R2 vs Model Y 70-MPH Highway Range Test (by Out of Spec)

[Jeremy3292]

I don’t know how they offer a bigger pack in R2. There’s no room left as someone pointed out previously. Can’t stack 4695 cells on top of each other either.

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[lordsutch]

I don’t know how they offer a bigger pack in R2. There’s no room left as someone pointed out previously. Can’t stack 4695 cells on top of each other either.

Assuming they don't get taller cells and lower the ground clearance, presumably they could put an auxiliary pack in some or all of the volume currently used for the spare tire and underfloor storage.

 

[Bullwinkle]

The issue lies within the EPA, and how they allow OEM's to certify. Hopefully with all the hype around R2, this issue comes to light within the organization and they make much needed changes to their testing protocols.

Sure, the EPA is to blame for the rating. But Rivian is to blame for substantiating the rating to their customers. Friday was a pretty big day for Wall Street, and Rivian slid a bit. I am a shareholder and hope that this doesn’t have seriously detrimental effects on the stock. There’s no doubt it will affect orders though.

 

[savethemanual]

Sure, the EPA is to blame for the rating. But Rivian is to blame for substantiating the rating to their customers. Friday was a pretty big day for Wall Street, and Rivian slid a bit. I am a shareholder and hope that this doesn’t have seriously detrimental effects on the stock. There’s no doubt it will affect orders though.

It's called marketing, they ran with a certified rating from the EPA that was done by the rules. I hate it too, but it's how the game can be played. I hope Rivian and EPA changes how they do things.

 

[mellowthecat]

It's called marketing, they ran with a certified rating from the EPA that was done by the rules. I hate it too, but it's how the game can be played. I hope Rivian and EPA changes how they do things.

just like Phillip Morris marketed to consumers that cigarettes didn’t cause cancer.

It’s lying repackaged as marketing

 

[macb00kemdanno]

just like Phillip Morris marketed to consumers that cigarettes didn’t cause cancer.

Ok, that’s going a bit far IMHO. This isn’t life and death.

I just would like to see how or if RJ would even address this topic when it inevitably comes up in future interviews.

 

[TexasBob]

I don’t know how they offer a bigger pack in R2. There’s no room left as someone pointed out previously. Can’t stack 4695 cells on top of each other either.

46120s are 26% more energy with 1" of vertical loss. This is what gives the ix5 it's range. Doable but EPA needs to fix the system or motivation will be low.

Also this is 100% a choice by rivian management. They could report a 2 cycle test like most companies do. They could voluntarily reduce the range like the Germans do. They chose not to do that because they would sell fewer vehicles.

 

[Bullwinkle]

just like Phillip Morris marketed to consumers that cigarettes didn’t cause cancer.

It’s lying repackaged as marketing

It is not. That is way too harsh a judgment. My guess is that RJ and most of the team expected 300+ and were comfortable going with EPA # for marketing--which is normal.

I expect that the final vehicles off the line did not live up to Rivian's expectations. Something may have changed between EPA test vehicles and production--I am obviously hypothesizing. Somebody on the tech/engineering side should have known sooner. I think this will affect orders. It likely will affect mine. It may also affect RIVN over the next 3 months.

A week ago, I was 100% in on my order, but 260 miles from 100% to 0% is not enough range to road trip west of the Mississippi, at least for me it isn't.

 

[Electron]

Ok, that’s going a bit far IMHO. This isn’t life and death.

I just would like to see how or if RJ would even address this topic when it inevitably comes up in future interviews.

"I meant to say that it isn't as efficient as the Model Y, but if you do 50mph hwy and 10mph in the city, that adds up to 60mph combined, which could give you 330 miles of range.“

Not a good look for Rivian. Its only saving grace for the R2 is the charging curve. This reminds me a lot of the IONIQ 5 where the charge curve makes it shine, except that the R2 isn't 800v or as fast.

Edit: Thought it was funny that my feed popped up this right after.

 

[DaveA]

Sure, the EPA is to blame for the rating. But Rivian is to blame for substantiating the rating to their customers. Friday was a pretty big day for Wall Street, and Rivian slid a bit. I am a shareholder and hope that this doesn’t have seriously detrimental effects on the stock. There’s no doubt it will affect orders though.

