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How John scores EVs

John drives each EV, measures its range and charging, and scores it out of 10 on one published scorecard, so any two cars compare on the same terms. This page sets out what each of the seven categories covers, the tests behind the scores, and how the scorecard changes over time.

Scorecard v1Introduced By John

The scorecard

Every car is scored in the same seven categories. Each category is scored 0 to 10, then weighted into one overall score out of 10. Each category counts for the share of the overall score shown beside it; the bars use the same scale as a review’s scorecard, one tick for each 10%.

On the overall score, 9 and up is Outstanding, 8 Excellent, 7 Good, 6 Fair, and below 6 Poor. A category not scored yet is left out of the average until it is.

  • Range & Efficiency

    20% of the overall score

    20% of the overall score

    How far the car goes on a charge in real driving, and how much energy it uses to get there.

    A 10
    Goes further on a charge than almost anything in its class, and uses little energy doing it.
    A 5
    Range falls well short of its rivals, or it uses noticeably more energy than they do.

  • Charging

    15% of the overall score

    15% of the overall score

    How quickly it adds range at a DC fast charger, how it charges at home, and how easy charging is day to day.

    A 10
    Adds range on a fast charger as quickly as the best EVs on sale, and charging is simple wherever you plug in.
    A 5
    Fast charging is slow for its class or tails off early, and charging takes more planning than it should.

  • Performance & Handling

    15% of the overall score

    15% of the overall score

    Acceleration, braking, steering and handling, and how sure-footed the car feels on the road.

    A 10
    Quick, composed and a pleasure to drive, with no weak spot.
    A 5
    Gets the job done, but feels slow, vague or clumsy next to its rivals.

  • Comfort & Ride

    15% of the overall score

    15% of the overall score

    Ride quality, seat comfort, cabin noise, and how relaxing the car is on a long trip.

    A 10
    Smooth, quiet and comfortable on any road, even after hours behind the wheel.
    A 5
    A firm or noisy ride, or seats that tire you out, make longer trips a chore.

  • Interior & Tech

    10% of the overall score

    10% of the overall score

    Cabin quality and layout, screens and controls, driver assistance, and the software you use every day.

    A 10
    Well made and easy to use, with software and driver aids that work the way you expect.
    A 5
    Usable, but cheap-feeling, distracting or buggy in ways you notice on every drive.

  • Practicality

    10% of the overall score

    10% of the overall score

    Passenger space, cargo room, small-item storage, and how easy the car is to live with.

    A 10
    Roomier and more useful than almost anything its size.
    A 5
    Tighter or more awkward than most rivals, so you have to work around it.

  • Value

    15% of the overall score

    15% of the overall score

    What you get for the price: equipment, range and quality against what its rivals cost.

    A 10
    Hard to beat for the money; rivals cost more and give you less.
    A 5
    Costs more than it should for what it offers.

Standard tests

The scores rest on the same tests for every car. Each card says what a test is for.

  • Everyday driving

    Each car is driven on everyday roads, the way an owner would use it, not just around the block.

  • Real-world range

    Range is measured on real roads and set beside the maker’s own figure.

  • DC fast charging

    Charging speed is measured at a DC fast charger and set beside the maker’s own figures.

The exact conditions for each test, such as speed, route and charger, are added to its card once John has set them.

Version history

The categories and weights only change in a new version of the scorecard, and every review names the version it was scored with. Old versions stay listed here.

  1. Scorecard v1

    In use nowIntroduced
    • The first scorecard: seven categories, each scored 0 to 10, weighted into one overall score.

    Range & Efficiency 20% · Charging 15% · Performance & Handling 15% · Comfort & Ride 15% · Interior & Tech 10% · Practicality 10% · Value 15%

Where the cars come from

In the future, I may accept press loans from manufacturers, but I will always disclose that in the review.

When a review records how John got the car, whether he owns it, rented it or borrowed it from the maker, it says so under the verdict.

Independence and funding

No carmaker or dealer pays for a review, a score, or a place on the site. There are no paid placements or sponsored reviews.

Ads help pay for the site. They are labelled “Advertisement” and only load if you accept ads cookies; until then, the ad spaces show the site’s own promos. The privacy notice explains how ads and cookies work here.

Corrections

If something in a review is wrong, such as a spec, a price, or a fact about a car, please email a correction with a link to the page.

Factual errors are fixed in the review itself, and if a correction changes a score, the review says so in its changelog.

Email a correction · About John

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