Rivian Max Pack doesn’t deliver much extra range in first real world test, especially for $10k
Two months after Rivian started delivering EVs with its long-anticipated Max battery pack, we’ve seen our first real-world range comparison, and the results are… just ok. Despite over 50 miles more EPA range than the Large Pack, the first real-world tests show that the gap is significantly narrower.
Rivian ($RIVN) is exiting 2023, a lot better off than it began the year. After pausing EV production to optimize its assembly lines early on, the American automaker has continued to scale in Normal, IL, as it erects its second plant in Georgia.
The automaker’s Q3 report offered better-than-expected production numbers, alongside steady interest from US consumers, allowing Rivian to maintain its price points while continuing to ramp up production of EDVs and R1 EVs.
Rivian is currently contribution margin positive on both its EDVs and R1 vehicles and its CFO Claire McDonough expects the automaker to become gross margin positive in 2024. Some of the appeal to consumers eyeing a new Rivian R1T or R1S purchase has been the arrival of the Max battery pack, which finally started reaching customers this past October.
Promising an EPA range of 410 miles on a single charge, the Max Pack looks like a monster on paper compared to Rivian’s other battery options. However, a recent video showing a real-world range comparison with the Large Pack might soon have consumers thinking twice.
Is Rivian’s $10k Max battery pack upgrade worth it?
Until October 2023, Rivian customers could only obtain delivery of their shiny new R1S or R1T if they opted for the Standard or Large battery packs, delivering 270 and 352 miles of electric range, respectively.
However, many reservation holders held out for an electric truck with Rivian’s Max pack, promising a whopping 410 miles of EPA estimated range. Kyle Conner and the team at Out of Spec Reviews took two R1Ts – one with the Large Pack and one with the Max Pack – and put them through the same tests, only to find a marginal difference in real-world range, despite the $10K price difference.
While the EPA range difference between the Large and Max Packs is listed at 58 miles, Out of Spec’s comparison detailed a much closer race – a mere 22 miles. Since the Max Pack is significantly more expensive (an additional $16,000 compared to $6,000 for the Large battery), it begs the question if it is worth it to would-be Rivian customers.
Here’s another kicker. We’ve learned the Max Pack is the same size as the $6k option, just more efficient and energy-dense. A spokesperson for Rivian told Electrek that the automaker does not divulge battery capacities in its EV specs but did confirm the Max Pack offers a total battery capacity of 149 kWh – all in the same footprint as the Large Pack without adding weight.
The spokesperson shared that Rivian’s engineers achieved this by implementing a proprietary battery management system unique to the Max Pack that optimizes and increases its usable energy from a new version of Rivian’s 2170 battery cells. The result is higher energy density and absolute energy without requiring more modules or significantly more weight.
That, again, sounds promising on paper, but the real-world results appear much more marginal as the Max Pack offers 11-12 additional kWh of battery capacity that translates to 22 miles of range. This is obviously one test and not gospel, but it does beg the question of whether Rivian’s Max battery pack is worth shelling out an extra $10k. Following the real-world tests, the Out of Spec team even questioned whether their Max Pack R1T test vehicle was defective. Or perhaps it needs a software update to see the full advantages of the new battery?
What do you guys think? Let us know in the comments below.
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![Kia's electric van spotted in two surprising new versions [Video]](https://i0.wp.com/electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/11/Kia-PV5-versions.jpeg?resize=1200,628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
Is it an electric van? Pickup truck? The PV5 can do it all. Kia’s electric van was caught with two new body types for the first time.
What PV5 version is Kia planning to launch?
The PV5 is more than just a futuristic-looking electric van. It’s what Kia calls “the world’s most useful electric mobility vehicle.”
It’s the first from its new Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) business, which will offer a wide range of customizable EVs, advanced software, and much more.
During its PV5 Tech Day event in July, Kia revealed plans to introduce seven PV5 body types, ranging from a light camper to an open-bed truck.
The PV5 Passenger and Cargo, built for personal and business use, are already rolling out in Europe and South Korea. The Cargo Compact (available in 3- and 4-door configurations) and the Cargo High Roof are also available.
New variants will include an open bed, a light camper, a luxury “Prime” passenger, a built-in truck, and a refrigerated truck.
The refrigerated truck was captured driving in public for the first time in South Korea, offering a closer look at what’s coming soon. Kia will launch three PV5 refrigerated truck models: low, standard, and high.
The video from HealerTV reveals the standard and high versions. In person, the reporter noted that the high version definitely appeared taller than the standard version.
Although the front looks like the PV5 Passenger and Cargo, the back is redesigned for the refrigerated unit. Kia has yet to reveal a launch date, but it’s expected to be by the end of 2025.
Another PV5 variant, the open-bed version, was recently spotted in public in South Korea. Although we’ve seen it a few times before, the new video, also from the folks at HealerTV, offers our best look at the truck-like variant from all angles.
