The Most Efficient Electric Cars

Listed in order of most efficient to the least, using the WLTP consumption rating.

You can predict the running cost of the vehicle by entering the unit price you pay for electricity (check your power bill)

Vehicle	kWh/100km	Charging cost ($/100km)
Hyundai IONIQ 38 kWh	13.8	$3.45
Mini Aceman SE	13.8	$3.45
Hyundai IONIQ 6	13.9	$3.48
Mini Cooper SE	14.1	$3.53
Mini Aceman E	14.1	$3.53
Fiat 500e	14.2	$3.55
Hyundai Kona 39 kWh	14.3	$3.58
Hyundai IONIQ 6 77 RWD	14.3	$3.58
Hyundai Kona 64 kWh	14.7	$3.68
Polestar 2 Long Range (2024)	14.8	$3.70
Tesla Model 3	14.9	$3.73
BYD Dolphin	15.2	$3.80
BYD Seal Dynamic	15.3	$3.83
Jeep Avenger	15.4	$3.85
Omoda E5	15.5	$3.88
BYD Atto 3 Extended	15.6	$3.90
Tesla Model Y	15.7	$3.93
Volvo EX30 Single	15.7	$3.93
Cupra Born V+	15.8	$3.95
BYD Dolphin Extended	15.9	$3.98
Polestar 2 Long Range Dual (2024)	15.9	$3.98
BMW i4 eDrive40	16	$4.00
MG 4 Excite 64	16	$4.00
Hyundai IONIQ 6 77 Elite	16	$4.00
Tesla Model 3 Long Range	16	$4.00
Subaru Solterra	16	$4.00
Skoda Enyaq Sportline	16.1	$4.03
Kia Niro	16.2	$4.05
Skoda Enyaq Coupe Sportline Max	16.2	$4.05
Volvo EX30 Twin	16.3	$4.08
Mercedes-Benz EQE 300	16.4	$4.10
Skoda Enyaq Sportline Max	16.4	$4.10
Mercedes-Benz EQA 250+	16.4	$4.10
Kia EV6 Air Long Range	16.5	$4.13
Volkswagen ID.5 Pro	16.5	$4.13
MG 4 Long Range	16.5	$4.13
Kia EV6 Air Standard Range	16.6	$4.15
MG 4 Essence 64	16.6	$4.15
BYD Seal Premium	16.6	$4.15
Polestar 2 (2023)	16.7	$4.18
Hyundai IONIQ 5	16.7	$4.18
BMW iX 50	16.7	$4.18
Toyota bZ4X Pure	16.7	$4.18
GWM Ora	16.7	$4.18
GWM Ora Extended	16.7	$4.18
Tesla Model 3 Performance	16.7	$4.18
Hyundai IONIQ 5 72 2WD	16.8	$4.20
Lexus UX 300e	16.8	$4.20
Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback 40	16.8	$4.20
MG 4 Excite 51	16.8	$4.20
BMW iX1 eDrive20	16.8	$4.20
GWM Ora GT	16.8	$4.20
Polestar 2 Dual Performance (2024)	16.8	$4.20
Volkswagen ID.4 Pro	16.9	$4.23
Tesla Model Y Long Range	16.9	$4.23
Hyundai IONIQ 6 77 Limited	16.9	$4.23
Mini Countryman SE	17	$4.25
Porsche Macan Electric	17	$4.25
Nissan Leaf 40 kWh	17.1	$4.28
Tesla Model Y Performance	17.1	$4.28
BMW iX2 eDrive20	17.1	$4.28
Kia EV6 Earth	17.2	$4.30
Audi Q4 e-tron Advanced 40	17.2	$4.30
Ford Mustang Mach-E RWD	17.2	$4.30
Mercedes-Benz EQA 350	17.5	$4.38
Mercedes-Benz EQB 250+	17.5	$4.38
MG ZS EV	17.7	$4.43
MG ZS EV Long Range	17.7	$4.43
Hyundai IONIQ 5 72 AWD	17.7	$4.43
Polestar 4 Long Range	17.7	$4.43
Porsche Macan 4S Electric	17.7	$4.43
Mercedes-Benz EQE 350	17.8	$4.45
Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback 50 S line	17.8	$4.45
Subaru Solterra Touring	17.9	$4.48
Porsche Macan 4 Electric	17.9	$4.48
Kia EV6 GT-Line	18	$4.50
Toyota bZ4X Motion	18	$4.50
BMW i5 M60 Touring	18	$4.50
Kia EV5 Light +	18	$4.50
Kia EV5 Light	18	$4.50
BMW iX1 xDrive30	18.1	$4.53
Abarth 500e	18.1	$4.53
Volvo C40 Recharge	18.2	$4.55
BYD Seal Performance	18.2	$4.55
Audi Q4 e-tron 50 S line	18.3	$4.58
Volvo XC40 Recharge	18.3	$4.58
Nissan Leaf e+ 59 kWh	18.5	$4.63
Kia EV5 Earth	18.5	$4.63
Polestar 4 Long Range Dual	18.6	$4.65
Ford Mustang Mach-E AWD	18.7	$4.68
BMW i4 eDrive35	18.7	$4.68
MG 4 XPower	18.7	$4.68
KGM Torres EVX	18.7	$4.68
Mercedes-Benz EQB 350	18.8	$4.70
Porsche Macan Turbo Electric	18.8	$4.70
Mercedes-Benz EQE 350 SUV	18.9	$4.73
Mercedes-Benz EQE 300 SUV	18.9	$4.73
Volvo XC40 Ultimate	19	$4.75
BMW i4 M50	19	$4.75
Hyundai IONIQ 5 77 Limited	19.1	$4.78
MG Cyberster	19.1	$4.78
BMW iX 40 Sport	19.3	$4.83
Polestar 2 Long Range Dual (2023)	19.4	$4.85
BMW iX3	19.5	$4.88
Kia EV9 Light	19.5	$4.88
BMW i7 xDrive60	19.6	$4.90
BMW i5 M60 xDrive	19.6	$4.90
Ford Mustang Mach-E GT	20	$5.00
Audi e-tron GT quattro	20.1	$5.03
Polestar 3 Long Range	20.1	$5.03
Kia EV5 Earth AWD	20.1	$5.03
Kia EV6 GT	20.6	$5.15
Volvo C40 Ultimate	20.8	$5.20
Audi RS e-tron GT	20.9	$5.23
Kia EV5 GT-Line	21	$5.25
Mercedes-Benz EQS 450 Sedan	21.2	$5.30
Audi Q8 e-tron 55	21.3	$5.33
LDV MIFA 9	21.3	$5.33
Lotus Eletre S	21.4	$5.35
Lotus Emeya S	21.4	$5.35
Mercedes-Benz EQE AMG 53	21.8	$5.45
Polestar 3 Performance	21.9	$5.48
Jaguar I-PACE	22	$5.50
Mercedes-Benz EQS 680 Maybach	22	$5.50
Mercedes-Benz EQE AMG 53 SUV	22.1	$5.53
Rolls-Royce Spectre	22.2	$5.55
Kia EV9 GT-Line	22.8	$5.70
Audi Q8 e-tron 55 S line	22.9	$5.73
Mercedes-Benz EQS AMG 53	23	$5.75
Kia EV9 Earth	23.1	$5.78
Mercedes-Benz EQS 450 SUV	24.3	$6.08
BMW iX M60	24.7	$6.18
Porsche Taycan	26.5	$6.63
Audi SQ8 e-tron Sportback	27.4	$6.85
Lotus Eletre R	28	$7.00
Mercedes-Benz EQV 300	29.1	$7.28

