Jump LinksInfotainment: A Few Glitches But R2 Gets 2 Extra WheelsSince Rivian launched the all-electric R1T pickup truck in 2021, followed a year later by its R1S three-row SUV platform mate, the automaker has carved out a tidy niche focused on adventure-minded shoppers who love to walk in the woods and who believe strongly in conservation efforts so future generations can do the same. For this audience, a battery-electric vehicle makes perfect sense, and putting in the effort to map out all the necessary charging points to ensure a satisfying trip is not that big a deal.Until now, the price of entry for a Rivian has hovered north of $70,000, which was a barrier for many shoppers. Today, a more affordable Rivian, the Rivian R2, is launching for $59,485 (including $1,495 destination charges), followed by a cadence of lower trim models that will push pricing as low as $46,485 a year from now. Clearly, Rivian wants to be a mainstream automotive brand, and the 2027 Rivian R2 two-row SUV sets the stage to get there.The first R2 model available is the Performance trim with 656 horsepower, dual-motor AWD, and an 87.9-kWh (usable) battery delivering up to 330 miles of estimated range – and capable of sprinting from zero to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds. We found it more than competent on highways and lightly populated roads near Park City, Utah, where the skiing in winter is fantastic and where brave souls in spring and summer test their endurance riding bicycles up grueling mountain roads, despite heavy breathing at an elevation above 8,000 feet.Local off-road enthusiasts have discovered some tricky, steep trails at nearby Wasatch Mountain State Park to run any and all 4x4 conveyances, with tons of craggy boulders big enough to severely test the underbody plates protecting the R2's high-voltage battery positioned under the seats. For anyone thinking EVs can't be suited for this terrain, the Rivian R2 is a revelation. It's built on an all-new midsize platform, and it's nearly a ton lighter than the R1.First Drive events provide our initial impressions of a vehicle in a restricted environment under certain time constraints. Keep an eye on CarBuzz for our comprehensive Test Drive review which will follow soon. What Is It? 2027-rivian-r2-exterior-june-26-26Whether on-road or off, the R2s we drove (production models from Rivian's assembly plant in Normal, Illinois) were refined and extremely pleasant to drive, with competent handling, communicative steering, robust acceleration, a no-nonsense disposition, and an interior that feels spacious in both rows because of the long, flat, upright roofline. With the R2, Rivian has a unique opportunity to be first to market with a rugged 4x4 EV that might actually sell in high numbers, unlike the GMC Hummer. The Jeep Recon could be in the hunt, if it ever comes to market and has the proper marketing push.The battery-electric Mercedes-Benz G 580 with EQ Technology is a capable off-roader – but you could buy three R2s for the same money. Which raises the question: Is Rivian a luxury brand, or even near-luxury? If shoppers have considered Rivian to be premium or upscale based on the R1, that perception might change with arrival of the R2 – and not because it is taking the brand downmarket from a design or a capability standpoint. Exterior Looks: Unmistakably Rivian, Without Leaning Downmarket 2027-rivian-r2-rear-wasatch-springs-national-forestThe design team finds no shame in the traditional two-box SUV form, and one must look carefully to tell the R2 apart from its larger R1S sibling when seeing both in profile. The R2's exterior styling is distinguished by its short overhangs, long, flat roof, and a back end that is mostly squared-off but exhibiting only subtle curvature, unlike the bulging back end of, say, a Jeep Grand Cherokee.Take note of the R2's rear spoiler (pictured below) that channels air downward over the liftgate, contributing to a 0.3 drag coefficient. From the side, the back half of the R2 (and R1S) look more like a Ford Expedition or Chevy Suburban, which helps reinforce the R2's utility. An even better comparison might be the upright Land Rover Defender 110, certainly moreso than the Range Rover with its raked rear glass.Tom Murphy / CarBuzz / Valnet But let's be clear: The Rivian R2 is a midsize SUV (similar in size to the new 2026 Jeep Cherokee) with 9.6 inches of ground clearance compared to a maximum 14.9 inches for the R1S, which is about 5 inches taller than the R2. The front end is all Rivian, impossible to confuse with any other vehicle because of its distinctive oval "stadium" headlamps, connected with a solid horizontal light bar sweeping along the front edge of the hood.It's hard to imagine the face of Rivian, with its clean, uncluttered surfaces, ever straying far from this formula. As modern as the R2 is, there's a feature that bears its old soul: the rear drop glass that gives access to the cargo hold without raising the liftgate, like in the station wagons from 50 years ago. Interior: Still A High Bar For Rivian Interiors Rivian set a pretty high bar several years ago when its first vehicle, the R1T, arrived with an interior that looked premium, was comfortable and functional, and came across as modern and simple, with no glossy surfaces and an emphasis on neutral tones and material, like you'd find in nature. That theme carries on for the R2, with upcycled birch from the furniture industry providing the real wood veneer as a design highlight on the instrument panel. And the R2's headliner is made from recycled ocean plastics.2027-rivian-r2-upcycled-birch-wood-veneer-trimThe off-white Coastal Cloud Signature interior with synthetic upholstery was more handsome, but perhaps the Black Crater Signature in most of the test vehicles would be better suited for rugged exploring in terms of wear. This midsize SUV has demonstrated that Rivian can continue making above-average interiors, even at a lower price point. But when the smaller, more affordable R3 launches in the next few years, we'll be watching once again to see