Overview
- Out of Spec Reviews and RivianTrackr, which published their data Monday, ran five matched drive cycles and found the R2 Performance consumed about 18.4% to 26.5% more energy than the Model Y Performance at 50, 60, 70 and 80 mph and in a low‑speed city simulation.
- Both vehicles carry the same EPA combined number of 105 MPGe (32 kWh/100 mi) and the EPA filings show the R2 scores higher on the city cycle while the Model Y scores higher on the highway cycle and has a lower EPA range estimate.
- Testers measured energy at the vehicle pack using in‑car meters rather than wall‑to‑vehicle charging energy, ran relatively short loops and had one traffic‑affected run, so direct comparisons to EPA wall‑measured kWh/100 mi require careful unit alignment.
- Vehicle design and hardware help explain the gap: the R2 is heavier and boxier with higher estimated drag but it can disconnect its front motor at cruise and it showed class‑leading 400‑volt DC charging in the test, holding ~600 A and peaking near 229 kW.
- The results raise questions about EPA test‑path transparency and how lab correction factors map to real driving, a matter that could shape buyer expectations and competition between Rivian and Tesla as the R2 ramps into production.