Welcome to the second part of our massive 57 electric cars range test at highway speeds, where we reveal the top 25 finishers. Every vehicle was driven at a steady 130 km/h until the battery ran dry, giving us a true picture of real-world highway range. Although modern EVs look impressive on paper, official WLTP figures rarely survive contact with sustained motorway speeds. Several contenders fell dramatically short of their advertised numbers, while a few genuinely shocked us. Here are the results, counting down from 25 to the overall champion.
25. Mercedes AMG EQE 53 4MATIC+ - 328 km
Packing 460 kW (617 hp), the Mercedes AMG EQE 53 4MATIC+ ranks among the quickest machines in our lineup. It rockets from 0 to 100 km/h in a mere 3.5 seconds before charging on to an electronically limited 220 km/h. All that pace has its price, however - the battery gives up after 328 km of cruising at 130 km/h. For a car costing roughly €110,000, its WLTP claim of 526 km feels very distant. The only way to get closer is to ease off the throttle, and easing off is hardly what an AMG is built for.
24. VW ID.4 Pro - 328 km
The rear-wheel-drive ID.4 Pro relies on one electric motor producing 128 kW (172 hp), fed by an 82 kWh battery of which 77 kWh is usable. Priced at nearly €52,000, this VW carries a WLTP rating of 510 km - a bold figure for such a tall, heavy SUV. On the highway it covered 328 km, a genuinely respectable outcome considering it has 13 kWh less usable capacity than the AMG EQE that finished level with it. One can only imagine what the Mercedes might have achieved with similar efficiency.
23. Genesis GV60 Sport Plus - 330 km
Arguably the most stylish member of the Hyundai Group family, the Genesis GV60 slots its powertrain neatly between the Kia EV6 GT and the Ioniq 5 LR AWD. In Sport Plus trim, dual motors deliver 360 kW (483 hp) along with a hefty 700 Nm of torque. Unsurprisingly, this compact crossover dashes to 100 km/h in exactly 4 seconds. It shares the same 82.5 kWh battery (77 kWh usable) as the Kia EV6, yet outlasted its relative by 25 km before stopping at 330 km - still well behind its 465 km WLTP figure. The catch? The GV60 Sport Plus starts at just over €73,000.
22. VW ID.4 GTX - 332 km
Despite running two electric motors, the GTX variant of the ID.4 squeezed out 4 km more than the single-motor Pro. The 220 kW (295 hp) GTX uses an identical 82 kWh battery with 77 kWh usable, which makes its advantage rather unexpected. With a starting price of €53,255 - just €1,000 above the Pro - and a 0 to 100 km/h time four seconds quicker, the GTX looks like the obvious pick. Its 332 km highway result falls far short of the 509 km WLTP claim, but it clears the 300 km barrier without drama.
21. Porsche Taycan Turbo S Sport Turismo - 336 km
Everything about this Porsche is big - 460 kW (616 hp) of power, a colossal 1,050 Nm of torque, a breathtaking 2.6-second sprint to 100 km/h, and an eye-watering €187,000 price tag. At that money you might hope for miracles, yet physics remains unbending. The 93.4 kWh battery (83.7 kWh usable) advertises 458 km of WLTP range, but at 130 km/h reality settles at 336 km - a mere 8 km ahead of the AMG EQE.
20. Hyundai Kona Electric - 336 km
Hyundai may have launched a refreshed version of its compact crossover, but it's the outgoing model that steals the spotlight here. The 2022 Kona Electric, equipped with a 150 kW (201 hp) motor and the larger 67.5 kWh battery (64 kWh usable), recorded 336 km on the highway. Factor in its modest €35,000 price and suddenly many of the premium entries in this top 25 look absurdly expensive. Against a WLTP rating of 484 km, the Kona posts one of the smallest gaps between claim and reality in the entire test.
19. Ford Mustang Mach-E GT - 337 km
The 358 kW (480 hp) Mach-E GT is among the most striking EVs on sale today. Traditionalists may grumble about the Mustang badge on an SUV, yet there's no denying its curb appeal or its pace - 0 to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds. The €73,000 asking price may dampen enthusiasm somewhat, though. Ford quotes a WLTP range of 500 km, but at motorway speeds the Mach-E manages only 337 km, even with its slippery bodywork.
18. VW ID.5 Pro Performance - 340 km
As the sleeker sibling of the ID.4, the ID.5 delivers exactly what its shape promises - a superior drag coefficient translates into 340 km at highway speed. That's 12 km beyond the ID.4 Pro and 8 km past the ID.4 GTX. The Pro Performance version drives its rear wheels through a single 150 kW (201 hp) motor, drawing from the familiar 82 kWh battery with 77 kWh usable. Interestingly, at just under €49,000 in Germany, it undercuts the ID.4 Pro sold in the Netherlands - proof that cross-border shopping pays off.
