Polestar 3 Outperforms Tesla Model 3 in Norwegian Winter EV Range Test

The latest findings from the Norwegian Automobile Federation (NAF) and Motor magazine's El Prix winter range test have been released. In a surprising outcome, the Polestar 3 claimed victory, delivering the second-best winter range performance ever recorded.

Previously, Tesla had consistently led these tests. This year, the Model 3 LR RWD entered with a WLTP range of 702 km but managed only 75% of that in real-world winter conditions, falling short by 25%.

Conversely, the Polestar 3 exceeded expectations with an impressive actual range of 531 km, just 5.18% below its WLTP rating of 561 km.

The test included drama when finalizing results. Tesla Model 3 initially stopped after 548 km, appearing to be the clear winner. However, the Polestar 3 halted nearly 300 m ahead, confirming an actual covered distance of 531 km. Upon closer review, Tesla’s odometer was found to have added about 4.7 km per 100 km traveled, an error of nearly 5%. After adjusting for this discrepancy, the Polestar 3 narrowly secured the top position.

With Polestar and Tesla nearly tied, third and fourth places went to the Porsche Taycan, which reached 499 km, about 15% less than its WLTP claim.

The El Prix range test, conducted twice annually in Norway, assesses real-world EV range against official WLTP figures. The winter edition poses particularly harsh conditions, including slippery roads and a climb of around 1,000 m.

Despite these challenges, the Polestar 3 stood out with exceptional performance. Polestar CEO Michael Lohscheller expressed pride, emphasizing the importance of reliable range for customers and positioning the Polestar 3 as an ideal luxury high-performance SUV for demanding climates.

At the bottom of the leaderboard was the Peugeot E-3008, which ran out of charge after 347 km, falling 163 km short of its claimed range. The Voyah Dream performed similarly poorly, covering only 344 km, 71% of its advertised range. Another Peugeot, the E-5008, managed 361 km, also significantly below its WLTP figure. These results reflect poorly on Peugeot’s electric SUV offerings.

This 12th edition of the El Prix test highlights the evolving EV market, where manufacturers continuously push the limits of range and performance. Polestar 3’s victory sets a new standard for electric SUVs tackling challenging winter conditions. The full test results are as follows:

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