Meanwhile, the PV5 Cargo just set a new Guinness World Record after driving 430.84 miles (693.38 km) on a single charge, while carrying a full load.
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The new 2026 Nissan LEAF has an EPA-estimated driving range of up to 303 miles, but real-world tests suggest it can go even further.
New 2026 Nissan LEAF beats range estimates
Nissan upgraded its iconic electric hatch for its third generation, bringing a new style, faster charging, and over 300 miles of driving range.
The 2026 LEAF boasts 25% more driving range than the outgoing model with an official EPA rating of up to 303 miles. That’s a pretty big difference from the up to 212-mile rating on the 2025 LEAF SV Plus.
In the real world, it will likely drive even further. According to Edmunds, the new LEAF “far exceeded its official EPA estimate” in early tests.
The 2026 Nissan LEAF Platinum+ was just put through the Edmunds EV Range Test, traveling 310 miles on a single charge. That’s for the Platinum+ trim, which has an official EPA-estimated driving range of just 259 miles. The SV+ is rated with 288 miles, while the base S+ has 303 miles.
Based on early tests, Edmunds expects all new LEAF trims to offer significantly more driving range than their ratings indicate.
Nissan’s new LEAF also topped the EPA’s efficiency expectations. The 2026 LEAF achieved an energy consumption of 27.8 kWh per 100 miles during the test, compared to the EPA estimated 33 kWh per 100 miles. That’s a nearly 16% improvement.
The Edmunds EV range test offers a more accurate estimate of a vehicle’s real-world range. It’s made up of 60% city and 40% highway with an average speed of 40 mph. The car stays within 5 miles of the posted speed limit, is set at its most efficient setting, and the climate control is set on auto at 72 degrees.
| 2026 Nissan LEAF trim | Starting Price | Driving Range (EPA-estimated) |
| LEAF S+ | $29,990 | 303 miles |
| LEAF SV+ | $34,230 | 288 miles |
| LEAF Platinum+ | $38,990 | 259 miles |
Starting at $29,990, the 2026 Nissan LEAF is poised to challenge the Chevy Equinox EV on price and driving range.
The Chevy Equinox EV LT delivered 356 miles of range and an energy consumption of 28.9 kWh per 100 miles during the Edmunds EV Range Test.
The electric Equinox is currently the third-most-popular EV in the US, trailing only the Tesla Model Y and Model 3. Will the upgrades be enough for the LEAF to make a comeback?
Ready to test drive one to see for yourself? You can use our links below to find Nissan LEAF and Chevy Equinox EVs closest to you.
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We’re getting the first batch of Tesla registration data out of Europe for October 2025, and it confirms the worrying trend we’ve been tracking: Tesla’s demand is in a steep decline.
Based on data from 9 key markets that have reported so far, Tesla’s registrations fell 36.3% year over year (YoY).
Just 4,170 units were registered in these countries (including Norway, France, Sweden, and the Netherlands) compared to 6,549 in those same exact markets in October 2024.
Here are the markets that reported October 2025 data so far:
- 🇫🇷 France: 83.7% Growth (1,784 vs 971) 📈
- 🇪🇸 Spain: 30.6% Decline (393 vs 566) 📉
- 🇮🇹 Italy: 47.1% Decline (256 vs 484) 📉
- 🇳🇱 Netherlands: 47.9% Decline (645 vs 1,238) 📉
- 🇳🇴 Norway: 50.2% Decline (671 vs 1,348) 📉
- 🇵🇹 Portugal: 58.7% Decline (144 vs 349) 📉
- 🇦🇹 Austria: 64.5% Decline (97 vs 273) 📉
- 🇫🇮 Finland: 67.6% Decline (47 vs 145) 📉
- 🇸🇪 Sweden: 88.7% Decline (133 vs 1,175) 📉
The only positive in October for Tesla was the French market, which saw significant growth due to a new EV incentive program for low- to middle-income people.
The rest was disastrous.
While some analysts are trying to push the idea that Tesla’s European sales have now bottomed after two years of decline, most reporting markets in October are showing the worst month of Tesla registrations this year. That includes even months before the availability of the Model Y refresh.
It also includes Norway, which has been one of Tesla’s healthiest markets amid its decline in Europe.
Looking at the year-to-date (YTD) figures for all of Europe, Tesla’s total registrations are down over 30% through the first ten months, falling from over 255,000 units by this time in 2024 to just 177,000 this year.
Electrek’s Take
I truly wonder when Elon or the board is going to do something about this. I know that their idea is that FSD is coming to save the day at some point, but that sounds ridiculous. At a 12% take rate, even once it becomes available in Europe, I doubt it will have a significant impact.
Tesla’s issues in Europe come from two main things: brand damage due to Elon Musk and competition.
Unlike in the US where Tesla has limited competition, the EV market is significantly more competitive in Europe, where some Chinese automakers are already esthablishing a presence and where European, Korean, and Japanese legacy automakers are making more EV models avialable.
Tesla needs a fresh EV lineup in Europe. And eslewhere for that matter.
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