Tesla Model 3 vs BYD Seal, BMW i5, 3 other EVs in highway range test reveals everyone overestimates total range — some way more than others

Much has been said about flawed EV range testing methodology, but a recent test by YouTube channel Carwow (watch the video below the text) drove the point home, as none of the six electric cars in the test managed to reach the claimed range.

According to Carwow presenter Matt Watson, the tests were conducted in the same manner as a “normal person” would drive the car. That is to say that the electric vehicles in the fleet would all be driving at the speed limit where possible, and climate control would be active for the duration of the test. They also all followed the same route in close proximity to one another to even out temperature as a variable. 

In total, Carwow tested six popular EV models for their highway range performance, including the BMW i5, BYD Seal, Mercedes-Benz EQE, Polestar 2, Porsche Taycan, and Tesla Model 3. The ultimate goal of the test was to compare the claimed range with the real-world highway range. Each test would be concluded when the vehicle's battery reached 0%.

After all was said and done, the Mercedes-Benz EQE came out on top, travelling 575 km (ca. 357 miles) compared to its 612 km (ca. 380 miles) claimed range. At the bottom of the pack, we find the BMW i5, which only managed 477 km (ca. 296 miles) out of a claimed 583 km (ca. 362 miles). The Tesla Model 3's performance was rather consistent with similar tests, falling short of its 628 km (ca. 390 miles) claimed range by around 10%, with a result of 567 km (ca. 352 miles).

The complete roster of Carwow's EV range test looks like this:

1. Mercedes-Benz EQE: 575 km (ca. 357 miles) out of a claimed 612 km (ca. 380 miles) range (94% of claimed range)
2. Tesla Model 3: 567 km (ca. 352 miles) tested; 628 km (ca. 390 miles) claimed (90% of claimed range)
3. BYD Seal: 499 km (ca. 310 miles) tested; 570 km (ca. 354 miles) claimed (88% of claimed range)
4. Porsche Taycan: 592 km (ca. 368 miles) tested; 678 km (ca. 421 miles) claimed (87% of claimed range)
5. Polestar 2: 535 km (ca. 332 miles) tested; 653 km (ca. 406 miles) claimed (82% of claimed range)
6. BMW i5: 477 km (ca. 296 miles) tested range; 583 km (ca. 362 miles) claimed (82% of claimed range)

During a check midway through the test, Carwow found that the Tesla was getting around 5 mi/kWh of efficiency, making it the most efficient car of the lot. The Mercedes-Benz EQE, which won the day, was performing rather averagely, with 4.2 mi/kWh, while the BMW was the worst, with 3.9 mi/kWh. The BYD Seal was averaging 4.6 mi/kWh, and the Polestar 2 was getting around 4.4 mi/kWh. These efficiency figures, however, were not consistent throughout the tests.

Driving each of the EVs to 0% also presented some interesting results, with the BYD Seal displaying some rather amusingly mistranslated warnings when it got to the end of its battery life, while the BMW managed an extra 15 miles (ca. 24 km) after it said the battery was completely depleted. What was consistent across all the EVs tested, though, was that as the charge level dipped below 10%, power output was reduced significantly until the cars all came to a halt.

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