Four Popular EVs Fall Short on Range in Australia, One Misses By 31%

The Australian Automotive Association has released its second round of real world electric vehicle range results, and the findings will likely spark a fresh wave of debate among would-be EV buyers. The latest batch of testing shows four well known electric models delivering noticeably less driving range on the road than they do under controlled laboratory test cycles. Some models performed close to expectations. One missed the mark dramatically.

The AAA’s program runs every EV through a 93 kilometre loop in Geelong, measuring energy use until the battery is fully depleted. It is designed to mirror everyday conditions rather than the pristine, repeatable environment used for official compliance testing. Buyers frustrated by range uncertainty might welcome the extra transparency. Carmakers, however, might not be quite as enthusiastic.

▶️MORE: Electric Car Range: Everything You Need to Know

MG4 Takes the Biggest Hit

The model with the sharpest drop was the 2023 MG4. Its advertised maximum range is 405 kilometres. The AAA test returned just 281 kilometres. That is a shortfall of 31 per cent, making the MG4 the worst performer in either round of the AAA’s testing program so far.

Energy consumption also rose from its official 18.4kWh per 100 kilometres to 20kWh per 100 kilometres in the real world. The MG4 is one of the country’s most price-driven EVs, but this result may give budget focused buyers something to think about.

2023 MG4 price and specs

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Tesla and Kia Were Just Fine

Tesla’s Model Y, Australia’s highest volume electric car, delivered the closest match to its laboratory figure. The AAA recorded 450 kilometres, only 16 kilometres under its rated 466 kilometres. The Model Y even consumed slightly less energy than its official rating. If any EV was going to help ease range anxiety, this is the one.

Kia’s EV3 landed in the middle of the pack. It covered 537 kilometres against a claimed 604 kilometres, falling short by 11 per cent. Its energy consumption rose by a similar margin. Not disastrous, but notable given Kia’s push to position the EV3 as an efficient long range small SUV.

▶️MORE: 2025 Tesla Model Y price and specs
▶️MORE: 2025 Kia EV3 Price and Specs

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Smart #1 Also Misses Its Target

Rounding out the group, the Smart #1 fell 13 per cent shy of expectations. It managed 367 kilometres against its 420 kilometre claim. Its real world efficiency was also weaker, using 20.3kWh per 100 kilometres compared to its official 17.4kWh rating.

The AAA noted that range remains the biggest hesitation for potential EV buyers. In its own polling, 60 per cent of respondents said driving range is the main barrier to going electric. Managing Director Michael Bradley says testing programs like this are designed to improve confidence, not erode it, by providing data grounded in everyday use rather than idealised laboratory cycles.

▶️MORE: Smart #1 Price and Specs

Industry Pushback

The program has not been welcomed by everyone. The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries argues that the AAA’s results are too dependent on external factors such as weather, traffic, and driving style. The FCAI insists that only Australian Design Rule laboratory testing provides a reliable, comparable benchmark. Its CEO Tony Weber maintains that real world cycles can never be standardised enough to replace the official test environment.

That difference in views is unlikely to fade anytime soon. With more electric vehicles arriving every year, range accuracy will stay in the spotlight. For now, the AAA’s message to buyers is simple: more information equals more confidence. Whether the industry agrees is another matter entirely.