Polestar 3 and Tesla Model 3 win winter range test

Every year in January, the Norwegian automobile club NAF (Norges Automobil Forbund) and its magazine Motor organise a winter range test. In this El Prix, numerous electric cars are driven across Norway until they run out of power.

The winter range test was conducted for the sixth time. Two dozen electric cars were tested - on the same day, on the same route and in wintry temperatures. This time the weather was relatively mild, with temperatures ranging between -2 and +5 degrees. However, the roads were sometimes extremely slippery or wet. The route started in Oslo and headed north. The start is at 53 metres above sea level and the highest point is reached after 350 km (217 miles) at an altitude of 967 metres. The difference in altitude is therefore around 900 metres.

The results are listed in long tables on the websites of the two organisations. Unfortunately, the model variants are not mentioned. We have identified them based on the stated WLTP range, as far as possible. We have organised the table according to the range achieved in the test:

The Polestar 3 and the Tesla Model 3 travelled the furthest; both managed 330 miles. This was a real surprise, as the WLTP range of the Model 3 was significantly greater. The Polestar 3 was not tested as the version with the longest range, which achieves around 435 miles, but as the all-wheel-drive vehicle with a large battery.

At 24 per cent, the Model 3 had one of the largest deviations from the standard value. Our Norwegian colleagues therefore describe the Tesla as a disappointment. The Polestar 3, on the other hand, had the smallest deviation from the WLTP value at just five per cent. This is the second smallest deviation ever recorded in the winter range test - the best was the BMW iX3 in 2021 with a deviation of 4 per cent.

The third longest real-world range was achieved by two very different vehicles: both the Porsche Taycan (unclear model variant) and the Kia EV3 Long Range managed 248 miles. However, as both cars have almost the same WLTP specification, this is not surprising.

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More range tests:

Bentley believes in e-Fuel and proves it with a special test

How efficient are the BYD Seal U, Kia EV6 and Toyota bZ4X

The bottom line

In the latest winter range test from Norway, the Polestar 3 and the Model 3 travelled the furthest. This was surprising because the Polestar had a much lower WLTP value than the Tesla. This shows that there are huge differences in winter suitability. A larger deviation from the WLTP value can be due to many things: battery chemistry that is less resistant to cold, thermal management, tyres, etc. Researching the causes is difficult, but the figures remain interesting.

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