Rivian R2 Falls 20% Short of EPA Range in Testing

The 2027 Rivian R2's real-world range lands well below its window sticker, but its charging performance places it among the stronger compact electric SUVs on the market, according to recent testing.

The launch-leading R2 Performance AWD, priced at $59,485, carries an EPA rating of 330 miles. In MotorTrend's Road-Trip Range test, which runs from a full battery down to 5 percent at a constant 70 mph without relying on onboard data, the R2 covered 263 miles. That 20 percent shortfall exceeds the 13 percent industry average the outlet has recorded across 192 tested vehicles.

The gap is consistent with Rivian's broader record. MotorTrend has tested nine R1 models, which missed their EPA figures by 22 percent on average. As a result, the outlet framed the discrepancy as an expectations problem, noting that buyers should weigh real-world figures over sticker numbers before their first long trip.

Measured against its segment, however, the R2 fares better. Its Road-Trip Range places it midpack among compact electric SUVs, trailing the Cadillac Lyriq AWD, Chevrolet Blazer EV SS AWD, Kia EV6 Wind AWD, and the Tesla Model Y Performance. In contrast, it beats the Hyundai Ioniq 5 AWD, Subaru Trailseeker, Toyota bZ Woodland, and both the Cadillac Optiq and Optiq V, the latter recording just 189 miles.

Charging is where the R2 makes up ground. MotorTrend measures how far a vehicle can travel after 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes of charging rather than citing peak power or 10-to-80 times. The R2 Performance AWD added 130 miles in 15 minutes, enough for nearly two hours of highway driving, then reached 210 miles after 30 minutes. Beyond a half hour, however, the returns tapered, with 244 miles after 45 minutes and 257 miles after an hour.

Those 15-minute results place the R2 third behind the higher-voltage Kia EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq 5. Meanwhile, the Model Y Performance trailed close, adding 126 miles in 15 minutes and 197 miles in 30.

The R2 topped out at 190 kW against Rivian's claimed 220-kW peak, continuing a pattern in which none of the nine R1 models tested hit their advertised maximum. Nonetheless, the outlet noted that peak power matters less than average delivery: the R2 averaged 146 kW from 5 to 80 percent versus the Tesla's 102 kW.