R2 vs. Model Y (by Car and Driver) -- The R2 steps up to the Model Y plate and delivers a home run in its first at bat

[CrazyOne]

Umm yeah they did for R2 as I said. I didn’t know we were discussing Model Y range. Is this a Tesla forum or a Rivian forum? Who cares what the Model Y got? This is an R2 topic.

This post and the YT videos are both MYP vs R2 comparisons. I would like to think MY doesn't exist, that isn't reality. Fwiw, I wouldn't buy MY, just a bad car.

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[r2fb]

This post and the YT videos are both MYP vs R2 comparisons. I would like to think MY doesn't exist, that isn't reality. Fwiw, I wouldn't buy MY, just a bad car.

MY isn't a bad car at all but there are many reasons to not like or buy one and that's before considering the CEO.

 

[windblowlc]

Read the article, they state the range testing was done on the 21".

That was stupid. They published the review and stick an old set of pictures of the R2 with 20" AT on it. Who knew!

 

[CrazyOne]

MY isn't a bad car at all but there are many reasons to not like or buy one and that's before considering the CEO.

I don't fit properly and I am sure I am not unique. With seat at B pillar, the footwell is too shallow. Pushing seat past B pillar is awkward. I am average height, there are taller people. And the ride is bad. It's just an uncomfortable car. The only Tesla I liked was MS.

 

[r2fb]

I don't fit properly and I am sure I am not unique. With seat at B pillar, the footwell is too shallow. Pushing seat past B pillar is awkward. I am average height, there are taller people. And the ride is bad. It's just an uncomfortable car. The only Tesla I liked was MS.

Are you average height for NBA because that's simply not true. I am actual average height and fit fine. Agree with you on the ride

 

[rfkxyz]

I generally like C&D, but we're still in the early phase of press release-reviews where writers are expected to be highly positive in exchange for free travel, lodging, meals, punch and pie. Or else they don't get invited next time.

The real test (no pun) will be the comparison test between R2, MY, iX3, and EX60. I suspect the bottom line will be four different vehicles that fit very different use cases - pick your best match. (I suppose you could include MB and Audi whatevers but who cares about them.)

 

[yesimahuman]

Here are the links:

https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a73308571/2027-rivian-r2-performance-awd-launch-edition-test/

https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a69496119/2026-tesla-model-y-performance-drive/

Model Y:

R2 Launch:

I've been reading C&D for over 30 years and I like them much better than annoying youtubers. C&D also is a lot more professional than those youtubers in their measurements).

I'm pleasantly suprised by the performance (faster to 100mph, faster 1/4 mile and trap speed, 26 is a typo it's 126 mph), range (270 vs 260 miles in the real world 75-mph higway test, which most accurately matches my real world experience with EVs, so this is a great result for R2 with only 10 miles less range while also being a box and 500 lbs heavier), and space (3 more roller bags than Tesla due to being a box - 7 vs 10 excluding frunk)

Handling is worse and that was a given with the ride height and form factor, but I'm disappointed that it's louder.

All in all, it seems like it won't disappoint in the most important range aspect.

Exciting to see only a 10 mi range difference on this test. My friend and I bought the '23 MY LR basically at the same time a few years ago. I ended up trading up into a used gen1 Rivian R1T earlier this year and I've become an obsessive Rivian fanboy after that experience. We both have an R2 reservation and he's been agonizing over whether to trade the MY in for the R2 and the poor range results from last week have been a big focus. I've made the case for it effectively being the same experience as our '23 MY LR's on all the roads he and I drive, and, based on this review, it seems like the story is largely the same when considering the '26 MYP. Only with the R2 you get a much more capable vehicle that will be better in our upper midwest winters, more practical in terms of storage and capability, and a hell of a lot more fun to drive!

 

[OutofSpecKyle]

Just remember C&D extrapolates range in their tests which is why you see the car perform better than our test on 21” at 5mph higher speed

R2 loses range faster at low SoC which this test can’t account for.

