Rivian R2 First Drive Review: Adorable, Affordable, Capable and Smarter Than the R1? Mind: Blown!
The much-awaited Rivian R2 electric SUV begins deliveries this week, but does its smaller size and price deliver on its promise of tech and luxury?
The price of new cars is all the talk right now. With the average price of a car hovering at $50,000 and with the price of gas, insurance and high interest rates, the cost of owning a new car is more than ever.
But what if that car came with much lower cost of operation, thanks to electric power, a tech interface that is the most advanced on the road, a fun drive experience and a battery that can go the distance, a cabin that delivers the luxury you expect and a great experience with no compromises?
That’s what the $50,000-ish Rivian R2, with up to 646 HP and 345 miles of driving range, promises. I just spent a day behind the wheel and I have so much to tell you.
This story is 100% human-researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks. Additionally, I was Rivian’s guest for this test drive but all opinions are my own.
The R2 Challenge: A Smaller, Less Pricey SUV That’s a True Rivian
Rivian began delivering its electric SUVs and pickup trucks in 2021 and quickly became known for its commanding electric powertrain, off-road capability, modern luxury design and lovely details like tartan upholstery and woven floor mats. Rivian quickly became a cult favorite all over the country, especially in places where off-roading and winter weather are part of life.
To grow, the company needed to extend the Rivian brand, choosing to move into a lower price category and open ownership to those not in the market for a near-$100,000 EV. But it still had to deliver on its core promises—capable, fun, comfortable, smart and electric.
The Rivian R2 Is a “Skate to Where the Puck Is Going” SUV
Rivian’s electric powertrains, true off-road capability and superior driving range set the brand apart—but for a pricey car, that’s not unexpected. The challenge for the R2 is to replicate that in a smaller frame without reducing range, performance and experience; that’s what Rivian accomplished with the smaller R2.
And then, they fast-forwarded into the future and did what every good coach tells you to do: look where you want to go and then make a plan to get there. For the R2, Rivian built a new tech platform that will become the foundation of all its future SUVs and trucks, including the R1S and R1T, as well as the future R3 line.
The new platform entails more efficient components, a ‘house-made’ computer chip, AI system, software and hardware, all in an effort to deliver a smarter car that will drive itself, talk to you like a human and still get you around town and up the mountain like a champ.
Rivian’s Charm and Clever Features Define the Rivian R2
Don’t let the Rivian R2 fool you; while it maintains the visual DNA it shares with its siblings, it’s not simply a smaller, cheaper version. Instead, Rivian head of design Jeff Hammoud sought to reinterpret all of Rivian’s design philosophies to maintain the Rivian ethos but at a lower cost. “We got a lot of positivity in terms of the overall brand aesthetic and design language of R1,” Jeff said. “And we wanted to take that and distill that down into a smaller, more affordable package.” That meant finding “different ways where we can be clever with engineering and clever with design to find ways to optimize things.”
To do this, the Rivian team focused on efficiencies, replacing expensive finishes with less pricey ones, adding more functions to the touchscreen, and creating clever solutions. In all, the interior is filled with charming details:
- A novel steering wheel with ‘halo wheels’ that are haptic, so you feel the controls click as you dial, push, pull or tap the wheel left or right; these wheels allow you to control the driver’s display, change the radio volume, adjust adaptive cruise settings and more
- Perforated, quilted heated and vented front seats and heated rear seats (in our Performance test model)
- Woven contrast-color floor mats
- A driver’s display that shows key information including speed, driver assist systems, navigation and more
- A panoramic sunroof similar to the main glass panel in the R1
- A floating center console and central cargo tray with a pull-out drawer and pop-out cup holders
- Two spring-loaded glove boxes, one in front of the passenger and one in front of the center console (another reduction of parts without buttons, locks or latches)
- A mag-safe magnetic phone charge pad on the center console
- A “5X” button in the upper console that rolls down all the windows at once, even the rear liftgate window
- A hidden rear windshield wiper; it’s tucked in between the lift-gate and the glass in a heated compartment with a drain, so it’ll never get frozen in place
- A three-line icon on the rear liftgate that, when pushed, rolls down the rear window
- A three-line icon on the hood that, when pushed, opens the frunk
- A spot in the driver’s side and front passenger door to stow and charge a flashlight or hand warmer
- Fold-flat rear seats that are sized to allow someone 6’ tall to lay down inside; overall, the R2 has almost 80 cubic feet of rear cargo space
- Additional cargo space is found under the rear floor and in the frunk
- A roomy rear seat that’s larger than the R1S’s rear seat and ideal for rear facing child car seats
- Hands-free driving, along with a tutorial on the touch screen showing how to use it
- Over-the-air updates that will continue to make the R2 smarter
- Not on our early test model, but being updated soon: “Hey Rivian” voice-activated assistance, and point-to-point hands free driving
What It’s Like to Drive the Rivian R2
Behind the wheel, the Rivian R2 is a pure delight—and no surprises for those who expect true Rivian performance. On the road it was easy and comfortable to drive and handle both on city streets and on the highway.
