EV Journey

Your EV is marketed as having a driving range, usually Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP), but actual range can vary widely depending on car brands, climate conditions and how you drive of course.

When I was doing my research into which vehicles I was interested in I wanted to understand the real world range I would likely see rather than rely on the manufacturers WLTP figures. Of course I leaned on my trusty Google Gemini to help gather this data which is oft cited by reviewers as they spend time driving the cars, sometimes over a period of several months giving them a good insight into vehicle performance.

My Gemini Prompt

I am looking at purchasing an ev and would like to compare manufacturer WLTP range against the real world range achieved by Australian car review sites. The cars I am interested in are: Ford Mustang Mach-e, Tesla Model Y Long Range, Tesla Model 3 Long Range, Kia EV 3 Air, Kia EV 5 Air, Hyundai Elexio Elite, Polestar 2, Polestar 4. Output as a list

Output from this prompt

Below is a comparison based on recent data from Australian automotive outlets like Chasing Cars, Drive, and Carsales:

Tesla Model 3 Long Range (RWD)

• WLTP Claim: 750 km  
• Real World Range: ~585 km – 620 km
• Notes: Recent Australian testing of the 2026 Long Range RWD variant showed that while the 750 km lab claim is optimistic, it still achieves over 600 km in mixed conditions, making it one of the longest-range EVs available.

Polestar 2 Long Range Single Motor (MY24/25)

• WLTP Claim: 659 km
• Real World Range: ~500 km – 530 km
• Notes: Local reviews indicate a significant efficiency jump in the latest rear-wheel-drive update, though high-speed highway driving still sees a roughly 20% drop from the WLTP figure.

Polestar 4 Long Range Single Motor

• WLTP Claim: 620 km
• Real World Range: ~590 km
• Notes: Early Australian “back-of-the-napkin” testing suggests the Polestar 4 stays impressively close to its claim, likely due to its aerodynamic design and large 100kWh (94kWh usable) battery.

Tesla Model Y Long Range (AWD)

• WLTP Claim: 533 km (Pre-update) / 511 km (2025 update)
• Real World Range: ~450 km – 470 km
• Notes: The Model Y is noted for being one of the most efficient SUVs in Australia, often staying within 10% of its WLTP rating in urban and suburban driving.

Kia EV3 Air (Long Range)

• WLTP Claim: 600 km (Long Range battery)
• Real World Range: ~500 km – 512 km
• Notes: Australian “long term” reviews of the EV3 platform show it is very frugal in the city (often hitting 560+ km) but drops closer to 400 km if used strictly for 110 km/h highway touring.  

Kia EV5 Air (Long Range)

• WLTP Claim: 555 km
• Real World Range: ~512 km
• Notes: Launch testing in Australia showed the EV5 is remarkably accurate to its claims, with reviewers achieving over 500 km in mixed driving environments.  

Ford Mustang Mach-E (Select/Base)

• WLTP Claim: 470 km
• Real World Range: ~300 km – 370 km
• Notes: Local testing has found the Mach-E to be more sensitive to “spirited” driving and highway speeds than some rivals, often resulting in a larger gap between the lab claim and daily use.  

Hyundai Elexio Elite (FWD)

• WLTP Claim: 546 km  
• Real World Range: ~420 km – 445 km
• Notes: While the WLTP figure is solid, Australian testers at Carsales and CarExpert have noted that the Elite’s larger 20-inch alloy wheels and the weight of its 88.1kWh LFP battery make it quite sensitive to highway speeds. On typical 110 km/h stretches of the Sturt Highway, you can expect consumption to sit around 20–21 kWh/100km, which brings the practical touring range closer to the 420 km mark.

Key Factors for Australian Drivers

• The “Highway Tax”: Most WLTP figures are calculated with a heavy bias toward European urban speeds. On Australian 110 km/h motorways, you should generally expect a 15–25% reduction from the WLTP number.
• Wheel Size: Selecting a trim with smaller wheels (e.g., 18″ vs 20″) typically adds 30–50 km of real-world range.