Even though the run on electric cars has stalled, their development is progressing in leaps and bounds. The ADAC has determined the best representatives of all classes in a comparison test.
The General German Automobile Club, or ADAC for short, tests cars all year round. The club publishes the results continuously – and sorts them by type of vehicle. This gives you a quick overview of which models the testers consider to be the best representatives of their class according to their criteria. As soon as the cars have been tested, you receive three grades for the ranking: an overall result and grades for the costs and the resulting assessment of the price-performance ratio.
In the tests, the vehicles are put through their paces. The testers look closely at drive performance, safety features, suitability for everyday use, payloads and many other parameters. For electric cars, factors such as range and charging speed also play an important role. The club publishes the results on an ongoing basis. The last update was at the end of August.
Back in May, a result caused a stir – because for the first time, a car managed to get the overall rating of “very good”. The testers gave the VW ID.7 Pro a 1.5.
The best electric cars in their class
But other manufacturers can also score points. The Fiat 500e La Prima with a 42 kilowatt hour battery is currently in first place among the small cars. The vehicle achieved a score of 2.4 primarily due to its good drive, safe handling and exemplary environmental properties. Deductions – and this is not surprising – are mainly in terms of payload and space.
This is apparently no longer the case in the next higher class, the small cars. The Hyundai Kona Electric with a 65.4 kWh battery and Prime package leads the table there. The car received a straight 2 in the test, showing weaknesses mainly in the materials in the interior and the price – which is currently 45,340 euros.
In the lower middle class, Volvo leads with the XC40 Recharge Pure Electric Single Motor Extended Range Ultimate. The car received a score of 1.7 for its extensive equipment, high level of safety, solid driving performance and good drive.
When it comes to luxury cars, Porsche with the Taycan Performance Plus and Mercedes with the EQS 450+ are on a par. Both cars share a score of 1.6. The enormous prices may have stood in the way of the top score – both start at over 100,000 euros.
Where do China and Tesla stand?
When it comes to manufacturers from the Far East, the club writes: “Even if no such model has yet made it to the top, electric vehicles made in China are now achieving more than respectable ratings in the ADAC test. Examples include Nio with its technically high-quality models ET5, ET7, EL6 and EL7, or the Xpeng G9.”
The ADAC assumes that “the battle for top positions and market share will continue to intensify.” Tesla could also feel the effects of this. The Tesla Model 3 is already in the middle of the field in the mid-range with a score of 2, as is the Model Y. The luxury models S and X are not even on the list. If the e-pioneer does not pull something out of the hat soon, the competition will send more and more models into the race, making it increasingly difficult for the popular cars from Musk.
Source: Stern
I’m a recent graduate of the University of Missouri with a degree in journalism. I started working as a news reporter for 24 Hours World about two years ago, and I’ve been writing articles ever since. My main focus is automotive news, but I’ve also written about politics, lifestyle, and entertainment.
