The Rivian R2, recently announced and received with high praises, is now on the minds of many consumers. Rivian just started sending out a limited number of prototype vehicles to be seen by the public, and I had the opportunity to get a very close and intimate look at the new R2 vehicle.

Of course the Rivian R2 is aimed squarely at the Tesla Model Y, which last year was the best selling car, in all categories, in the entire world. This target market is a large and constantly growing segment of the automotive industry and we continue to see more entrants and further enhancements to existing offerings form manufacturers.

The Rivian R2, unlike the Tesla Model Y, is shaped in a more box format, similar to the Rivian R1S. This signature design can be seen throughout the R2 just like its larger sibling the R1S. Taking the things consumers love about the R1S and bringing it down to a package that is affordable, not too small, and doesn't sacrifice on range or capability is a tough challenge.

At Electrify Expo Orlando, I had the opportunity to walk around and get good video of the car up close and personal. I was also lucky enough to get the employees to show me some areas of the R2 that have not been seen before, including the sub-trunk. Although this particular car is a prototype, it appears to be somewhere between a Beta and Alpha, meaning most of the interior seems likely complete to production level standards, but there are still some areas of the car that are clearly not the production intent finish.

All that said, this R2 is a great representation of what to expect when the Rivian R2 does go on sale in the first half of 2026, with a starting price of $45,000, range north of 300 miles, and 0-60 as quick as 3.0 seconds. These stats, are clearly targeted at the Tesla Model Y as they bring price, performance and range in the Model Y territory, and in some cases, exceed the Model Y capability.

Looking closely, we can see the UI in the R2, which represents a familiar Rivian feel and look we have come used to in the R1T and R1S trucks. Although the steering wheel looks to be more prototype than production intent, the overall feel and operation of the vehicle seems to be on par with the traditional Rivian experience.

Finally, looking at the performance of the car, it is clear this Rivian R2, just like its counterparts, will have some trail capabilities with rugged tires and suspension. This is all wrapped up with a native NACS charge port, giving the Rivian R2 access to the most reliable DC fast charging network in North America.

The only question that remains is can Rivian deliver on the specs and performance announced, and will these stats still be competitive in 2 years time. These questions will all be answered soon, and the ramp to R2 deliveries is sure to be exciting.


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