A new report confirms that the Tesla Model Y does not reach its promised range, regardless of road and weather conditions.
The non-profit organization Consumer Reports conducted a test to determine the impact of different weather conditions on the driving ranges of four electric crossovers. The tested vehicles were the Tesla Model Y Long Range, the Ford Mustang Mach-E extended range, the the Hyundai Ioniq 5, and Volkswagen ID.4 Pro S. The drivers tested the cars on three different days: one with frigid weather, one with mild weather, and one with warm weather.
Unsurprisingly, the driving range of EVs was most affected in cold conditions. However, the Tesla Model Y couldn’t reach its EPA-rated range of 326 miles even in relatively higher temperatures.
During the test, which involved constant cruising at 70 miles per hour on a 142-mile round-trip, the Model Y’s actual range in cold weather dropped to 186 miles. In comparison, the Mustang Mach-E achieved 188 miles in cold weather, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 achieved 183 miles, and the Volkswagen ID.4 achieved 170 miles, all lower than their respective EPA ratings.
In mild weather conditions, all four EVs showed an improvement of about 50–70 miles in their ranges, while still staying below the official figures.
In warm weather conditions, some vehicles were able to meet or exceed their EPA-rated ranges. The Mustang Mach-E and ID.4 surpassed their official ratings, reaching 275 miles and 256 miles respectively. However, the Ioniq 5 fell short by 2 miles. The Model Y had a calculated range of 274 miles in warm weather, lower than its EPA estimate of 326 miles.
According to Consumer Reports, the weight of Tesla’s crossover differentiates it from the other three vehicles. It’s more than 500 pounds lighter than the ID.4, which is the heaviest, and around 200 pounds lighter than the Ioniq 5.
To determine the real-world range, Consumer Reports fully charged each car overnight, then drove the cars on the same route. In addition, the test drivers traveled on adaptive cruise control at 70 mph and maintained the widest following distance possible. The drivers took these steps to minimize abrupt braking or acceleration.
After completing the trip, the test drivers recorded the remaining range displayed by the EVs. They used the ratio of range used to miles driven to estimate the total range for that specific trip. This ratio was also compared to the miles driven per percent of state of charge.
To simulate the user experience, the drivers didn’t fully deplete the EV batteries. Conventional fuel-powered vehicles are rarely driven until their fuel tanks are completely empty, as noted by Consumer Reports.
