Most modern EVs look like long-haul champions on the spec sheet, but the paper numbers and the real world don’t always shake hands. The Norwegian Automobile Federation (NAF) and its independent membership magazine Motor are back with the bi-annual “El Prix” range test, putting 24 electric models through their paces to see which ones live up to their official WLTP ratings, and which ones fall flat.

This round was run under the kindest conditions an EV could ask for. NAF conducted the test during the Norwegian summer, with dry roads and temperatures hovering between 12 and 18°C (53.6 to 64.4°F).

More: EV Range Claims Still Sound Great, Until Freezing Temps Hit

The standout was the new BMW iX3 50 xDrive, which covered 781 km (485 miles) on a single charge. That’s not just close to its claim, it’s 1.5 percent beyond its official WLTP figure and a hefty 11.7 percent more than its advertised EPA range.

Predictably, the new iX3 posted a much higher range figure than the model it replaces. Even so, NAF points out that the previous-gen iX3 tested back in 2021 still holds the all-time summer record for positive deviation, beating its rating by 23.5 percent with 556 km (345 miles) of range.

More: EV Speed Comes At A Price, So Where’s The Sweet Spot?

As for the ultimate record for the longest range, it belongs to the Lucid Air that achieved 832 km (517 miles) in the summer of 2025. This year Lucid showed up with the Gravity SUV instead, which ran for 720 km (447 miles) before the battery gave out, falling 3.7 percent short of its expected figure.

The BMW drove the furthest, but the most impressive result of the year came from the XPeng X9. The Chinese minivan posted a real-world range of 646 km (401 miles), beating its WLTP rating of 580 km (360 miles) by 11.4 percent. That kind of overachievement is nothing new for XPeng, as the G9 SUV topped its advertised range by 13 percent back in the 2023 test.

More: This EV’s Real Range Misses By 23% But That’s Not The Worst Part

At the opposite end sat another Chinese model, the MG IM6 sedan, which managed just 446 km (277 miles), falling 11.7 percent short of its WLTP figure. Nils Sødal, senior communications adviser at NAF, said the result caught the team off guard: “We were surprised to see such a large negative deviation for this MG, especially when the other MG model, the S6, achieved a positive deviation of 3.4 per cent.”

The rest of the field stayed within a tight band, deviating from their stated range by anywhere from -5.7 to +5.4 percent, helped along by the dry roads and mild summer temperatures.

Interestingly, the facelifted Toyota bZ4X perfectly matched its WLTP figure of 506 km (314 miles) on the real-world test. However, the driver stated that the Japanese model showed 0% remaining battery 18 km (11 miles) before it actually ran dry. Keep in mind that NAF pushes these EVs to their absolute limit, driving each one until it’s completely discharged.

Below you can see the results for the full batch of 24 EVs that took part in the summer 2026 edition of the “El Prix,” ranked from the longest to the shortest range on a single charge.

Test Results

China’s EV showrooms are already crowded enough to make a German product planner sweat, and VW just walked in with another one. The ID. Unyx 07 is the latest addition to the brand’s growing Chinese lineup, an angular liftback produced by the Volkswagen Anhui joint venture and built on technology co-developed with Xpeng.

It measures 4,853 mm (191.1 inches) long with a 2,826 mm (111.3 inches) wheelbase. That makes it 108 mm (4.2 inches) shorter than the ID.7 and 133 mm (5.2 inches) longer than the Tesla Model 3. Compared to America’s VW Jetta sedan, it stretches 151 mm (5.9 inches) longer overall and, more importantly, rides on a wheelbase 140 mm (5.5 inches) longer, which should translate into noticeably more space inside.

Familiar Face, Different Body

The ID. Unyx 07 doesn’t borrow the newer design vocabulary of the larger ID. Unyx 08 SUV. Instead, it reads as a lower, sleeker take on the ID. Unyx 06 crossover, which itself is the Chinese-market version of the Cupra Tavascan.

More: VW’s First Electric SUV With Xpeng Has A Glowing Wolf Logo

The nose pairs aggressive headlights with sporty intakes and a pronounced chin spoiler. The profile leans on sharp creases, a stubby hood, and a fastback roofline. The tail wraps up with full-width lighting, a faux diffuser, and a hatch that opens onto 711 lt (25.1 cubic feet) of cargo space.

