How we test electric and hybrid cars
Learn about what goes into our rigorous, 100% independent tests of electric and hybrid cars.
Each vehicle undergoes a comprehensive evaluation with over 300 specific assessments performed on them. Our testing considers practicality, safety and how easy a car is to live with, not entirely on performance and handling (though we still look at that too).
Our overall score is made up of five categories. Each category includes a large number of assessments, but we’ve listed the main ones below.
Body
- Workmanship
- Assessment of all the components and if they add to usability
- All-round visibility
- Boot assessment
- Ease of entry/exit
Cabin
- Takes into account the multimedia display and usability
- Driver controls
- Space in front and rear
- Storage
Comfort
- Suspension
- City/urban driving comfort
- Seat comfort
- Cabin noise
- Aircon/heater performance
Engine
- Overtaking
- Acceleration
- Smoothness
- Transmission
Road behaviour
- Stability
- Avoidance
- Steering
- Brakes
Range testing
Range testing is undertaken in simulated conditions and builds upon the standard Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (usually shortened to WLTP) that all vehicles must undergo before being approved to be sold in the European Union. The limitation of the WLTP test is that it has more of a town-driving, stop/start bias and only has a short highway component. That might be OK for some, but real-world experience where you spend more time on NZ motorways and state highways can leave the WLTP range estimate as a near unobtainable goal. Our test adds an extra highway element of sustained high speeds that builds on the WLTP estimate and is then used to calculate our own “Maximum range”.
Our car test results are drawn from our European partners who perform independent testing on vehicles in Germany.
We've tested 95 electric and hybrid cars.
Find the right one for you.
