The electric cars that DON'T hit mileage range - by as much as 50 miles

The best and worst models for range reliability have been revealed in new research which could spell a word of caution for those with long journeys to make. Recent UK winter testing of 12 new EV models by What Car? found that none of the vehicles came within 20% of their official stated ranges in winter conditions, with some experiencing a shortfall of up to 40%. These real-world results highlight a significant gap between laboratory estimates and real-world UK driving.

Drivers continued on the road even after the range said zero, to see exactly how far they could go.

It was not uncommon for cars to continue travelling after the dashboard said zero miles left, albeit sometimes at a very slow pace (e.g. the Lexcus RZ drove for 21 miles after showing a remaining range of zero, but the last three or so were at jogging pace).

In the What Car? testing, 12 cars were driven on a test track until they stopped. The temperature was around 10-11 Celsius for the duration of the testing.

The good and the bad

The latest UK-specific testing by What Car? has exposed a significant "winter gap" in electric vehicle performance. In a punishing test of 12 new models, not a single vehicle managed to reach its official range, with an average shortfall of approximately 15% to 20% across the group.

The Standout Performers

Mercedes-Benz EQE 300 Sport Edition: This model emerged as the "winter king," achieving a real-world range of 300 miles. While this was still 21% short of its official 380-mile claim, it was the only car in the test to hit the 300-mile mark, proving highly efficient for long-distance winter travel.

Tesla Model 3 Long Range: Coming in a close second, the updated Model 3 managed 293 miles. Despite having a smaller 75kWh battery compared to some rivals, it remains one of the most efficient EVs on the market, with a shortfall of 24.8% from its official figures.

Tesla Model Y Long Range: This model demonstrated exceptional cold-weather resilience, recording the smallest percentage drop in some tests at just 11.8%.

The Disappointing Results

Lexus RZ 450e: This model struggled the most in the 2026 winter lineup, managing only 159 miles against an official claim of 251 miles. This represents a massive 36.7% shortfall, leaving drivers nearly 100 miles short of the promised range.

Lexus UX 300e: Similarly, the smaller Lexus hatchback recorded the highest percentage shortfall in the test at 37.9%, managing just 170 miles.

Jeep Avenger: Despite its "European Car of the Year" pedigree, the Avenger fell 33.1% short, achieving only 163 miles of its expected range.

BYD Dolphin & MG4: The more affordable entries also struggled; the BYD Dolphin managed 188 miles (29.1% shortfall), while the MG4 ran out of charge at 227 miles—nearly 100 miles less than its 323-mile official estimate.

What impacts EV battery performance?

As well as your electric car's battery size, there are a number of variables that can affect how far you can drive on a full charge. They are:

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