The Polestar 3 surfaced victoriously in Norway’s latest El Prix winter range test. The Chinese-Swedish flagship SUV scored the second-best result in the test history. Despite Tesla’s reputation for range consistency, the Model 3 fell short of expectations.
The world’s leading country for EV adoption isn’t the most benign region. Norway’s freezing winter temperatures and long-distance geographical profile challenge battery packs, affecting range—and subsequent anxiety—more than in other countries.
Driven until dead battery
It’s no surprise that Motor Magazin and the Norwegian Automobile Federation (NAF) organize a rigorous range test twice a year to match real-world performance with theoretical WLTP values.
The 12th edition of the El Prix test took place on a 445 km stretch from Norway to Enden, including a hilly section at the end. The cars are driven until their batteries are completely depleted and towed after being stranded. Where’s the truck with mobile charging points?
Fluctuating between -3° and +4° Celsius temperatures on the test day weren’t as harsh as one might expect—and much milder compared to previous editions—for the 24 competing electric vehicles. These were fully charged at the start and aimed to improve on the all-time winner, the BMW iX3, which managed a negative deviation of only 4% when it participated back in 2021.
Testament to engineering
Spoiler alert: the winner from the 2025 results didn’t manage to dethrone the BMW but still turned heads as the Polestar 3 Performance achieved a negative deviation of 5%, taking the second-best result ever.
According to WLTP, the flagship SUV promises 560 kilometers and reached 531 during the El Prix run. “This result is a testament to Polestar’s engineering focus on reliability in real-world scenarios,” one of the testers noted. The test also confirmed the accuracy of the onboard system’s range calculation.
While the Polestar 3 emerged as the standout performer, the Tesla Model 3 Highland failed to make a mark. It halted at almost the same distance as the Polestar (531 km with a difference of a few hundred meters), but given the WLTP homologation of 702 kilometers, the results were disappointing. Tesla reputedly performed well in previous iterations of the test, but this time, the loss represents almost 25%—a substantial gap.
Ford’s surprise humidifier
Even more troubling was the inaccuracy of the onboard trip meter, which overstated the distance traveled by approximately 15 kilometers. This discrepancy undermines trust in Tesla’s range estimates. However, the test team did add that the Model 3 remains a capable vehicle in other respects.
The Model 3 didn’t come in last, though. That honor went to the Peugeot E-3008 (version with 73 kWh battery), which lost 32% of its range.
It was followed by the Voyah Dream (-29%) and the Peugeot E-5008 (-26%, and twin to the E-3008). Another noteworthy side effect: the interior of the participating Ford Explorer began to leak during the test. The front window wasn’t up to the rain.
Other notable performances
The Chinese-made BYD Tang, its seven-seat SUV, secured an impressive second place with a 9% deviation from its WLTP range of 329 miles, covering nearly 300 miles in the test.
The Mini Countryman EV finished third, with an 11% deviation, showcasing solid performance in challenging conditions. The Countryman also performed exceptionally well in the El Prix summer test last year, winning the run as it was crowned as the only car with a positive deviation of 4%. A graph for the full test results can be found here.
The El Prix winter test highlights how EV technology is evolving, as many vehicles performed admirably. Updated models like the Audi Q6 e-tron and Porsche Taycan showcased improved range and efficiency, signaling continued progress in EV design.
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