ksurfier
Well-Known Member
- Thread starter
- #1
Finally got an R2 test drive on the 20” wheels: Burbank Rivian down to Glendale and back — and this was probably my most useful R2 drive yet.
I pushed it to ~79 mph whenever traffic allowed, with plenty of elevation change, acceleration/deceleration, A/C, and normal LA traffic. The favorable leg was 3+ mi/kWh, while the return settled into the ~2.3 mi/kWh range.
After previously driving the R2 on 21s, my biggest takeaway is that the 20s appear to have little to no efficiency penalty. If anything, they may actually be slightly better in real-world highway driving.
I also prefer the road feel of the 20s — they felt more compliant and comfortable while still feeling planted and controlled. For an adventure-oriented SUV, that combination just feels right.
Another underrated benefit: the trip guessometer may actually be more believable. The 20” setup showed about 307 miles max, versus roughly 330 miles on the 21s. If the 20s continue to deliver similar real-world efficiency, that lower 307-mile estimate could end up being far more accurate and useful than an optimistic 330-mile number.
So far, I’m seeing:
20s: Better ride + no apparent range penalty + more off-road-friendly + potentially more accurate range estimate
21s: Higher displayed max range, but I’m not seeing a meaningful real-world efficiency advantage
After three R2 test drives, this one answered a big question for me.
I’d definitely spec the 20s. 
I pushed it to ~79 mph whenever traffic allowed, with plenty of elevation change, acceleration/deceleration, A/C, and normal LA traffic. The favorable leg was 3+ mi/kWh, while the return settled into the ~2.3 mi/kWh range.
After previously driving the R2 on 21s, my biggest takeaway is that the 20s appear to have little to no efficiency penalty. If anything, they may actually be slightly better in real-world highway driving.
I also prefer the road feel of the 20s — they felt more compliant and comfortable while still feeling planted and controlled. For an adventure-oriented SUV, that combination just feels right.
Another underrated benefit: the trip guessometer may actually be more believable. The 20” setup showed about 307 miles max, versus roughly 330 miles on the 21s. If the 20s continue to deliver similar real-world efficiency, that lower 307-mile estimate could end up being far more accurate and useful than an optimistic 330-mile number.
So far, I’m seeing:
20s: Better ride + no apparent range penalty + more off-road-friendly + potentially more accurate range estimate
21s: Higher displayed max range, but I’m not seeing a meaningful real-world efficiency advantage
After three R2 test drives, this one answered a big question for me.
I’d definitely spec the 20s. 
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