Nowadays, the demand, craze, and hype of EVs have seen a dramatic increase. That said, the automotive industry continues to shift toward electric vehicles. Unpredictable rises in fuel costs and increased awareness regarding the environmental effects are the major reasons behind this shift. As the demand increases, ownership comes with many factors to consider.
While discussing the key factors of an EV, we cannot overlook the electric vehicle's range. You’ll have to agree that it’s the most discussed topic when it comes to EV ownership. EV real-world range comparisons are often made with those the company advertises. Consumers and EV owners often report disparities between the two.
Well, the manufacturers opt for different testing standards that provide the estimated ARAI. In contrast, the real-world conditions may be very different. This results in the unwanted disparity. To help you easily understand this and make an informed decision, here we’ve mentioned every mass-market EV's tested real-world range.
Are you also wondering about the top EVs offering reliable and efficient real-world range? Today’s mass market EVs promise impressive range while being cost-effective. You can get budget-friendly models to premium options in the 2025 automotive industry. Here, we break down how popular electric vehicles perform in real-world conditions:
Now, the first on our list is the Tata Tiago EV. You must be aware of the fact that this one is Tata Motors’ most affordable and compact electric car. It comes with 19.2kWh and 24kWh battery options. Talking about the larger 24kWh pack, it’s said to back a power of a 74hp motor, taking the claimed range to 275km. If we mention the tested real-world range, it successfully delivers around 187km on a mix of both city and highway driving. The efficiency remains to be 7.77km/kWh. Having a price range between ₹7.99 lakh and ₹11.14 lakh, it’s actually worthwhile for budget-conscious buyers.
Battery: 24kWh
MIDC Range: 275km
Tested Range: 187km
Tested Efficiency: 7.77km/kWh
You must have come across the name Citroen eC3 EV. It’s another highly popular model in the EV industry as of 2025. Well, it comes with a 29.2kWh battery, paired with a 57hp, 143Nm motor. It powers the front wheels, which takes the claimed range to 246 km. However, talking about the real-world tests, it could only manage around 228km, combining both city and highway drives. The Citroen is considered to be the biggest rival of the Tata Tiago, having a slightly higher price range. It ranges somewhere between ₹12.9 lakh and ₹13.53 lakh.
Battery: 29.2kWh
MIDC Range: 246km
Tested Range: 228km
Tested Efficiency: 7.8km/kWh
The Tata Nexon is another popular EV for car enthusiasts in the global market. Now, talking about the battery options, it was earlier sold in three choices— 30kWh, 40.5kWh, and 45kWh. Their claimed ARAIs were approximately 275km, 390km, and 489km, respectively. While the 40.5kWh battery option is no longer available for purchase, the larger pack of 45kWh gets a range of 350km in real-world tests. Due to this high real-world range, it becomes the most capable option in the mass market. The current prices in the market range between ₹12.49 lakh and ₹16.99 lakh.
Battery: 40.5kWh/ 45kWh
MIDC Range: 390km/ 489km
Tested Range: 273km/ 350km
Tested Efficiency: 6.8km/kWh and 7.79km/kWh
MG offers its most affordable model, the Comet EV, which runs on a 17.3kWh battery. You might be wondering about its battery as it is so small compared to the rivals. But wait for the twist! Despite being small, it delivers 11.17km/kWh, which achieves approximately 193km in real-world driving tests. Its modest power and lightweight build quality increase the efficiency and make it a superb option in a small package. Well, the prices are also affordable— just ₹7.36 lakh to ₹9.86 lakh.
Battery: 17.3kWh
MIDC Range: 230km
Tested Range: 193km
Tested Efficiency: 11.17km/kWh
Launched in September 2024, the MG Windsor EV has quickly become a prominent name in the EV market. It’s now also available in a Pro version that has a larger battery capacity. However, we’ll only talk about the standard model with a 38kWh battery, claimed to offer 332km range. You’ll be surprised to know that the MG Windsor actually impressed in the real-world tests, as it covered around 308km with an efficiency of 8.1km/kWh. Prices start at ₹10 lakh and go up to ₹14 lakh.
Battery: 38kWh
MIDC Range: 332km
Tested Range: 308km
Tested Efficiency: 8.1km/kWh
Now that you know about many mass-market EVs’ real-world range, have you thought about what factors make all the difference in the ARAI range figures? Many factors, including driving style, terrain, and even weather, can significantly impact the real-world range. Let’s have a look at some major factors:
Driving Style: Frequent acceleration, hard braking, and high speed reduce efficiency and cut down range dramatically.
Traffic and Terrain: Hectic city traffic or hilly routes also consume more energy, impacting the real-world range.
Load and Weight: More weight and load can also increase the pressure on the EV battery. The increase in energy consumption takes the range lower.
Weather Conditions: When driving in severe weather conditions (hot or cold), it will impact the battery performance. Using the car's AC and heating options also reduces range.
READ ALSO: Tata Nexon EV 2025 Revealed – New Design, V2L & ADAS Features
As we take our journey to an end, it’s quite evident that the claimed figures may look impressive, but the actual performance may vary widely across EV models. Understanding the differences between the two and what makes the disparity will help you make an informed decision. While there are so many options available currently in the mass-market EV space, selecting the right one particularly depends on practical range, budget, and efficiency.