The wide panoramic glass roof lends a luxe feel, but it might be a consideration for anyone who lives in a sunny location; the later it got in the afternoon the more I had to turn up the A/C and point the air vents—accessible only via the touch screen—toward me; the sun heats up the cabin despite the tint on the glass. There are aftermarket sun shades available and one would be on my must-buy list.
The R2, which is delivered with BFGoodrich’s new Trail-Terrain T/A+ light-duty off-road tire, is quiet and comfortable on the road. Conversation was easy and even tight turns and high speeds didn’t make me feel jostled.
For more comfort, drivers can adjust on-road driving comfort with firm, moderate or soft suspension; low, standard or high regenerative braking for low or maximum efficiency and turning stability control on or off.
Even though the R2 is 15” shorter than the R1, it’s still tall with a 9.6” ground clearance. This is something you’ll see and feel from behind the wheel; the square hood rides low in your line of sight. I like my seat positioned up as high as possible for an even more commanding view, and this can sometimes lend a feel of wobbliness; not here, though. The R2 was easy and confident on the road.
Taking the Rivian R2 Off Road: No Sports Bra Needed!
This was the real test, and to be frank, the one I questioned most. Last year I drove the Rivian Gen 2 R1 Quad, a four-motor EV, up a twisty mountain trail and it was impressive. Would the R2 prove as capable?
Thankfully, it’s pretty capable, though I would only take the AWD version on a tough trail; the single motor rear wheel drive that has some traction control but is not ideal for trails and off-road. Our Performance AWD model performed perfectly on both fast trails and rocky climbs.
And, on the trail it was quite comfortable. Customizable off-road settings are the secret sauce and what impressed me the most. That’s because our suspension was set to ‘soft;’ on both fast trails and slow crawls over rocky roads and through shallow creeks the suspension was really comfortable.
This was a huge surprise and very delightful. Usually I wear a sports bra when off-roading so I’m comfortable and don’t feel shaken to the core at the end of the day. But the R2’s soft suspension setting gives a gentle rocking feel as the R2 is guided on the drive line; I picked drive lines with fewer rocks, less mud and more road surface and sometimes that meant darting side to side. Rockier and less flat parts of the road can be jarring, but not here; the R2 ambled easily and steadily over them.
On the trail where we could drive up to about 30 MPH (or maybe a bit more) the R2 really shines; it zips over grass, dirt and gravel, delivering a fast comfortable ride.
Rivian’s House-Made Tech and Design Is What Makes The R2 So Affordable
Over the last few years Rivian has focused on using less wiring, fewer components and building an in-house team of developers for things the company knows it needs to do fast and well. The result? Costs have been reduced, development time shortened and software updates can be sent as soon as they are available.
For instance, the company is still polishing its point-to-point hands-free drive system (included in the Launch edition and $2,500 on other models); it’ll be out later this year, and as soon as it’s ready it’ll be delivered through an over the air update (early buyers of the R2 will get these updates too).
In-house development means that if there are bugs to fix, they can be quickly updated and sent over the air without waiting for a third party to push out an update. Things like faster charge times, battery efficiencies, horsepower increases, new touch-screen features can be updated the same way your phone is updated: Easily and overnight.
This Was a Shock: The Rear Seat Is Larger Than the R1, But There’s a Caveat
Probably the biggest surprise in the Rivian R2 is the roomy rear seat. And honestly, this is not unusual; 5 passenger SUVs often have more rear seat legroom than their 3-row counterparts.
To show just how much room there is, Rivian provided a Graco child car seat to install and I was surprised to see that it fit nicely installed rear-facing, leaving several inches between the back of my seat set for me (I’m 5’8”) and the back of the Graco seat set to its full recline. It would also fit behind someone who is taller than me—I tested this out with Ross, our off-road guide, who is 6’4” and had room.
However, there’s a catch to installing a forward-facing car seat: The rear headrests, which are not easily removable, are tilted forward; the Graco’s extendable headrest bumps against it—which is not safe. Also, the rear seats don’t recline at all, so adjusting the car’s seat is not an option either. Families with kids in forward facing car seats will need to look closely at forward facing car seat fit to ensure a safe ride.
What This Car Costs
The R2 is available in four trims and three power levels; the top two trims are all wheel drive, the lower two trims are rear wheel drive only. Here’s how they line up:
- The Performance model, which we drove, has a dual motor AWD system, delivering 646 HP and a 330 mile driving range; it features heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats and hands-free driving; it’s priced from $57,990
- The Premium model has a dual motor AWD system and generates 450 HP and 330 miles of driving range; Premium will be offered in late 2026 and is priced at $53,990
- The Standard Long Range rear wheel drive model has 345 miles of range and delivers 355 HP; it will be available in early 2027 for $48,490
- The lowest priced R2, the Standard RWD, won’t be available until Summer 2027; it’ll deliver 350 HP and a 275 mile driving range and have fewer interior luxuries like heated rear seats; when it goes on sale it’ll be priced at $44,990
- The destination charge is $1,495
Rivian sees the R2 as its future; it’s not just a smaller version of the flagship R1, it’s a more sculpted, tweaked and tech-tuned SUV and it sets up the company’s future. If this car has been on your vision board, move it to the top of the list. It’s not only the best way to get the Rivian life for less, but it’ll drive you into the future, too.
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