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 110 electric and hybrid cars.
Find the right one for you.

Compare electric and hybrid cars