Kia EV2 tops real range test

The figures of electric cars in the catalog and the actual range they reach on the road often do not match. To see this difference, ECOBEST Challenge 2026 was organized. The organization was made by AUTOBEST, an independent international organization consisting of automotive journalists.

Electric cars from 15 different manufacturers took part in the test. The vehicles were used in real traffic under the same conditions in Vairano, Italy, at the end of September 2026. The measured distances were then compared with the official WLTP values.

The result was clear: None of the 15 cars tested achieved the declared WLTP range. However, most of the models remained within 80-90 percent of official data. Therefore, drivers need to be prepared for a range that is slightly lower than the factory data.

The Model Closest to the WLTP Range is Kia EV2

First of all, it is necessary to look at the EcoC 1 index. This index shows the ratio of the range achieved in real traffic to the official WLTP range. Kia EV2 is at the top with 94.98 percent. The car covered 397 km against a WLTP range of 418 km.

Audi Q4 e-tron took second place. The model traveled 473 km compared to its official range of 511 km. Thus, it reached 92.56 percent.

Tesla Model Y also came in third with 88.76 percent. The car, whose official range is 525 km, was able to travel 466 km in the test.

Longest Real Range of BMW iX3

Of course, ratio and total distance are not the same thing. For example, although the Kia EV2 came closest to the official value, it did not travel the farthest. In this ranking, BMW iX3 came first with 640 km.

The announced WLTP range of the iX3 is 737 km. The actual usage result corresponded to 86.84 percent of this value.

The Mercedes-Benz CLA 250+ had the highest official WLTP range in the test, i.e. 772 km. But in real use, it traveled 613 km. That's why the rate remained at 79.40 percent. The Volvo EX60 offered 488 km compared to the official range of 614 km. Xpeng P7+, on the other hand, remained at 419 km despite its 530 km WLTP value.

Change Compared to Previous Years

According to AUTOBEST, the lowest EcoC 1 value in 2025 was 77.5 percent. This year, the lowest result was measured as 79.06 percent. On the other hand, the lowest value was 73 percent in 2024.

However, in 2025 tests, Leapmotor T03 exceeded the official value. The model had traveled 290 km compared to the 265 km WLTP range. In 2026, no car could exceed the WLTP range. The BMW iX3 went the longest way in real use, while the model closest to the official value was the Kia EV2.