17. Hyundai Ioniq 6 LR AWD - 340 km
With a drag coefficient of just 0.21, the €61,000 Ioniq 6 should theoretically dominate this test. Instead, it matched the 340 km result of the VW ID.5, whose drag figure is a higher 0.26 - despite both cars carrying nearly identical 77 kWh usable batteries. The Hyundai is considerably longer and powers all four wheels, and while its 239 kW (320 hp) output is great for rapid overtakes, the dual-motor setup costs precious energy at a constant 130 km/h.
16. Nio ET7 - 345 km
Performance demands a premium - the Nio ET7 with its 100 kWh pack (90 kWh usable) opens at €91,000 and carries a WLTP certification of 580 km. It certainly delivers ferocious pace, reaching 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds, but sustaining highway speed drains its reserves quickly. At 130 km/h the ET7 exhausts its charge after 345 km - acceptable for a car of this size, though buyers paying this much for a battery this big are entitled to expect more.
15. Nio EL7 - 356 km
Here's an unexpected twist - the larger SUV, sharing the identical powertrain and 100 kWh battery, outruns its sleeker sedan sibling by 11 km. Starting at €95,000 in Germany, the EL7 is anything but cheap, yet it justifies its position as a luxury SUV with cutting-edge tech and an interior that rivals the segment's finest. Against a WLTP figure of 486 km, falling short by 130 km is actually a solid showing for an SUV stretching 4,912 mm in length.
14. Tesla Model Y LR - 361 km
The first Tesla in our ranking, the Model Y LR AWD, uses the larger 75 kWh usable battery to achieve 361 km at 130 km/h. With 378 kW (506 hp) on tap and a WLTP rating of 507 km, its highway figure lands 146 km below the official claim. On the plus side, the Model Y can replenish its battery in roughly 30 minutes, and a 0 to 100 km/h time of about 5 seconds means it's never slow. At €59,000, it's little wonder this Tesla became the world's best-selling car last month.
13. Tesla Model 3 LR AWD - 363 km
The Tesla Model 3 edged past its crossover sibling, the Model Y, by the narrowest of margins. Both share the 75 kWh usable battery, though the Model 3 runs slightly less power at 366 kW (490 hp). Being 140 kg lighter and 0.4 seconds quicker to 100 km/h, its lower-slung silhouette earns it an extra 2 km at 130 km/h. A small gap, perhaps, but potentially the difference between reaching a Supercharger or not. As a bonus, it's also €5,000 cheaper than the Model Y.
12. Audi RS e-tron GT - 367 km
The Audi RS e-tron GT is essentially a technical sibling of the Porsche Taycan Turbo, sharing the same 93.4 kWh battery with 83.7 kWh usable. The Audi's 475 kW (636 hp) is slightly down on the Porsche's output, yet their acceleration is nearly indistinguishable - the Audi hits 100 km/h in 3.3 seconds. It covered 367 km at 130 km/h, landing just 105 km shy of its WLTP rating. Consider that this equals 2 hours and 49 minutes behind the wheel, followed by a mere 17-minute recharge to 80%, and the €146,000 price starts to feel justified.
11. Polestar 2 LR - 374 km
Want strong highway range without spending €146,000? The updated Polestar 2 LR might be your answer. A single 220 kW (295 hp) motor drives the front wheels, drawing on a 78 kWh usable battery with a WLTP rating of 591 km. At a steady 130 km/h, the Polestar uses its charge frugally and records 374 km - a genuinely impressive figure when you remember it costs around €55,000.
10. Nissan Ariya - 378 km
How does a €59,000 electric SUV outlast a €146,000 Audi? The Nissan Ariya carries a smaller battery and a notably worse drag coefficient, yet it posts a remarkable 378 km. Its 178 kW (238 hp) motor is paired with an 87 kWh usable battery - substantial, though not enormous. The Ariya's WLTP rating of 516 km exceeds its highway result by 138 km, but a 10% to 80% recharge takes only around 30 minutes.
9. Skoda Enyaq iV RS - 380 km
Skoda springs another surprise - the RS version beats the iV 80 by a full 62 km. Both share the same 77 kWh usable (82 kWh total) battery, yet the RS runs two motors with a combined 225 kW (301 hp). Its WLTP rating of 512 km is actually 30 km lower than the iV 80's. Somehow, through equal parts engineering and determination, the sportier variant pulls well clear of its humbler sibling.
