R2 vs Model Y 70-MPH Highway Range Test (by Out of Spec)

[MountainBikeDude]

BMW iX3 ranges greatly differ by wheel package. 434miles range is with 20 wheels. The wheels pictured are 21 wheels, the range is stated at 399 miles.

His 110kph test was partly driven in some rain. He has another test at constant 130kph(81mph), the iX3 got 2.89 m/kwh. Which is really good actually.

BMW iX3 has better efficiency at 80mph than R2 at 70mph. It also charges at 400+kw.

I double checked just for the sake of his accuracy, and they are 20" aero wheels like stated in the video.

Sponsored

 

[MountainBikeDude]

Assuming the 348 is correct, iX3 only goes 100 miles further than R2 which means the DC Fast charging real world 10% - 80% is almost exactly twice as fast as the R2:
R2 - 6.1 miles per minute (70% x 253 = 177 miles / 29 minutes = 6.1 miles minute)
iX3 - 12.2 miles per minute (70% x 348 = 244 miles / 20 minutes = 12.2 miles minute)

No denying the iX is the better range vehicle, just tossing it in as a comparison between EPA range figures and reality.

 

[ElGuano]

Tesla tends to voluntarily under-rate or choose cycles that reflect highway cruising,

Interesting result and conclusion. I have NEVER before heard that Tesla voluntarily under-rates its EPA mileage. From my own experience owning Teslas since ~2015, they are among the most aggressively over-stated mileage rated cars I've ever owned. It's surprising here to see the MYP easily exceed its EPA rating though, so perhaps things have changed.

 

[macb00kemdanno]

Interesting result and conclusion. I have NEVER before heard that Tesla voluntarily under-rates its EPA mileage. From my own experience owning Teslas since ~2015, they are among the most aggressively over-stated mileage rated cars I've ever owned. It's surprising here to see the MYP easily exceed its EPA rating though, so perhaps things have changed.

They changed around the time that Highland and Juniper were released to better reflect real-world driving after getting blasted for years for coming up short.

 

[Apprunner]

Interesting result and conclusion. I have NEVER before heard that Tesla voluntarily under-rates its EPA mileage. From my own experience owning Teslas since ~2015, they are among the most aggressively over-stated mileage rated cars I've ever owned. It's surprising here to see the MYP easily exceed its EPA rating though, so perhaps things have changed.

Tesla has been exceeding EPA since 2024. All the new Highland and Juniper cars do better than EPA

 

[shandering]

Tesla has been exceeding EPA since 2024. All the new Highland and Juniper cars do better than EPA

I believe premium RWD juniper does not. Supposedly the longest range according to some tests is the standard range with 18" wheels

Highland exceeds EPA but juniper got a little EPA boost from using the brake by wire system. Juniper matches model 3 EPA which is not the case

if we ignore the out of spec high altitude testing (colorado). Highland is slightly above EPA and Juniper is slightly below. All of them close to EPA

maybe performance models do better.

 

[kurtlikevonnegut]

It doesn't take much to see the logic...

1) RJ says R2 will match MY efficiency. OK, we take it as gospel
2) EPA numbers come out, and R2 closely matches Model Y efficiency. OK, so far, so good
3) Real-world 70 mph test with two vehicles configured to be as close to equal as possible. R2 comes up way short; Model Y slightly overperforms.

You can complain about the ambient temperature and HVAC temperature, but the vehicles were operating under the same test conditions in the real world, not in a lab. The EPA numbers are meant as a comparison tool between vehicles, IIRC...

So if two EVs are rated for similar efficiency per the EPA, I would expect them to perform close to each other across a wide spectrum of temperatures: at 32 degrees, at 68 degrees, at 100 degrees.

But for one to VASTLY underperform while one hits the mark right on the dot? Something smells fishy.

The only thing that's fishy is your alleged application of logic. It's really not difficult to understand that the EPA testing that Rivian did models a realistic use case for an average driver. People charging their car to 100% and then getting on the highway at a constant 70mph until the battery is drained is not a realistic use case for the average driver.

I'm frankly shocked at the number of people who 1) are surprised that the laws of physics still apply regarding friction and velocity and 2) take a single data point and extrapolate that as ironclad truth.

 

[Mos Eisley]

I double checked just for the sake of his accuracy, and they are 20" aero wheels like stated in the video.

one other thing to look at closely with the iX3 wheel options where they are gaming us a bit, some of the wheels change the RUBBER to summer tires. Those list the highest range.

 

[Jeremy3292]

The point of is not to argue the validity of the test or to change its variables; the test is valid. The point is to discuss the variables that went into the test to better understand the R2's real world range in differing conditions. The AC load for a 30 degree temperature delta is no joke, which helps us understand better how this test coincides with Tom's test on 20" AT with thinner mountain air.

 

[blipit]

one other thing to look at closely with the iX3 wheel options where they are gaming us a bit, some of the wheels change the RUBBER to summer tires. Those list the highest range.

That same wheel is listed either 434mile range on summer tires or 383miles on all season.

Believe or not...these new EV specific tires are getting that good. But I don't know about that big of a difference.

 

[blipit]

The point of is not to argue the validity of the test or to change its variables; the test is valid. The point is to discuss the variables that went into the test to better understand the R2's real world range in differing conditions. The AC load for a 30 degree temperature delta is no joke, which helps us understand better how this test coincides with Tom's test on 20" AT with thinner mountain air.

Tom will likely get an R2 soon to test local to his home. He does really good repeatable range test late at night with no traffic. Rather than the test he did in Colorado with elevation.

I believe Tom said he was getting an R2 soon, he sold his R1S couple weeks ago in preparation.

 

[shandering]

This brings up a point. The cheapest model Y standard ($40K model) has a range close to 340 miles, beating EPA.

I wonder how the $45K R2 does with a 75kWh battery. It might test below 200 miles

Testing below 200 miles is really bad. 200 mile range EV with 80% battery window used during road tripping, 20% battery degradation, and it being cold out and you're under 100 miles

 

[carsly]

Interesting result and conclusion. I have NEVER before heard that Tesla voluntarily under-rates its EPA mileage. From my own experience owning Teslas since ~2015, they are among the most aggressively over-stated mileage rated cars I've ever owned. It's surprising here to see the MYP easily exceed its EPA rating though, so perhaps things have changed.

Things changed in Tesla-land a few years back with the 2025 Highland Model 3, Cybertruck and 2026 Juniper Model Y all of which regularly exceed EPA range estimates. I've regularly, and repeatably, exceed 3 mi/kwh on I-95 in the Northeast in my Cybertruck AWD with 35" all-terrains putting my real-world range at 350+ miles which is 6+ hours of driving. That's after 10k miles and two+ years on the battery against a rated range when new of 318 miles.

 

[ElGuano]

Nice to know things can change for the better on this.

Hopefully Rivian starts doing better. I OOS tested the R1 dual max before and got far less than 350+ this time around, so there's clearly a ton of variability test to test.

 

[babylou]

Yeah, 68° cabin temp doesn’t make much sense when performing this test but it also brings in the question how more or less efficient the 20s are in comparison.

It does if you wear hoodies no matter if it is 100F

Sponsored