# BMW iX3 v Rivian R2 at 70 mph: what the highway range test says about ratings, tyres and running cost

In a 70 mph test by Out of Spec, a BMW iX3 on 21-inch wheels covered 339.7 miles and a Rivian R2 on all-terrain tyres about 213. Set against each car's EPA figure for the same wheels, the BMW kept 85% of its rating and the Rivian 69%. The Rivian's gap is mostly about tyres and weather, and it changes what a mile costs.

- Type: Report
- Desk: Electric cars
- Published: 2026-10-26
- By: Charjin Editorial Desk
- URL: https://charjin.com/stories/bmw-ix3-rivian-r2-70-mph-range-test-tyres

## Does the BMW iX3 really go much further than the Rivian R2 on the motorway?

In this test, yes: 339.7 miles against about 213 at 70 mph. But the R2 was on all-terrain tyres in cool weather. On road tyres in warm weather the same team measured about 253 miles, and MotorTrend measured 263. The BMW's 339.7 miles is still well ahead of all three.

## What to know before choosing

1. At a steady 70 mph the iX3 on 21-inch wheels reached 85% of its 398–399-mile EPA rating. The R2 on all-terrain tyres reached 69% of its 307-mile rating.
2. Wheels and tyres move the EPA figures themselves: 383 to 434 miles for the iX3, and 307 to 330 miles for the R2.
3. At the US average home price for August 2026 (18.16 cents per kWh), 100 miles at 70 mph took about $6.02 of battery energy in the iX3, $5.15 in the Model Y L and $7.40 in the R2 on all-terrain tyres, before charging losses.
4. No ambient temperature was published for the October run, and all four cars ran on optional or off-road wheel and tyre set-ups, so a single result is not a buying verdict.

## What the test measured

The Out of Spec channel drove four electric SUVs on a loop of US Route 64 in North Carolina at a GPS-checked 70 mph, until each could no longer hold that speed. Every car started at 100% with a warmed battery, the maker's recommended tyre pressures and the climate control on. The weather is described only as cool. No temperature or test date was given. [1]

The BMW iX3 on optional 21-inch wheels covered 339.7 miles and used 112.7 kWh. The Tesla Model Y L on 20-inch wheels managed 286 miles on 81.1 kWh. The Rivian R2, on 20-inch wheels with aggressive all-terrain tyres, stopped at about 213 miles after using 86.8 kWh. The Lexus RZ 450e on 20-inch wheels covered 189 miles. [1]

## Rated range against 70 mph range

Headline ratings flatter or punish a car depending on the wheels. On the US government's fuel economy site, the 2027 iX3 50 xDrive is listed at 434 miles on 20-inch summer tyres, 398 on 21-inch summer tyres, 399 on 21-inch all-season tyres, 392 on 22-inch wheels and 383 on the standard 20-inch all-season tyres. BMW's own US release quotes 'up to 434 miles' and confirms that the standard set-up is the 20-inch all-season tyre. [3][4]

The 2027 R2 Performance is listed at 330 miles on 21-inch wheels and 307 miles on 20-inch all-terrain tyres. Measured against the rating for the wheels each car actually ran, the iX3 kept about 85% at 70 mph, the Model Y L about 86% of its 332-mile figure, and the Lexus about 74% of 257 miles. The R2 kept about 69%. [1][2][3]

## Tyres and weather moved the Rivian most

The R2 has now been tested at 70 mph several times, and the spread is wide. In July, Out of Spec drove an R2 Performance in warm, dry, almost windless weather and recorded 253 corrected miles at 2.83 miles per kWh. MotorTrend's test, run from full to 5% at a constant 70 mph, covered 263 miles, about 20% short of the 330-mile rating. MotorTrend says its average shortfall across 192 vehicles is 13%. [5][6]

Tom Moloughney's State of Charge channel tested an R2 on BFGoodrich all-terrain tyres at a steady 113 km/h with a low of 12°C. It projected about 425 km (about 264 miles) to empty. So all-terrain tyres alone do not explain the October figure. Cooler weather, and possibly route, wind or tyre differences, seem to have cost the R2 a further 50 miles. Out of Spec has not published the numbers that would separate those causes. [7][1]

## What 100 miles costs at 70 mph

Charjin divided the energy each car used by the distance it covered. That gives about 33.2 kWh per 100 miles for the iX3, 28.4 for the Model Y L and 40.8 for the R2 on all-terrain tyres. The R2's warm-weather run at 2.83 miles per kWh works out to about 35.3 kWh per 100 miles. [1][5]

The US Energy Information Administration puts the average residential electricity price for August 2026 at 18.16 cents per kWh. At that price, 100 miles at 70 mph costs about $6.02 in the iX3, $5.15 in the Model Y L, $7.40 in the R2 on all-terrain tyres and $6.42 in the R2 in the warm-weather test. These figures count energy taken from the battery, so the cost at the wall will be somewhat higher, and public rapid charging usually costs more per kWh. [8][1][5]