It also can’t account for usable buffers below 0% which is partly how the Model Y with a huge buffer (also a problem) had such a big result compared to R2 in our test - are people actually going below 0% in real life? Probably not… but the car can do it so we run them until they die

We’ve run our tests the same for years and only because R2 underperformed everyone is upset haha

More info in this thread here:

 

[windshieldfarmer]

The harsh reality is that the R2 checks a lot of boxes the MYP is incapable of replicating….except for range. Do I wish the R2 matched the MYP concerning range?. Of course. Was I led to believe they are the same by the Rivian CEO? Yes…which is disappointing. I would much rather make my purchasing decision on facts rather than an optimistic narrative. Thank you OOS.

 

[ModMV]

They probably didn’t fix the horrendous ergonomics but maybe someone tallish can comment. I’m only about 6’1” and I have to duck my head forward in this insane way to get into the R1 passenger seat. Then leg room is terrible because their dash design eats into it. Rivian is ok in the straight line contest but on so many basic aspects it’s hard to tell if they understand automotive functionality. Upgrade your seats with a better foam, etc. let’s not even get into “autonomy” now going into year 4 of vaporware and the lawyers smell blood in the water… if the R2 can’t match a 4 year old Ioniq 5 in leg room or “autonomy” I just don’t really know what Rivian’s been working on the last few years.

I am 6'5" with abnormally long legs, and the R2 is one of the most comfortable cars I have sat in. Both passenger and driver side. With the seat in a 6'5" driving position another person can comfortably sit behind me.

Having come from the 2023 Ioniq 6 autonomy, the R2 blows it out of the water.

 

[applemonster]

Just remember C&D extrapolates range in their tests which is why you see the car perform better than our test on 21” at 5mph higher speed

Isn't the more interesting comparison not that the R2 did slightly better in this test, but that the Y did significantly worse? There's a 40 mile difference with the Y between the two reviews. The buffer below 0% is that large? The extrapolation leads to a 40 mile difference with the Y?

I think part of why people are disappointed is seeing the comparison to the Y, but the C&D test shows a significantly smaller delta that I imagine wouldn't have galvanized the commenters as much.

 

[OutofSpecKyle]

Isn't the more interesting comparison not that the R2 did slightly better in this test, but that the Y did significantly worse? There's a 40 mile difference with the Y between the two reviews. The buffer below 0% is that large? The extrapolation leads to a 40 mile difference with the Y?

I think part of why people are disappointed is seeing the comparison to the Y, but the C&D test shows a significantly smaller delta that I imagine wouldn't have galvanized the commenters as much.

Yes combine the R2 doing better than it should and huge Tesla buffers that about adds up. Most Model Y go 28-32mi past 0 - can’t remember the performance in our test but the data is out there - regardless this test does not account for any of the oddities that happen at low SoC which favor Rivian for having a smaller usable buffer than Tesla

 

[DaveA]

Isn't the more interesting comparison not that the R2 did slightly better in this test, but that the Y did significantly worse? There's a 40 mile difference with the Y between the two reviews. The buffer below 0% is that large? The extrapolation leads to a 40 mile difference with the Y?

I think part of why people are disappointed is seeing the comparison to the Y, but the C&D test shows a significantly smaller delta that I imagine wouldn't have galvanized the commenters as much.

4-5 hr test....video was an hour....They didn't show the part where the Y was drafting off an 18 wheeler for much of the test.

 

[SANZC02]

Yes combine the R2 doing better than it should and huge Tesla buffers that about adds up. Most Model Y go 28-32mi past 0 - can’t remember the performance in our test but the data is out there - regardless this test does not account for any of the oddities that happen at low SoC which favor Rivian for having a smaller usable buffer than Tesla

Curious in your experience talking with people does below zero really matter to people? In 10+ years driving EVs, I think I have been below 10% less than a dozen times and below 5% only once.

I just do not want to be in that situation on a trip.

 

[OutofSpecKyle]

It’s up to everyone individually to take our results and see what they consider to be their range. That’s why we run them to dead - if you never go below 10%, we show you that - same for other mental milestones like 5%, 1%, 0%, when the car can’t maintain 70-mph and when it dies

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