The ID. Unyx 07 is built on the tried-and-tested MEB platform and powered by a single rear-mounted electric motor producing 228 hp (170 kW / 231 PS). The 60 kWh battery pack delivers a CLTC range of 558 km (347 miles).

More: China Is Getting A Jetta SUV For Less Than A Used Corolla Costs In America

The bigger story, though, is the China Electronic Architecture (CEA) developed with XPeng. By consolidating functions into four major control zones, the new digital architecture cuts the number of electronic control modules by roughly 30 percent.

Inside, the screen-heavy dashboard pairs a 10.25-inch instrument cluster with a 15-inch infotainment touchscreen and a third 12-inch passenger display, topped off by a 27-inch augmented reality head-up display. The system runs on a MediaTek 8676 processor and includes an AI voice assistant capable of recognizing multiple passengers.

Other highlights include a new-style two-spoke steering wheel with integrated buttons, ambient lighting that extends to the doors, and a standard panoramic roof with powered opening and a physical sunshade.

More: Tesla’s Still Testing Its Vision-Only Robotaxi, Xpeng Just Started Building One

The equipment list also covers a 12-speaker audio system, 12-way adjustable sports seats, and an in-car fragrance setup. Every trim comes standard with Xpeng’s sophisticated ADAS suite, known as NOA (Navigation Assist).

The new VW ID. Unyx 07 is already available to order in China, with pricing kicking off at 129,900 yuan ($19,100) for the Pure trim and 139,900 yuan ($20,600) for the Pure SE. Early buyers can take advantage of discounted launch prices of 109,900 yuan ($16,200) and 119,900 yuan ($17,700), respectively.

Rivals in the Chinese market include the BYD Seal 06 EV, XPeng Mona M03, Geely Galaxy E8, Deepal SL03, and Tesla Model 3.

Volkswagen Anhui

Xpeng is the latest Chinese car manufacturer to dive headfirst into the world of robotaxis, unveiling a specifically equipped version of the GX and quickly starting production.

Unlike companies like Tesla, Rimac, and Geely that have designed bespoke robotaxis from the ground up, Xpeng’s model is essentially just a specially equipped version of the GX it sells to the public. Using the GX as the basis for its robotaxi will significantly help the car manufacturer cut development and production costs.

Read: 200 Robotaxis Stopped In Traffic, Now China Has Stopped Issuing Permits

Xpeng hasn’t said whether its self-driving GX has the range-extender powertrain of the consumer model or instead the same all-electric powertrain. What we do know is that it’s powered by four in-house Turing AI chips with 3,000 TOPS of on-board computing power. It also includes steer-by-wire.

The SUV has been developed exclusively in-house and offers Level 4 self-driving capabilities. As of January, Xpeng has been testing its L4 vehicles on public roads across China and plans to launch pilot operations for its robotaxi service in the second half of this year.

Humans Still Play An Important Role

Just like the robotaxis being tested by Tesla, Xpeng’s models will initially have a human supervisor behind the wheel in case anything unexpected happens. However, the Chinese firm plans to ditch these “safety officers” by early 2027.

The Xpeng GX robotaxi also differs from most others being tested in China in that it relies on a vision-only system, also like Tesla. This means there’s no LiDAR or high-definition maps, instead relying on cameras and an advanced AI model.

While we haven’t been able to find any images of the robotaxi’s interior, it apparently includes privacy glass, rear entertainment screens, plush new seats, and will be produced in five-, six-, and seven-seat configurations.

Xpeng is the latest Chinese car manufacturer to dive headfirst into the world of robotaxis, unveiling a specifically equipped version of the GX and quickly starting production.

Unlike companies like Tesla, Rimac, and Geely that have designed bespoke robotaxis from the ground up, Xpeng’s model is essentially just a specially equipped version of the GX it sells to the public. Using the GX as the basis for its robotaxi will significantly help the car manufacturer cut development and production costs.

Read: 200 Robotaxis Stopped In Traffic, Now China Has Stopped Issuing Permits

Xpeng hasn’t said whether its self-driving GX has the range-extender powertrain of the consumer model or instead the same all-electric powertrain. What we do know is that it’s powered by four in-house Turing AI chips with 3,000 TOPS of on-board computing power. It also includes steer-by-wire.

