Porsche and Hyundai Lead in Real-World Range Efficiency
When it comes to long-distance driving, the best electric vehicles combine strong real-world range with fast, consistent charging. A new test from Germany’s largest automotive club, ADAC, reveals that Porsche and Hyundai now outperform Lucid, once seen as the benchmark for highway endurance. The study highlights how charging consistency matters more than battery size or headline range figures when it comes to real-world usability.
How the ADAC Test Works
Instead of running cars to empty, ADAC simulates a mixed road trip scenario using its EcoTest cycle. Vehicles are driven until their battery reaches 10% state of charge, then recharged for 20 minutes using the same 300 kW Alpitronic fast charger. ADAC then adds the pre-charge range and the range regained during the session to calculate each car’s total long-distance performance.
Lucid Drops to Fifth Despite Massive Battery
Lucid’s Air Grand Touring—once a top-three performer—has fallen to fifth place this year. With a 112 kWh battery, it posted one of the highest single-charge ranges at 341 miles (550 km), but its inconsistent charging curve held it back.
Although Lucid claims a 300 kW peak charging rate, the car only hit 243 kW in testing, with speeds dropping to 145 kW by 50% and below 100 kW by 70%. As a result, it added just 192 miles (309 km) in 20 minutes, for a total of 533 miles (859 km). Still impressive—but no longer class-leading.
Porsche Taycan Tops the List
The Porsche Taycan Performance Plus emerged as the clear winner. With a 97 kWh battery, it achieved a combined total of 609 miles (981 km) in ADAC’s test. The Taycan covered 318 miles (518 km) before recharging and gained another 291 miles (469 km) during the 20-minute session.
What set Porsche apart was its exceptional charging stability. It maintained over 250 kW charging power until 63% and averaged 275 kW, nearly double the Lucid’s performance. This consistency allows Taycan drivers to recover range much faster during real-world road trips.
Hyundai Ioniq 6 Surprises With Efficiency
In second place, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 proved that efficiency can beat size. Despite having a smaller 77.4 kWh battery, the single-motor version achieved 311 miles (502 km) before recharging and regained 266 miles (429 km) in 20 minutes—a total of 578 miles (931 km).
Its charging curve was less aggressive than Porsche’s, starting at 120 kW and peaking at 235 kW midway, yet its average rate of 190 kW was still far better than Lucid’s. Considering its far lower price, the Ioniq 6’s performance is especially remarkable.
Audi and Others Show the Field Is Advancing
The Audi A6 e-tron placed third, covering 325 miles (524 km) before recharging and gaining 246 miles (397 km) afterward for a total of 572 miles (921 km). It even exceeded its rated 270 kW peak, briefly hitting 281 kW and holding above 200 kW until around 60%.
These results demonstrate how new EVs are rapidly closing the gap on traditional long-range leaders like Lucid. Improvements in charging architecture, voltage systems, and thermal management are translating into real-world driving advantages.
What the Results Reveal About Long-Distance EVs
ADAC’s findings make one thing clear: battery capacity alone doesn’t define a road-trip-ready EV. What truly matters is how efficiently an EV can recover range in short charging stops. Porsche’s near-constant 300 kW charging speed and Hyundai’s lightweight efficiency show that consistency and smart engineering outperform sheer battery size.
With 400 kW public chargers becoming more common in Europe, ADAC plans to update its testing next year. Future contenders—like the BMW iX3 and Zeekr 7X—could push performance even further, but for now, Porsche and Hyundai are setting the pace for real-world long-range travel.
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