Norwegian Test Shows BMW iX3 Tops 24-EV Field in Real-World Range

The gap between advertised EV range and what drivers actually get on the road can be wide. But a new round of testing by the Norwegian Automobile Federation (NAF) and its magazine Motor suggests some automakers are underpromising and overdelivering.

Conducted during the Norwegian summer on dry roads with temperatures between 12 and 18°C, the bi-annual “El Prix” range test put 24 electric models through a real-world discharge run. The goal: see which EVs live up to their WLTP ratings and which fall short.

The standout was the new BMW iX3 50 xDrive, which covered 781 km (485 miles) on a single charge. 7 percent. 5 percent.

Longest range overall went to the Lucid Air, which achieved 832 km (517 miles) in summer 2025. This year, Lucid entered the Gravity SUV instead, which managed 720 km (447 miles)—3.7 percent short of its expected figure.

The most surprising overachiever came from XPeng. The Chinese brand’s X9 minivan posted 646 km (401 miles), beating its WLTP rating by 11.4 percent. That follows the G9 SUV’s 13 percent overperformance in 2023.

At the other end, the MG IM6 sedan managed just 446 km (277 miles)—11.7 percent below its WLTP figure. NAF’s Nils Sødal called the result unexpected, especially since the MG S6 posted a positive deviation of 3.4 percent.

Most other models stayed within a tight band of -5.7 to +5.4 percent. The facelifted Toyota bZ4X exactly matched its WLTP figure of 506 km (314 miles), though its battery showed 0 percent a full 18 km before the car actually stopped.

For Boca drivers, the takeaway is simple: real-world range can vary widely, even among well-regarded models. Whether you drive a BMW, a Toyota, or something else, knowing your car’s limits—and keeping it in good shape—matters more than the sticker number.