Tesla Model Y triumphs again in latest AAA real-world EV range tests. Results indicate BYD has some work to do
The Tesla Model Y Long Range (pictured above) has again emerged as one of Australia’s strongest-performing electric vehicles in independent testing.
But the BYD Atto 3 and Dolphin recorded the largest range shortfalls in the latest round of Australian Automobile Association (AAA) real-world assessments.
The latest results show the Model Y Long Range would be capable of 559km on a charge, just seven per cent below its official 600km laboratory figure and the longest range yet recorded by the testing program.
READ MORE: Latest AAA real-world EV range test results are in: Tesla Model Y triumphs while MG4 disappoints.
READ MORE: How far can your EV really go? AAA test says it’s less than you think – but the full story is more complex
By comparison, the BYD Atto 3 Essential fell 20 per cent short of its official range claim, delivering 328km against a claimed 410km.
The BYD Dolphin Premium was close behind, travelling 398km compared with its official 490km rating, a 19 per cent deficit.
The results come from the latest batch of five EVs assessed by the AAA and expand the program’s electric vehicle database to 20 models.
None has yet matched its official laboratory driving range, with shortfalls across the fleet ranging from three to 31 per cent.
The Kia EV5 Earth AWD Long Range and Kia EV9 Air RWD both recorded 11 per cent range deficits in the latest testing. The EV5 travelled 446km compared with its official 500km figure, while the larger EV9 achieved 395km against a 443km claim.
The results are determined by driving each vehicle over a 93km loop in and around Geelong, Victoria, and then extrapolating the results. The vehicles are not driven from full charge to zero.
The latest results reinforce a trend identified in previous AAA testing, where Tesla has consistently been among the strongest performers.
The Model Y Long Range joins the Kia EV3 Air Long Range and Kia EV5 Air Long Range as the only EVs so far to have exceeded 500km in AAA real-world testing.
Meanwhile, the latest round of AAA testing has also included several hybrid vehicles.
Among those, the Subaru Forester Hybrid delivered one of the strongest performances, using 12 per cent less fuel than its official laboratory figure.
The Chery Tiggo 4 Ultimate Hybrid also bettered its claim, returning fuel consumption one per cent below its official rating.
The MG ZS Hybrid+ used six per cent more fuel than advertised, while the Kia Carnival Hybrid recorded a four per cent increase over its laboratory figure.
Among the diesel vehicles tested, the Mazda BT-50 4×2 recorded the largest discrepancy, consuming seven per cent more fuel than its official claim.
The Mitsubishi Triton Double Cab 4×2 was one of the few vehicles to outperform its laboratory result, using seven per cent less fuel than advertised.
Across the broader program, the AAA says 76 per cent of the 163 petrol, diesel and hybrid vehicles tested to date have consumed more fuel in real-world driving than their official figures suggest.
The testing program was established in the wake of the Volkswagen diesel emissions scandal and is funded by the Federal Government.
Vehicles are assessed on public roads using a standardised route designed to provide consumers with an independent benchmark against official manufacturer claims.
AAA latest EV results
| Model | Claimed Range | AAA Range | Difference | Claimed Consumption | AAA Consumption |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tesla Model Y Long Range | 600km | 559km | -41km (-7%) | 15.9kWh/100km | 15.1kWh/100km |
| Kia EV5 Earth AWD Long Range | 500km | 446km | -54km (-11%) | 20.1kWh/100km | 21.9kWh/100km |
| BYD Dolphin Premium | 490km | 398km | -92km (-19%) | 14.2kWh/100km | 17.7kWh/100km |
| Kia EV9 Air RWD | 443km | 395km | -48km (-11%) | 19.5kWh/100km | 19.9kWh/100km |
| BYD Atto 3 Essential | 410km | 328km | -82km (-20%) | 14.8kWh/100km | 17.1kWh/100km |