The SUV has been developed exclusively in-house and offers Level 4 self-driving capabilities. As of January, Xpeng has been testing its L4 vehicles on public roads across China and plans to launch pilot operations for its robotaxi service in the second half of this year.

Humans Still Play An Important Role

Just like the robotaxis being tested by Tesla, Xpeng’s models will initially have a human supervisor behind the wheel in case anything unexpected happens. However, the Chinese firm plans to ditch these “safety officers” by early 2027.

The Xpeng GX robotaxi also differs from most others being tested in China in that it relies on a vision-only system, also like Tesla. This means there’s no LiDAR or high-definition maps, instead relying on cameras and an advanced AI model.

While we haven’t been able to find any images of the robotaxi’s interior, it apparently includes privacy glass, rear entertainment screens, plush new seats, and will be produced in five-, six-, and seven-seat configurations.

The Volkswagen Group arrived in China with a full plate, using its Media Night ahead of the Beijing Auto Show to roll out a mix of production models and near-future previews. There is a clear pattern running through it all, heavy local collaboration, faster development cycles, and a lineup that looks increasingly tailored to Chinese tastes rather than global consistency.

More: VW Spent Years Removing Knobs From Its Cars, The ID.3 Neo Puts Them Back

Among the reveals were the VW ID. Aura T6 from FAW, the ID. Unyx 09 co-developed with XPeng, and the AUDI E7X from SAIC. Sitting slightly off to the side, but arguably just as important, was the Jetta X Concept, previewing a cheaper, more accessible electric SUV.

The ID. Aura T6 is a fully electric midsize SUV built specifically for China, and at a glance, it could pass as an ID. Tiguan. It comes from the FAW-VW joint venture and leans into familiar design cues, split LED headlights, a full-width rear light bar, proper door handles, and a five-seat layout. It is also the first member of the ID. Aura family, even though the initial concept from 2025 was a sedan.

VW ID. Aura T6

Next up is the ID. Unyx 09, an electrified sedan borrowing technology from Xpeng. It is a sibling to the recently unveiled ID Unyx 08 SUV, adopting a similar styling language. The low-slung model features slim LEDs and the signature black trim piece that connects the main headlights with the ADAS sensors on the profile.

More: Toyota Was Mocked For Going Slow On EVs, Honda And VW Are Now Paying For Going Fast

VW didn’t get into details, but the ID. Unyx 09 will likely share the electric powertrains with the ID. Unyx 08, including CATL-sourced battery packs. Its market launch in China is scheduled for the second half of 2026.

VW ID. Unyx 09

Both the ID. Aura T6 and the ID. Unyx 09 feature the new CEA electric and electronic architecture, a result of VW’s partnership with Xpeng. This supports Level 2+ driving assistance and high-tech infotainment systems with an integrated AI Intelligent Assistant.

More: The New AUDI E7X Looks Nothing Like The Audis You Know

During the Media Night, VW Group also showed the production version of the AUDI E7X. The fully electric SUV is produced as part of its joint venture with SAIC, joining the E5 Sportback in the Chinese lineup.

A New Jetta SUV

Then there is the Jetta X Concept, which might be the most telling piece of the puzzle. It is a rugged-looking SUV with an electrified powertrain, styled with a kind of no-nonsense simplicity that feels closer to Dacia than anything wearing a VW badge. That is not accidental. With Skoda exiting China after a prolonged sales slide, Jetta now steps into its place as the value-focused brand.

The Jetta X rides on the Compact Main Platform (CMP), developed in China. More importantly, it is expected to reach production by FAW later this year, with a rumored starting price under the ¥100,000 ($14,700) mark. Overall, the Jetta lineup will grow with five new models by 2028, including four NEVs (models with electrified powertrains).

VW Group’s Offensive In China

VW plans to launch 20 new electric vehicles this year as part of its “In China, for China” strategy. The company promises they will use “state-of-the-art electrical architectures, ADAS systems, an intelligent cockpit and AI features,” designed to fulfil the needs of Chinese customers.

More: VW’s China Collapse Is Bad, But Its American Problem Might Be Harder To Fix

Overall, the VW Group will offer around 50 electrified models in China by 2030, including around 30 battery electric vehicles.