The Rivian R2’s EPA Numbers Are In, And It Beats The Model Y Where It Counts

• The Rivian R2’s EPA certification documents are out, and it’s great news for the upcoming mid-size electric SUV.
• The 2027 Rivian R2 Performance traveled 335 miles in the EPA test, resulting in impressive efficiency.
• The top-spec R2 uses less energy than the comparable Tesla Model Y to travel the same distance.

The Rivian R2 is a more efficient electric car than the Tesla Model Y, at least when it comes to the most powerful and expensive versions of both EVs. Beating Tesla at the efficiency game has long been a tall order for most automakers, but it looks like Rivian has finally cracked the code, according to the EPA certification documents that were first posted on the Rivian Forums.

Photo by: Patrick George

The first model that was put to the test was the 2027 Rivian R2 Performance with 21-inch wheels. It’s the first R2 trim to go on sale, with the first production units scheduled to reach employees this month, followed by reservation holders after production ramps up at the company’s factory in Normal, Illinois.

According to the EPA test, the R2 Performance has a usable battery capacity of 88.67 kilowatt-hours, a little more than the 87.9 kWh advertised by Rivian when it took the wraps off the mid-size SUV last month. With the total usable energy, the car drove a total of 335 miles on a full charge, 5 miles more than Rivian’s original estimate for this vehicle configuration.

The range of the R2 Performance was already above the Tesla Model Y Performance, which is EPA-rated for 306 miles, but it’s the efficiency that impresses even more. Doing some quick math reveals that the R2 Performance with 21-inch wheels has an average energy efficiency of 3.77 miles/kilowatt-hour or 26.52 kWh/100 miles.

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Source: Rivian

By comparison, the Tesla Model Y Performance, which is fitted as standard with 21-inch wheels, has an EPA-rated energy consumption of 32 kWh/100 miles or 3.125 miles/kWh. In other words, the Model Y Performance will consume more energy from the battery than the Rivian R2 Performance to travel the same distance.

On a different test, the same Rivian R2 Performance–but with 20-inch all-terrain tires–squeezed 89.5 kilowatt-hours of energy from its battery and drove exactly 314 miles. This equates to an average efficiency of 3.5 mi/kWh or 28.57 kWh/100 mi, beating the Tesla Model Y Performance yet again.

All this being said, we still don’t know the final range and efficiency numbers for the more affordable R2 versions that will come out in late 2026 and early 2027. Rivian claimed that the dual-motor R2 Premium, which uses the same battery as the Performance but has less power, will provide the same range as its top-spec counterpart.

Meanwhile, the R2 Standard, which has a single rear motor, will boost the range to an estimated 345 miles. In theory, this will lead to an average efficiency of 3.9 mi/kWh or 25.64 kWh/100 mi. By comparison, the Tesla Model Y Long Range RWD is EPA-rated for 357 miles and has an energy consumption of 25 kWh/100 mi or 4 mi/kWh.

The EPA certification documents give more information about the Rivian R2’s charging capabilities and some of the decisions that made it so efficient. According to the data, the R2 can charge at a peak power of 210 kW from a DC fast charger, while AC charging is capped at 11.5 kW (48 amperes at 240 volts).

The R2 will also come standard with an improved heat pump system that’s smaller, more efficient, and quieter than on the R1 EVs, bundling valves, sensors, heat exchangers, and the refrigerant bottle into a single enclosure. The EPA certification docs were a little confusing about this feature, but Rivian confirmed that all R2 EVs will get a heat pump as standard.

Deliveries of the 2027 Rivian R2 will begin this spring. The first version to reach customers is the R2 Performance, which starts from $59,485 (including destination). Later this year, the $55,485 R2 Premium will start rolling off the assembly line, followed by the $49,985 R2 Standard early next year. The cheapest R2, the R2 Standard with a smaller battery pack, is slated to go on sale in late 2027 with a starting price of $46,495 and an estimated range of over 275 miles.