- Rivian’s top-spec R2 is just as efficient as the Tesla Model Y Performance, according to the official EPA ratings.
- Both EVs are dual-motor, all-wheel drive crossovers with 21-inch wheels, but the R2 is heavier and more capable off-road.
- The R2 also has a bigger battery, which enables it to drive further than the Model Y Performance.
Rivian has matched Tesla on efficiency, a feat that has long been unattainable by the biggest players in the electric car game. According to the official EPA rating, the new Rivian R2 Performance is as efficient as the Tesla Model Y Performance, despite Rivian’s crossover being heavier, taller, and wider.
The EPA’s numbers tell it like it is. The 2027 Rivian R2 Performance with 21-inch wheels can drive for up to 330 miles on a full charge, with an average energy consumption of 32 kilowatt-hours/100 miles (3.12 miles/kilowatt-hour). By comparison, the 2026 Tesla Model Y Performance, which also comes with 21-inch wheels as standard but is powered by a smaller-capacity battery, can deliver up to 306 miles of range with an identical energy consumption.
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Source: Mack Hogan/InsideEVs
Rivian said that the R2 Performance is powered by an 87.9 kWh high-voltage pack, while Tesla’s Model Y Performance gets going thanks to an 81 kWh battery, as reported by Car and Driver. (Tesla doesn’t publish battery capacities for its EVs.)
Weight-wise, the R2 Performance tips the scales at roughly 5,000 pounds, while the Model Y Performance is approximately 500 lbs lighter. Ground clearance is also on Tesla’s side, with the go-fast crossover sitting six inches above the ground, whereas the adventure-oriented R2 has a 9.6-inch ride height, making the efficiency rating even more impressive.
The first signs that Rivian came extremely close to Tesla’s standard-setting efficiency appeared when the certification documents surfaced in April. Those figures were unadjusted and claimed that the R2 was more efficient than the Model Y, but now that the final numbers are in, it’s clear that isn’t the case. Still, stepping on Tesla’s tail with a boxier, heavier, and more powerful EV proves that Rivian did its homework with the R2.
As a reminder, the Model Y Performance’s dual-motor setup is good for about 510 horsepower and a zero-to-60 miles per hour sprint in 3.3 seconds. The R2 Performance puts down 656 hp and needs 3.6 seconds to reach 60 mph from a standstill.
For now, the FuelEconomy.org website only lists the range and efficiency for the R2 Performance with 21-inch road wheels and 20-inch all-terrain wheels. The latter is rated for 307 miles of range and has an energy consumption of 34 kWh/100 miles, which comes out to 2.94 mi/kWh.
Tesla doesn’t have an adventure-oriented Model Y trim. At the same time, Rivian will start selling a cheaper, rear-wheel drive version of the R2 in late 2027, and I can’t wait to see what efficiency that will get. Rivian said the base R2 RWD will cover over 275 miles on a full charge, while the long-range version will deliver over 345 miles.