Kona

Make
Hyundai
Segment
SUV

When we first found out that the Hyundai Kona Electric was rated at 258 miles of range, we were extremely impressed. Though we still don't know the Kona Electric's price (as of this writing), we do know it can travel further than the $36,000 Chevy Bolt (238 miles), the $35,000 (still not available) Tesla Model 3 (220 miles), and even the $70,000 Jaguar I-Pace (234 miles).

However, EPA tests and real-world driving can differ greatly, which is why What Car decided to test the real-world range of the 64 kWh-battery and 39-kWh-battery versions of the Kona Electric against other electric vehicles. What Car has now published its top 10 EVs based on range.

To test each car, What Car drains the battery completely, then fills it up to 100%. After that, the cars are left overnight at the exact same temperature and the tires are inflated to manufacturer spec. Finally, the cars are driven around a private track meant to mimic real-world conditions.

The results of the test showed some differences between the EPA ratings. For example, the Jaguar I-Pace managed to beat its 234-mile range estimate by driving 253 miles (matching the Kia e-Niro in the process). But this was not enough to beat the Kona Electric with the 64 kWh-battery, which marginally beat its 258-mile range estimate by driving 259 miles.

The rest of the top 10 includes the Tesla Model S 75D at 204 miles (EPA range of 259 miles), Hyundai Kona Electric 39-kWh at 158 miles, Renault Zoe R110 at 146 miles, Nissan Leaf at 128 miles (EPA range of 150 miles), BMW i3 94-Ah at 121 miles (EPA range of 114 miles), Volkswagen e-Golf at 119 miles (EPA range of 125 miles), and Hyundai Ioniq Electric at 117 miles (EPA range of 124 miles).

Unfortunately, What Car hasn't tested the Long Range Model 3 or 100D Model X/Model S, which would likely sit at the top of the list. Still, this is an impressive victory for the Hyundai Kona Electric, which has a longer range than the twice as costly Jaguar I-Pace. Of course, the I-Pace is likely a lot quicker and more luxurious, but a victory is a victory.