Over 12,000 motorway miles, the gap between the iX3 and the R2 on all-terrain tyres is about $165 at that price. The bigger practical difference is how often you stop. BMW quotes 10 to 80% in 21 minutes on an 800-volt charger at up to 400 kW. MotorTrend measured the R2 adding 130 miles in 15 minutes, with a 190 kW peak against Rivian's 220 kW claim. [4][6]

## What is still unknown

No source gives the temperature for the October run or the tyre models on the BMW and Tesla. None of the four cars ran on its most efficient wheel and tyre set-up, so the iX3 on its standard 20-inch tyres may land elsewhere. If you are choosing between these cars, check the EPA figure for the exact wheels you would order, not the brochure maximum. If you want all-terrain tyres on an R2, plan on considerably less than 307 miles at motorway speed in cool weather. [1][2][3]

## Common questions

**Is the BMW iX3's 434-mile range what most buyers will get?**

It is the EPA figure for 20-inch summer tyres, a no-cost option. On the standard 20-inch all-season tyres the EPA figure is 383 miles, and on 21-inch wheels it is 398 or 399.

**Which Rivian R2 was tested?**

The R2 Performance on 20-inch wheels with all-terrain tyres, which the EPA rates at 307 miles. The 21-inch version is rated at 330 miles.

**Do these results apply to UK or European cars?**

Not directly. These are US cars tested at 70 mph against EPA ratings. European versions are rated on WLTP, a different test, so the figures are not directly comparable.

## Evidence

[1] InsideEVs, "The BMW iX3 Destroyed The Rivian R2 In A Highway Range Test" (reference, accessed 2026-10-26). Reports Out of Spec's October 70 mph test of the iX3, Model Y L, R2 and RZ 450e: method, wheels, miles, energy used and the absence of a stated temperature. https://insideevs.com/news/813217/bmw-ix3-rivia-r2-highway/
[2] US Department of Energy and US EPA (fueleconomy.gov), "2027 Rivian vehicles: fuel economy and range" (data, accessed 2026-10-26). EPA listings for the 2027 R2 Performance AWD: 330 miles on 21-inch wheels and 307 miles on 20-inch all-terrain tyres. https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/PowerSearch.do?action=noform&path=1&year1=2027&year2=2027&make=Rivian&srchtyp=ymm
[3] US Department of Energy and US EPA (fueleconomy.gov), "2027 BMW vehicles: fuel economy and range" (data, accessed 2026-10-26). EPA listings for five wheel and tyre versions of the 2027 iX3 50 xDrive, from 383 to 434 miles. https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/PowerSearch.do?action=noform&path=1&year1=2027&year2=2027&make=BMW&srchtyp=ymm
[4] BMW Group PressClub USA, "BMW Officially Announces Pricing and Range for 2027 BMW iX3 50 xDrive" (manufacturer, accessed 2026-10-26). BMW's US release of 7 May 2026: $61,500 plus $1,350 destination, EPA range by wheel and tyre, standard 20-inch all-season tyres, and 400 kW peak with 10–80% in 21 minutes. https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/usa/article/detail/T0457571EN_US/bmw-officially-announces-pricing-and-range-for-2027-bmw-ix3-50-xdrive
[5] InsideEVs, "Rivian R2 Range Tested Until It Died: Here's How Far It Went At 70 MPH" (reference, accessed 2026-10-26). Out of Spec's earlier warm-weather 70 mph test of the R2 Performance: 253 corrected miles at 2.83 miles per kWh. https://insideevs.com/news/803120/rivian-r2-range-test-highway/
[6] AutoGuide, "Rivian R2 Falls 20% Short of EPA Range in Testing" (reference, accessed 2026-10-26). Reports MotorTrend's road-trip test: 263 miles at 70 mph from full to 5%, a 13% average shortfall across 192 vehicles, and charging results including a 190 kW peak. https://www.autoguide.com/auto/manufacturers/rivian/rivian-r2-falls-20-short-of-epa-range-in-testing-44636275
[7] ArenaEV, "Real-world highway range test of the new Rivian R2" (reference, accessed 2026-10-26). Reports State of Charge's 113 km/h test of an R2 on BFGoodrich all-terrain tyres at a 12°C low, with about 425 km projected to empty. https://m.arenaev.com/realworld_highway_range_test_of_the_new_rivian_r2-news-6042.php
[8] US Energy Information Administration, "Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A: Average price of electricity to ultimate customers by end-use sector" (data, accessed 2026-10-26). Gives the US average residential electricity price for August 2026: 18.16 cents per kWh. https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_table_grapher.php?t=epmt_5_6_a

Cite as: Charjin, "BMW iX3 v Rivian R2 at 70 mph: what the highway range test says about ratings, tyres and running cost", 26 October 2026, https://charjin.com/stories/bmw-ix3-rivian-r2-70-mph-range-test-tyres