The used EVs with the longest real-world driving range

Electric vehicles are experiencing another surge in Australia’s used car market, largely due to the soaring petrol costs as a result of the ongoing war in the Middle East.

According to the latest data from the Australian Automotive Dealers Association, used EV sales more than doubled between February and March 2026, increasing from 3176 to 7557.

AADA CEO James Voortman said the data shows Australians are prioritising long-term ownership costs.

“Rising fuel prices are clearly influencing consumer behaviour, with more Australians turning to used EVs as a practical and cost-effective alternative,” he said in an April 2026 media statement.

“Whether this marks a lasting inflection point will depend on how long fuel prices stay elevated, but the data is clear: cost of ownership is now front of mind for buyers, and that’s reshaping how they think about their next vehicle,” he added.

While driving ranges were once cited as a key consumer barrier to EV adoption in Australia, most car makers are launching new models with longer advertised driving ranges.

But when it comes to the used EV market, the Australian Automotive Association (AAA) real-world program offers insight into how some popular EVs perform in ‘real-world' conditions.

So far, the AAA has tested the real-world range of 15 popular electric cars on a single full charge across a 93km circuit in Geelong, Victoria.

It's worth noting that, like fuel efficiency figures in traditional petrol and diesel cars, an EV's maximum real-world driving range depends on several external factors, such as an individual driver's habits, vehicle weight, and weather.

But as a general guide, Drive has compiled a list of EVs with the longest real-world driving ranges based on AAA data, which we've determined as models that exceed 450km in real-world settings.

Based on the latest AAA data, the 2025 Kia EV5 Air Long Range variant recorded the largest real-world range of 537km.

The South Korean car maker claimed a 555km WLTP range, representing a 3 per cent variance between the SUV's lab-mandated results and real-world settings.

Additionally, the medium SUV consumed 185kWh/km, 2.78 per cent more than its advertised efficiency figure of 180kWh/km.

Based on the industry guide Redbook, a used 2025 Kia EV5 generally fetches between $36,150–$50,600.

As reported by Drive in February 2026, the Federal Government invested $60 million to reduce finance rates on electric models from Hyundai, Kia and Genesis.

Just like its larger sibling, the 2025 Kia EV3 in its Air Long Range variant accrued 537km in real-world conditions.

However, the small electric SUV showed a larger variance of 11 per cent when comparing its real-world results against its claimed 604km range. Generally speaking, the Kia EV3 model tested by the AAA costs between $36,900 to $50,250.

Chinese car maker BYD has recently celebrated its 100,000th sale just 3.5 years after it came to Australia. And while consumers are flocking to new models such as the Shark 6 plug-in hybrid ute, its Seal electric sedan remains a popular model in its local line-up.

According to the AAA’s program, a 2024 BYD Seal Premium recorded a maximum distance of 488km in real-world settings.

For reference, the real-world data showed a 25 per cent variance against its claimed 650km range. However, the 2025 Seal Premium’s advertised sticker was based on the less stringent NEDC testing cycle.

Based on Redbook data, a 2024 BYD Seal Premium generally commands an estimated price range of $30,350 to $44,200 in the used car market.

The AADA said that affordable Chinese electric cars were a key factor in the surge in used EV sales in March 2026.

The BYD Sealion 7 is one of the newest models introduced by the Chinese car maker in February 2025, with the medium SUV achieving a maximum real-world range of 469km.

The AAA claimed a 17 per cent variance between the BYD Sealion 7’s claimed 567km NEDC figure and its real-world result.

If you want to know more about the difference between WLTP and NEDC EV testing cycles, visit Drive's previous story here.

As reported by Drive in April 2026, the medium SUV has found favour among new car buyers, with BYD accruing 4468 sales so far this year, the second-best-selling electric car.

It’s hard to write any EV list without mentioning Tesla and its benchmark Model Y. Based on the AAA’s real-world program, the 2025 Tesla Model Y achieved 490km on a single charge, representing an 8 per cent variance compared with its advertised sticker figure of 533km.

According to Redbook data, a 2024 Tesla Model Y Long Range generally costs between $38,350 and $57,350.

Finally, the 2025 Tesla Model Y RWD recorded a maximum driving distance of 450km under the AAA's real-world testing program.

According to the peak national industry body, the medium SUV – the best-selling electric car by volume in 2025 – had a 3 per cent discrepancy between its real-world result and its claimed 466km WLTP range.

A full list of EVs tested by the AAA in its real-world program is listed below.

Ethan Cardinal graduated with a Journalism degree in 2020 from La Trobe University and has been working in the fashion industry as a freelance writer prior to joining Drive in 2023. Ethan greatly enjoys investigating and reporting on the cross sections between automotive, lifestyle and culture. Ethan relishes the opportunity to explore how deep cars are intertwined within different industries and how they could affect both casual readers and car enthusiasts.

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