8. BMW i7 - 388 km
The BMW i7 xDrive60 arrives with an enormous 101.7 kWh usable battery, and despite its dual-motor layout, it manages energy remarkably well. A 388 km range at 130 km/h equates to almost three hours of continuous driving, after which a 35-minute stop restores 80% charge and sets you up for another long stint. All that's required is €138,000 - and you'll own the perfect executive express.
7. Mercedes EQS SUV 580 4MATIC - 411 km
The Mercedes EQS SUV becomes the first contender to smash through the 400 km mark, and it does so with authority. 411 km from a 5,125 mm-long SUV is a fine achievement. The 400 kW (536 hp) machine draws from a 120 kWh battery, of which 108.4 kWh is usable - enormous, and priced accordingly. The EQS SUV 580 4MATIC begins at €135,000 before options. Still, an SUV capable of over three hours of motorway cruising followed by a recharge in just over half an hour makes long-distance travel genuinely appealing.
6. BMW i4 eDrive40 - 415 km
The single-motor BMW i4 eDrive40 is a masterclass in efficiency. Its 80.7 kWh usable battery supplies a 250 kW rear-mounted motor, and thanks to the i4's streamlined profile, it achieves 415 km at highway pace. Impressive indeed - and the word "value" springs to mind when you learn it costs €59,000. A bargain BMW? It certainly adds up.
5. Mercedes EQE 350+ - 423 km
The Mercedes EQE 350+ in updated form gains a larger 90.6 kWh usable battery (100 kWh total). A single motor drives the rear wheels, and the configuration proves exceptionally frugal. The WLTP rating stands at a towering 596 km, while at 130 km/h the EQE delivers an admirable 423 km. With DC charging support up to 173 kW, a 10% to 80% top-up takes under 30 minutes in ideal conditions - the perfect excuse for a coffee after three hours on the motorway.
4. Genesis G80 - 427 km
A true dark horse - the Genesis G80 isn't even a dedicated EV platform, and it doesn't carry a massive battery either. It relies on the same 87.2 kWh pack found across the Hyundai Group range, with 82.5 kWh usable feeding two motors totaling 272 kW (365 hp) - modest for an executive sedan. Even so, the G80 performs its duties with elegance and records a highly creditable 427 km, only 93 km adrift of its WLTP rating. That level of luxury and capability for €69,000 is compelling.
3. BMW iX M60 - 430 km
The BMW iX M60 is a giant with a battery to match - its 111.5 kWh pack offers 105.2 kWh usable, enough to propel this heavyweight 430 km down the motorway. Despite its bulk, the iX slips through the air with a respectable 0.25 drag coefficient, and together with the efficient 455 kW powertrain, it delivers genuine all-round performance. Thrills when you want them, distance when you need it. Excellence comes at a cost, though - the iX M60 starts at €141,000.
2. BMW iX xDrive50 - 434 km
Keep €40,000 in your pocket and choose the iX xDrive50 instead. Yes, it's 0.8 seconds slower, but it carries the same gigantic battery as the M60. That translates to 60 km more on the WLTP cycle and an extra 4 km at 130 km/h. And if 4 km sounds trivial, picture yourself pushing this 2,600 kg SUV to the nearest fast charger.
1. Mercedes EQS 450+ - 482 km
The Mercedes EQS 450+ stands alone as the undisputed champion of this test. It's the only car to approach 500 km, recording a phenomenal 482 km at a constant 130 km/h. That equals 3 hours and 42 minutes of uninterrupted driving at the legal limit across most of Europe. Pause for half an hour and the EQS will replenish its battery completely, courtesy of 200 kW charging capability. At nearly €110,000 it won't suit every budget, but it proves that a large battery wrapped in a slippery body, backed by intelligent engineering, is the winning formula.
So Mercedes takes the crown, its flagship sedan finishing well clear of the field despite being neither the priciest nor the fastest car on test. Admittedly, its 120 kWh battery (107.8 kWh usable) is huge, but capacity is only one piece of the puzzle. Mercedes has refined its powertrains for maximum efficiency, and with a drag coefficient of just 0.2 Cd, the EQS slices through the air like almost nothing else. The lesson is clear: at highway speeds, aerodynamics and battery size matter more than anything else.
Urban driving, where speeds seldom exceed 80 km/h, rewards EVs with far better range - and better range means fewer charging stops. That brings us to a final thought: electric cars may well be the future, but without a robust charging network they'll never demonstrate their full capabilities. Congratulations to Mercedes, though - covering nearly 500 km at motorway pace without stopping is a landmark achievement for any EV.
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