Rivian R2: The R1S's Smaller, Cheaper, and Less Interesting Twin
Okay, Rivian, it seems you've got an affinity for cloning. The R2 is about as original as a beige Toyota Camry. Fine, call it "brand consistency" if you insist, but it's essentially a shrunken R1S with the same face. If you parked them side-by-side, you'd need a magnifying glass to tell the difference. The R2 isn't necessarily a bad car, but it's so mind-numbingly similar to the R1S, it's like buying the same album twice just because they changed the cover art. This isn't the bold, boundary-pushing Rivian we've come to expect.
Let's be brutally honest – this is a little bit disappointing. Rivian is one of the few EV makers that gets me somewhat excited. The R1T and R1S offer something different, but this R2? It's playing it safe, boring, and predictable. Where's the ingenuity? It was actually quite telling, watching the chief of Rivian’s design team drive the R2 onto the stage and then sheepishly disappear into the crowd, leaving RJ Scaringe to try and put a positive spin on essentially an R1S that got shrunk in the wash. Gotta give it to him - Clark Kent of the EV industry did put on the good show.
Sure, they've thrown in a few quirks. That roll-down rear window is like something out of a retro minivan – a welcome, if somewhat random, touch. Those awkward angled quarter windows? Well, they're bold. Whether they're good-bold or bad-bold is a debate for another day. And who doesn't love a good frunk and a pair of glove boxes? If you struggled with having just one place to put your stuff in your old car, this is a groundbreaking revelation. Decisions, decisions!
The interior, from what we can see in the first few photos, is less fancy compared to the bigger Rivians. No more fancy-pants door speakers for you! Though never fear, they've kept the flashlight in the door. Because a flashlight is the height of tech in 2024, apparently. I imagine there's a dedicated tea kettle compartment somewhere as well. All this is, of course, "practical."
Now, for the bits everyone's actually interested in. Range is quoted at over 300 miles (482 km), the sprint to 60 mph (96 km/h) in under 3 seconds for the fancy tri-motor thing, and promises of some hands-free driving tech. Honestly, this is just what every electric SUV does now. Good job Rivian, you caught up with the competition! But remember, the R2 is not coming out until 2026! The way this world is going, by then, your neighbor's flying car might be beating it in the drag race. Two years feels like a century in EV years! Who knows what kind of insane performance figures will be the norm by then?
The price is where things get... well, slightly less yawn-inducing. Rivian reckons the R2 will start at $45,000, which, let's admit, is a decent price for an electric SUV. But don't get too excited - at that price, you'll be rowing your own gears...well, okay, there are no gears because it's an EV. You get one motor driving the rear wheels and likely none of the fancy tech. Still, as a basic electric runabout, it could steal a few Tesla Model Y sales. Especially if those Tesla buyers have an aversion to good build quality. Just don’t expect the headline-grabbing tri-motor beast to come at the promised $45,000 - I bet my lunch money it’ll be closer to $90,000.
Let's not forget Rivian's tendency for, ahem, "optimistic" production targets. The R1S and R1T still aren't exactly flooding the streets. So before you get all excited, remember that the R2 won't be in your driveway for a good couple of years. But hey, maybe Rivian's "surprise" production change from Georgia to their existing Illinois plant will help them meet those targets. Or maybe not, given their track record. Unfortunately, those delays tend to happen in EV-land.
The real wild card here is that surprise reveal – the R3 and its sporty R3X sibling. Unexpected heroes that came to save the day - and they did it in style. So much so that they deserve their own article. Clearly old-school-inspired, with flashes of classic design mixed with an off-road performance package that promises a return of fun - and a flicker of personality with the performance version. Here's hoping it's a sign of things to come, rather than a last-ditch effort to inject some excitement into this otherwise milquetoast launch.
So there you have it. The Rivian R2. It exists. It's electric. It might even be good, but is it exciting? Overall, the Rivian R2 is...fine. It drives, it sure is practical and promises to be affordable. But if you're looking for anything remotely inspiring, look elsewhere. It's a missed opportunity from a brand that had so much promise. Let's cross our fingers that the R3X lights a fire under them, or we might just drift off into a boredom-induced coma.
Yours truly,
Captain Electro
