Great car but highway range is not so great.
Love this car overall, and happy with my purchase. But a few drawbacks other first-time EV owners might want to think about.
-Highway speed range is not what I’d hoped for when using 70 to 80 percent of the battery with heat on. If I drive 120/75mph in “fall” temps of -2 to 10c (28 to 50 give or take) I’ll get about 230K/140 miles going from 90 to 20 percent or so. That’s my drive to the airport/work, and I do it regularly. Drive 110 and range jumps about 40K, uses 10 percent less. If I’m driving 90K/55mph in pleasant temps I’ll use way less battery, only about 50 percent instead of 70+. Speed and using heat sucks charge! This not an aerodynamic/small car compared to some other EVs, and so highway speeds seem to really use energy. Obvious to those of you who have an EV, but less so if you’re coming from the ICE world. My work truck does 2x as well at 120k as it does around town for example.
-Range is much better when driving slow (60k/35 or so) and around town,
I’ll get over 350 using 80 percent of the battery in 20c temps. So the range isn’t wrong, just a lot more variable than I expected. Other
First time EV owners may want to consider this more than I did.
For my use I wanted to be able to drive to the airport and back, roughly 235K, in winter at 120k, and figured that with an advertised range of 450K on my XLE awd that would be no problem. But if you’re trying to keep the charge in that 20 to 80 percent range and drive normal highway speeds in winter I’m not so sure… If range drops another 20 percent at -10 to -25C I’m concerned Ill have to routinely charge to 100 percent and may not have a lot left when I get back. I may be able to charge off the block heater outlets at the airport while gone 1 to 15 days, I’ll update after seeing what that does.
In warmer but minimal AC temps driving 90-100 it’s a lot better, drove a 900k loop in one day with two easy charger stops, one about 30 to 80 and one about 30 to 100 by accident (charging was a lot faster than I expected and I’d set it to go to 100 for the charge before the trip). Still had lots when I got home, even figuring out the two different charge apps/stupid systems it was just fine, not worried about road tripping in the future in warm temps.
Something to think about, and hoping i can make it to the airport and back this winter without charging or going 100 to 5 percent, it’s good to have more margin than that in winter where i live in case of storms or road closures. I really don’t want to get off a long flight and charge to get home.
This is my first EV and I truly love it. I also have a work truck but rarely have to drive it, I can fit most everything I need in this car 90+ percent of the time and enjoy driving it way more. It’s also very comfortable for my family/friends, the cabin is very roomy. I can fit my bike in the back without taking a wheel off. Does well on dirt, smooth, seems like the 12v issue is sorted now, good car.
Other gripes: The backup sound is ridiculous , figuring out the climate system (is my AC/heat on or off now to use less juice?) is annoying, the wireless charging pads are junk, and it should have better storage options generally (glovebox, lot of wasted space other vehicles I’ve had used). But I still really love it and the EV experience overall, and I’ll probably buy this car out at lease end if it makes it to the airport and back this winter without charging. Hopefully the drop from 20C to OC is more than the drop from 0C to full winter temps.
Curious what other people have experienced in real winter conditions with their xle awd BZs?