CAA EV Circuit 2026 Canada: Most Efficient EVs
The CAA EV Circuit 2026 put 22 electric cars on the same 230-kilometre Ontario route. Every vehicle finished without a mid-trip charge. The test ran on September 16 from Blue Mountain to Vaughan, on city streets, rural roads, and highway. Weather was mild. That matters. These are not winter numbers.
CAA’s point is simple. Range anxiety is fading on a 230 km day. Efficiency, charge speed, and cost now decide the car.
Most efficient EVs in the CAA EV Circuit 2026
Energy use ran from 11.43 to 28.91 kWh per 100 km. Smaller crossovers and sedans won. Heavy trucks lost.
Lowest energy use:
- Toyota bZ — 11.43 kWh/100 km
- Tesla Model Y — 11.81
- Tesla Model 3 — 11.85
- Kia EV4 — 11.89
- Nissan Leaf — 12.48
Highest energy use:
- Lucid Gravity — 28.91 kWh/100 km
- GMC Hummer EV SUV — 23.55
- Tesla Cybertruck — 23.41
- Rivian R1T — 19.96
- Cadillac Lyriq — 19.10
The pack used about 40 percent of its battery on average. CAA says that is roughly two litres of gasoline per 100 km. A typical gas car still burns eight to 10 litres. The same group used about 40 percent less energy than CAA’s February 2025 winter test.
Fastest 15-minute charge
All cars then sat on Tesla Superchargers for 15 minutes. Average gain: 110 km of displayed range. Almost two-thirds added at least 100 km.
Most kilometres added:
- Lucid Gravity — 178 km
- Hyundai Ioniq 5 — 136 km
- Mercedes-Benz CLA Electric — 135 km
- Cadillac Lyriq — 131 km
- Nissan Leaf — 126 km
Least kilometres added:
- Lucid Air — 58 km
- Chevrolet Equinox EV — 71 km
- Chevrolet Silverado EV — 80 km
- GMC Hummer EV SUV — 90 km
- Tesla Model Y — 97 km
CAA notes not every car arrived at the ideal battery level for peak speed. Treat the charge ranking as a snapshot, not a lab test. Gravity still proves the rule: a thirsty SUV can refill fast if the hardware is strong.
What it cost
Public fast charging is not home power. CAA’s cost-per-100 km list put Tesla Model 3 at $7.28 and Model Y at $8.23. Leaf was about $10.13. EV4 was $10.25. Hummer EV SUV hit $24.39. Home Level 2 will beat all of these.
What Canadian buyers should take away
Buy efficiency if you commute. The bZ, Model Y, Model 3, EV4, and Leaf used the least electricity. Buy charge speed if you road-trip. Ioniq 5 and the new Leaf look stronger than Equinox EV in this 15-minute test.
The CAA EV Circuit 2026 was a cool September day. Plan extra time and extra stops in January. Use the car’s own nav so the battery warms before a DC stall.
For prices, see our cheapest electric cars Canada guide. For trip apps, use the EV road trip planning guide.
