Norway test reveals which electric car beats the cold: Which ones are better?

When extreme cold dominates Norwegian roads, every electric car is put to the test. But, which brand withstands the icy reality best?

The Norwegian Automobile Club has tested 27 models in conditions that would make even the bravest vehicles shiver. And the answer, is not what many expected.

The Norwegian test that makes the difference for electric cars

Since 2020, NAF (Norwegian Automobile Club) has been organizing a test that has become a global reference. It involves fully charging a series of electric cars and putting them on a route of over 400 km simultaneously on the same course. What they seek is nothing less than to see which car lies the least about its real range.

Because, while the WLTP cycles promise a theoretical range, reality is often another story, especially when temperatures drop below zero. And this is where the Norwegian test delves into terrain where other tests only venture from afar.

The route and extreme conditions

The journey begins in Oslo and climbs to over 1,000 meters altitude, with constant ups and downs, in cold that in 2026 reached as low as -32ºC. Additionally, the test is conducted both in winter and summer to obtain comparative real data. The driver stops when the car loses power, without waiting for the battery to deplete completely, a detail that adds polish to the test.

What real range do they offer?

What is not surprising is that no car reaches its WLTP range under these conditions. But what is striking is which models come closest, and interestingly, many of them are Chinese brands. The Hyundai Inster and MG IM6 record the smallest deviations, with 29% fewer kilometers than the official figure.

The key players: Chinese cars lead the cold

The most faithful to reality

The ranking of those that deviate least from WLTP is headed by the Hyundai Inster (256 km traveled vs 360 km WLTP) and the MG IM6 (352 km vs 505 km WLTP). Also notable are the KGM Musso EV, Voyah Courage, and Changan Deepal S05, all Chinese models that surprise with their resistance to extreme cold.

The ones that stray the most from reality

In contrast, brands like BMW, Tesla, or Mercedes suffer major drops. The Lucid Air, for example, deviates 49% from its range, even though it covered over 500 km. Tesla Model Y and Volvo EX90 also fall far from their WLTP, showing that fame does not always guarantee resistance to Norwegian cold.

What does this test tell us about the future of electric cars?

The importance of knowing the true range

These results highlight that the promise of 500 km can fall short when temperatures drop below zero. But, even the worst models surpassed 340 km in icy conditions, a distance that is already useful for many users.

Cold is no longer an excuse to choose a Chinese model

The Norwegian test has also dispelled myths and prejudices. Chinese brands not only compete but often outperform the major names in the sector in real winter range. According to NAF, they are the ones who best solve the cold problem, a fact that has caught the attention of traditional manufacturers and skeptical drivers.

All in all, a clear sign that brands must step up to adapt their models to the harshest reality, and that buyers can start trusting Chinese cars more when the thermometer drops below zero. Without hypocrisy or exaggerated marketing.

The reality is that the cold shows no mercy, nor do the brands that have stayed stagnant. And if Norway says that Chinese cars handle better with the thermometer frozen, maybe it’s time to listen to them before making the next purchase.