Most won't care...the Y is a soulless vehicle with a featureless interior that can't go anywhere but concrete jungle....much rather spend an extra 30 minutes charging on a road trip than look at its stark interior. imo.

 

[Bullwinkle]

Most won't care...the Y is a soulless vehicle with a featureless interior that can't go anywhere but concrete jungle....much rather spend an extra 30 minutes charging on a road trip than look at its stark interior. imo.

I agree 100% with the Y's aesthetic and capability, and that most won't care. Implicit in "most" is that some will care. I wonder what % "some" is. If it is 10%, probably no big deal. If it is 30-40%, it may be a big deal.

I have also been wondering what Rivian's response may be if the tested 250-mile range provides real sales headwinds. In the short term, is there a software update or a manufacturing tweak that can bring the range closer to 300 miles? In the longer term, is there space for extra cells, or could more energy-dense cells be used? If so, could this be done before the Lidar/CPU update?

 

[Acehigh1]

"...Model Y can't go anywhere but concrete jungle." Well, I have the 2026 Model Y Juniper and was attracted to the Rivian first and foremost b/c I saw a 330-mile range vs my 327-mile range on the Juniper. I have taken several cross-country trips from east to west and back, and thought the Rivian would be an excellent choice over the Juniper, especially since the mileage was comparable, most of all. What's not to like with more storage in the Rivian, allowing for more stuff for a long trip? I was all set for Launch Green and 20-inch all-terrain tires for my Dec order date, and I could hit the road for a cross-country trip in late March, 2027.

Then I saw the mileage results - ugh! 250-mile range, and while empty, running the 21-in higher-rolling-resistance tires! What happens when I put 500+ pounds of gear inside by folding down the middle seats? The 80 mph test results from Rivian were even worse than the 70 mph results, yet many highways on cross-country trips are 70-75 mph with a few at 80 mph. Going with the flow of traffic, I usually end up above 80 mph in many areas. The Tesla still gets good mileage #s at 70-80+ mph! Going 75-80 mph in the R2 I am concerned I will be stopping every 2 to 2 1/2 hrs to recharge with the range the R2 is producing in real-world tests I have been observing! That is a time and cost issue!

The concrete jungle you say Tesla is relegated to is reality on cross-country trips. What will happen to R2's distance when weighted down with lots of gear, in extreme heat and bitter cold conditions, rather than the more ideal conditions the R2 was tested at with the vehicle empty, driven in Conserve Mode with higher-roll tires?

I know the R2 can offer off-road capabilities, and I was excited about that right after hearing the 330 mileage results. But I think off-roading would be no more than 1-2% of my total mileage. So what am I buying - a brick going down the concrete jungle that I drive 98-99% of the time? Rivian should update the 330-mile range prediction, imo, if they know that is bogus. Failure to do so leads me to question why they won't, and if it's because they want to blame it on the EPA, which is more important in the long run. To be honest with customers and explain that the 330-mile range is probably not doable under most conditions, or let it ride b/c orders are flowing in and who wants to disrupt that? That concerns me as a potential buyer. I know what my Tesla Juniper can do, and I have had no unpleasant surprises in the 14 months of ownership. Certainly not with mileage range, first and foremost.

 

[Mos Eisley]

...that can't go anywhere but concrete jungle....

Hey - with a little modding anything is possible.

 

[macb00kemdanno]

Most won't care...the Y is a soulless vehicle with a featureless interior that can't go anywhere but concrete jungle....much rather spend an extra 30 minutes charging on a road trip than look at its stark interior. imo.

It's the RAV4/Camry of EVs. To say that most won't care is a bit of a misnomer

• To say that most of us here with an R2 reservation won't care... sure.
• To say that most of the U.S. buying public won't care... not sure where you're getting that angle.

Best-selling vehicles in the U.S. for 2025:

#3) RAV4 (479,288 units)
#4) CRV (403,768 units)
#8) Model Y (317,800 units)
#9) Camry (316,185 units)

People like boring and soulless. Just like they buy up soulless and boring-ass colors like black, grey, white, and silver. They just want something that's reliable and works. That was me for a long time. But I'm ready for something with a bit more vigor now

 

[Count Orlok]

where's the infinite mass comparison?

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