least - a battle-hardened Tesla Model S from 2015 with over 250,000 miles on the clock.
The test itself was designed to simulate real-life driving, including stop-and-go traffic, highway cruising, and some high-speed driving as well. Unlike What Car's previous test, which was organized in the dead of winter, this recent test was organized in summer, with weather and temperature conditions ideal for maximizing electric range.
As for the results, prepare to be surprised - or not, depending on which EV you were rooting for. Despite packing the biggest battery at 99.8 kWh, the Kia EV9 managed to grab only the third place, having covered 314 miles before coming to a halt. The Renault Scenic came in second place, having clocked 322 miles with an efficiency of 3.7 miles/kWh.
The Polestar 2, thanks to its impressive efficiency of 4.2 miles/kWh, reigned supreme in the range test, having covered 333 miles. However, it was not the most efficient of the bunch - that medal goes to the Model 3, which covered a disappointing 255 miles - almost 19.7% lower than its WLTP estimate, but with an impressive efficiency of 4.4 miles/kWh.
Perhaps most impressively, the almost 10-year-old Model S 90D with over 260,000 miles on the clock managed a respectable 213 miles despite its age and battery degradation. This falls in line with previous reports that we have covered, which indicate that even after covering hundreds of thousands of miles, EVs are still very much usable in day-to-day life with decent range figures.
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