How electric energy consumption is measured

Efficiency can be expressed in three different ways.

1. watt-hours consumed per kilometre travelled – Wh / km.
2. kilowatt-hours per 100 km travelled – kWh / 100 km.
3. kilometres per kilowatt-hour (the number of kilometres travelled per kWh of electricity) – km / kWh

Energy consumption can be measured from the battery or recharged electric energy from the mains.

1. Battery consumption allows comparison on a drive-by-drive basis (viewed in the dashboard).
2. Mains consumption is good for comparing running costs as it considers charging losses (measured using special equipment).

Car reviewers routinely mix up the two measurements: “The WLTP says 167 Wh / km, but I managed to get 148 Wh / km.”

Unless the reviewer wired up a meter to measure power leaving the mains (during recharging) – they are not comparing the same thing.

How is EV efficiency measured?

The WLTP testing process depletes the battery and then recharges it again (while measuring electricity leaving the mains). This process, along with other calculations, predicts a consumption figure using recharged energy from the mains.

The test cycle also measures electricity consumption from the battery during travel to estimate the EV’s range.

What affects efficiency?

Efficiency is affected by vehicle mass, powertrain, aerodynamic drag, and rolling resistance.

An efficient EV is lighter, has a low aerodynamic drag coefficient, and has an efficient powertrain that maximises regenerative braking.

Why drive an efficient EV?

1. Lower running costs – less recharging needed.
2. Fewer emissions during travel – NZ has around 85% of renewables but still generates electricity from fossil fuel sources.
3. Fewer emissions during production – inefficient EVs have larger batteries to power larger mass.