Real-world highway range test of the new Rivian R2

07 July 2026

Customer deliveries for the new Rivian R2 officially began in mid-2026. This compact SUV is very important for the automaker as it targets the mass market. To see how the new model performs outside of laboratory conditions, Tom Moloughney from the YouTube channel State of Charge, tested a production unit on public highways. The test evaluated the real-world efficiency of the vehicle at a constant speed of 70 mph from a full battery all the way down to empty.

The vehicle used in the test was the Rivian R2 Performance Launch Edition. This configuration comes in a striking Catalina Cove paint color and 20-inch wheels wrapped in BFGoodrich 255/60 R20 all-terrain tires. These tires have a deep, aggressive tread designed for off-road environments rather than highway efficiency. Because of this, the EPA rates this specific version of the vehicle lower than models equipped with standard street tires. The official numbers for this all-terrain setup indicate a combined range of 307 miles, a city range of 338 miles, and a highway range of 276 miles.

Prospective buyers of the R2 have other configurations to consider as production ramps up through late 2026 and 2027. If an owner chooses the optional 21-inch wheels with standard all-season tires, the EPA combined rating increases to 330 miles, while the highway rating reaches 301 miles. Rivian also plans to offer single-motor, rear-wheel-drive versions by early 2027 with an estimated range of up to 345 miles. A budget-friendly standard range model will arrive by mid-2027 with a smaller, unannounced battery pack targeting at least 275 miles of total driving distance.

The battery of the Rivian R2 provides a usable capacity of 87.9 kWh, though the manufacturer has not disclosed the total gross capacity of the pack. To keep the vehicle relatively affordable for global consumers, engineers opted for a traditional 400V electrical system instead of a more expensive 800V setup. This design choice means that to achieve fast charging speeds, the vehicle must draw massive electrical currents. The R2 can accept peak charging power of up to 230 kW, which means it is pulling more than 600 amperes at compatible fast chargers.

Rather than going on a flat, predictable highway, Tom took this particular test on Interstate 25 in Colorado. The chosen route introduced conditions that do not exist in standard laboratory tests. The test began in Colorado Springs at an elevation of 6,499 ft above sea level. The driver headed south toward Trinidad, dropping to a low point of 4,600 ft before turning around to climb back up to the starting point, forcing the R2 to conquer a total vertical elevation change of over 2,198 ft twice during the run.

Changing weather conditions also impacted the energy usage of the vehicle throughout the test. Wind at the start was quiet at just 3 mph, but a sudden cross-headwind spiked up to 18 mph during the uphill segment. Temperatures dropped to {{12ºC}}, prompting the driver to turn on the cabin heater. The driver set the interior temperature to {{21ºC}} on the absolute lowest fan speed to keep climate-related energy losses minimal.

The journey provided an interesting breakdown of how altitude and terrain affect modern EVs. During the first quarter of the battery capacity, the vehicle traveled 72.1 miles going downhill, showing an excellent efficiency of 3 miles per kWh. The second quarter of the test forced the electric SUV to climb back up the mountain against the strong headwind. As a result, the driving distance for that segment dropped sharply to just 58.1 miles, with efficiency worsening to 2.8 miles per kWh. The vehicle recovered some energy during the third quarter, tracking 70.8 miles as the road flattened.

The SUV completed the loop and arrived back at the original charging station with exactly 1% of charge left in the battery pack. The digital instrument panel indicated a remaining driving buffer of 4 miles, and the odometer showed a total covered distance of 259.4 miles for the entire trip. If the driver had completely exhausted the energy down to an absolute zero, the total projected highway range under the test conditions would be approximately 264 miles.

Some critics might express disappointment that the vehicle fell short of its official highway estimate, but many EV drivers will recognize these results as a success. Conquering steep mountain passes, fighting head-on winds, and rolling on chunky all-terrain tires will always penalize efficiency. Under ideal weather conditions on a completely flat highway, the new Rivian would easily match or exceed its official government highway range figures.

You can watch the full test right here:

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