Rivian has set June 9 as the date when order invitations will begin going out to R2 reservation holders, with first deliveries starting the same day. Test drives will be available at Rivian Service and Demo Centers starting the same week — making this the most concrete milestone yet for the smaller, more attainable Rivian that off-road and EV enthusiasts have been watching since the model was first teased.The R2 arrives at a price point well below the R1T and R1S, positioning it as Rivian's answer to a question the brand has been circling for years: Can genuine electric adventure capability exist under $50,000? Based on confirmed specs and early tester reports, the answer is looking like yes — with a few caveats worth understanding before you configure one. What The R2 Actually Costs — And What You Get For It RivianThe R2 starts below the $50,000 threshold ($48,490, specifically) that separates aspirational EVs from attainable ones, though a fully loaded R2 Performance trim—rated at 656 horsepower—pushes the price considerably higher. Rivian has opened the configurator ahead of deliveries, giving reservation holders a clear look at how trim levels stack up before invitations go out.The Performance variant is the headline, but the standard dual-motor configuration is the one most buyers will actually drive home. Rivian hasn't published a single-motor option for launch, though the platform is built to support it. Battery options and their corresponding EPA range figures are confirmed in the configurator, and the numbers are competitive for the segment—though Rivian has not released the exact EPA-rated range publicly ahead of the June 9 event. Off-Road Credentials: How The R2 Stacks Up Against The 4Runner, Wrangler, and Bronco RivianThe R2 is a five-passenger SUV, not a truck, which means it draws its off-road comparisons from a different bracket than the R1T. Ground clearance (9.6 inches), approach angle (25 degrees), and departure angle (26 degrees) are the numbers that matter here, and Rivian has engineered the R2 on a purpose-built platform—not a cost-cut adaptation of an existing architecture—which gives it a meaningful advantage over some electrified crossovers that claim trail capability.Against a Toyota 4Runner, Jeep Wrangler, or Ford Bronco, the R2's electric drivetrain offers instant torque delivery at low speeds, which translates directly to crawl-speed rock and mud performance. The R1T and R1S established that Rivian's motor tuning and terrain management software are genuinely capable off-road, not just marketing copy, and the R2 inherits that foundation. Where traditional body-on-frame SUVs like the Wrangler still hold structural advantages for extreme articulation, the R2 competes on a different axis: precision torque control, lower center of gravity, and the kind of real-time wheel-speed management that mechanical differentials approximate but electric motors do natively. Early First-Drive Reports And What Testers Are Actually Saying RivianRivian has been running test-drive events ahead of the public launch, and early impressions point to a vehicle that drives smaller than its footprint suggests—a deliberate choice that makes it more maneuverable on tight trails than the R1S. The 656-hp Performance figure is notable context: that's more output than a stock Bronco Raptor, delivered through an electric drivetrain with no turbo lag and no gear hunting on steep grades.Reviewers have noted that the R2's interior and feature set reflect Rivian's decision to keep costs down without stripping the experience. The Camp Mode, gear tunnel storage philosophy from the R1T, and the general adventure-ready DNA carry over. What's absent at this price is the R1T's bed and the R1S's third row—the R2 is a focused two-row SUV, and Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe has confirmed that a compact R2-based pickup truck is a future possibility once the Georgia production line is running at scale. Our Neighbors To The North Have To Wait RivianOne notable footnote: Rivian has pushed Canadian R2 details to 2027, meaning the initial delivery wave is U.S.-only. Reservation holders in Canada will need to wait for a separate pricing and availability announcement before their invitations go out. For U.S. buyers, the June 9 date is firm—first deliveries happen that day, and test-drive appointments at Rivian's service and demo center network open alongside them.The R2 isn't trying to be an R1T at a discount—it's a distinct vehicle with its own platform, its own size class, and its own case to make against the 4Runner and Bronco crowd. Whether it converts off-road buyers who've never considered an EV is the real story, and that answer starts June 9.
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