R2 Performance reached 335 miles (539 km), exceeding Rivian’s original estimate by 5 miles.
Calculated efficiency beats Tesla Model Y Performance on comparable energy-use figures.
EPA filing also details 210-kW DC charging and standard heat pump availability.
Rivian’s hot and upcoming R2 has posted very encouraging results in EPA certification documents. The first disclosed configuration delivers slightly more range than the automaker initially projected. The filing covers the top-trim 2027 R2 Performance with 21-inch wheels and provides Rivian with an extra dose of excitement for the highly anticipated launch of its smaller electric SUV from Normal, Illinois.
2027 Rivian R2 | Photo: RivianAccording to the certification data, the R2 Performance variant travelled 335 miles on a full charge. That is 5 miles above Rivian’s earlier estimate for this setup. Rivian’s Canadian website indicates an estimated 531 km, meaning a gain of approximately 8 km. The document also lists a usable battery capacity of 88.67 kWh, slightly above the previously released 87.9 kWh figure.
Using those figures, the 21-inch R2 Performance works out to roughly 3.77 miles (6.1 km) per kWh, or 26.52 kWh per 100 miles (161 km). These figures position the Rivian well ahead of the Tesla Model Y Performance on energy consumption. The Tesla has an EPA-rated consumption of 32 kWh per 100 miles and a range of 306 miles (494 km).
The comparison matters because Tesla prided itself on its long-standing edge in EV efficiency. For Rivian, matching or exceeding that benchmark in a higher-output trim suggests the R2 program is making meaningful gains in vehicle packaging, aerodynamics and thermal management.
2027 Rivian R2 | Photo: RivianA second test result for the R2 Performance, this time on 20-inch all-terrain tires, showed 314 miles (505 km) of range from 89.5 kWh of usable energy. That translates to about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) per kWh, or 28.57 kWh per 100 miles. Even with the less road-focused tire setup, the Rivian still compares well against Tesla’s performance-oriented Model Y.
The filing also adds detail on charging and hardware. DC fast-charging peak power is listed at 210 kW, while Level 2 AC charging is capped at 11.5 kW. Rivian also confirmed that every R2 will use a heat pump system as standard in the U.S. This should also be the case in Canada, though no confirmation yet.
Additional R2 versions are still to come. Rivian has said the dual-motor Premium version should match the Performance model’s range, while the rear-drive Standard is estimated at 345 miles (555 km). A lower-cost Standard with a smaller battery is expected later, targeting more than 275 miles (443 km).
Rivian plans to start customer deliveries with the R2 Performance this spring in the U.S., starting at US$59,485 including destination. The R2 Premium is scheduled to follow later this year at US$55,485, with the R2 Standard due early next year at US$49,985. The entry version with the smaller pack is slated for late 2027 at US$46,495.
Canadian prices, once thought to begin at the $65,000 mark, have not yet been released. We estimate the 2027 R2 Performance will start at $85,000 to $90,000, with the other versions seeing a $10,000 drop. The R2 arrives sometime in 2027.
Source: InsideEvs