if corners are cut. Infotainment: A Few Glitches But R2 Gets 2 Extra Wheels Vehicle interiors are rarely perfect, and the R2 had a few issues: Voice activation was unresponsive to simple commands several times; we lost our connection for the audio system a few times at high altitude, and the fixed glass roof offered no shade (or auto dimming) from the blazing sun. While we're at it, the button for opening the liftgate from behind the vehicle was maddeningly sensitive – and hidden above the "V" in Rivian. You're welcome.Rivian Despite a few problems, the emphasis on quality materials, fit-and-finish (at least on the models we drove), textures, ergonomics, and driver sightlines is apparent in the R2. The touchscreen is attractively laid out and reasonably simple to navigate, while Rivian's ingenious Halo Haptic Wheels on the steering wheel tilt, roll, and press inward as a new way for the driver to interact with the vehicle.2027-rivian-r2-tom-pettyBut getting comfortable with them will take more than a day. Those wheels are used to adjust the sideview mirrors or position the steering column, after touching a tab on the homepage. This isn't the first EV that replaces physical controls with a minimalist digital solution. But the driver does get four actual window switches. Powertrain & Driving: No 400-Mile Range And No EREV, Either Rivian is launching the R2 from its all-new midsize platform, and it's nearly a ton lighter than the R1. Rivian targeted a roughly 45% reduction in material costs compared to the R1, so clearly the cost savings shaved a lot of pounds to improve maneuverability. For instance, engineers used zonal electronics to eliminate a staggering 2.3 miles of wiring, which simplified assembly and improved range and reliability. At the media launch, Rivian displayed a ball of copper wire about the size of a basketball weighing 44 pounds to demonstrate the savings.From behind the wheel, the R2 feels more nimble than the R1, especially with the semi-active suspension that comes standard on R2 Performance models and adapt to the road and your driving style. During our test drives, the semi-active suspension made for a comfortable ride both on and off-road. There are three available machined aluminum rims (19-, 20-, and 21-inchers) with Pirelli all-season rubber, as well as 20-inch forged aluminum off-road wheels with BF Goodrich all-terrain tires.Tom Murphy / CarBuzz / Valnet The R2's powertrain packaging is fairly straightforward. For now, there's just one high-voltage battery (87.9 kWh usable) for dual-motor all-wheel-drive variants. That's the 656-horsepower Performance model launching now, followed by the 450-horsepower Premium variant arriving later this year. That same battery will be in the 350-horsepower Standard rear-wheel-drive Long Range R2 with up to 345 miles of Rivian-estimated range (compared to 330 miles for the AWD versions). Late this year, we should learn about a smaller battery to be offered in the 350-horsepower Standard RWD version, starting next summer.While many automakers are steering toward extended-range EVs, Rivian CRO RJ Scaringe told journalists that Rivian will not head that way, calling it a step backward. From the start, Rivian developed the R2 to use the NACS charging protocol, which allows access to more than 21,000 Tesla Superchargers across the US and Canada. That's on top of the 120 DC fast charging sites across the US that are part of the Rivian Adventure Network, with plans for further expansion. Depending on your charger, Rivian says you can add about 150 miles of range in 15 minutes.2027-rivian-r2-front-power-module Verdict & Pricing: Outselling GM, Now Rivian Must Make Money Rivian has a compelling business case for its new R2, and the company appears to be undeterred in its goal for zero-emission mobility, despite other legacy automakers skinning back their EV plans. Since 2021, Rivian has sold 175,000 EVs (mostly in the US), which is more than General Motors has sold with its many EVs from Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC. Let that sink in: an upstart with just two models outpacing the General. The trick is pricing the R2 low enough to pull in lots of new customers, but not too low as to hinder profitability. It's not a charity that Scaringe is running.And yet, there's enough confidence that Rivian is developing a new $5 billion plant in Stanton Springs, Georgia, to build the R2, starting in late 2028, followed by the smaller R3. Two assembly lines and 300,000 units of capacity suggest Rivian is dreaming big. This Performance Launch Edition priced at $59,485 comes well-equipped and without many upcharges. For instance, the Glacier White paint job will cost an extra $1,000, while the new aqua-tinged Catalina Cove paint, exclusive to R2, adds $2,000. And that launch price includes a lifetime subscription for Autonomy+, the hardware that enables hands-free assisted driving on 3.5 million miles of mapped highways, similar to GM's Super Cruise. For all other trims, that optional service will cost $49.99 a month or a $2,500 one-time fee.Tom Murphy / CarBuzz / Valnet This offer might even tempt R2 shoppers who wanted to save $13,000 by waiting until next year to buy the least-expensive R2 with a smaller battery. No matter which R2 you buy, it's not only a software-defined vehicle but an AI-defined vehicle as well, meaning over-the-air upgrades will be coming, along with certain services available for a subscription fee. The bigger question might be, are off-roaders eager to go battery-electric?During our jostling about on the rocky trail upward, we learned that you don't burn a ton of range while inching along at maybe 3 mph. Getting to the top of a steep hill means that gravity will do most of the work going back down – maybe after camping at the summit in sheer solitude for a few life-changing days. That means lots of energy returns to the battery because you're riding the brake most of the way. And that's practically a solution for range anxiety.2027-rivian-r2-exterior-june-2623
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