It’s been a few years since Rivian started production on the R1T and R1S, its phenomenal electric truck and SUV that boast incredible designs and capabilities, but are definitely on the pricier side of things. Now the American brand is expanding into more mainstream segments with the compact R2 crossover, which debuted today at the company’s revamped South Coast Theater in Laguna Beach.
If you’ve seen an R1S, the R2 will look familiar. It’s got the same friendly face, with smaller pill-shaped light housings and a thick light bar running across the front that’s more three-dimensional than on the R1 models. The front bumper is a mix of gloss black and black plastic, with prominent tow hooks and a skid plate element. There are subtle aero pass-throughs in the plastic fender flares both ahead of and behind the front wheel.
The R2 is 185.6 inches long, 75 inches wide and 66.9 inches tall, making it about the size of a BMW X3. Compared to an R1S, the R2 is 15.2 inches shorter in length, 6.8 inches narrower and 10.4 inches shorter in height, and the R2’s 115.6-inch wheelbase is 5.5 inches shorter. The R2 has 9.8 inches of ground clearance, and it’s available with 20-inch wheels and 32-inch tires. Despite its smaller proportions, the R2 still has a fantastic, wide stance.
There’s a crisp shoulder line that continues from the clamshell hood’s seam, with another crisp line higher up on the rear fender. The C-pillar is thick and vertical, and like on the R1S the rear glass is upright with a slight curve to it. Also like on the R1 models the R2 has a thick taillight bar, but unlike the R1S, which has a split tailgate, the R2 has a standard top-hinged liftgate. One of the coolest details are the rear quarter windows, which pop out like on a minivan, and rear glass that rolls down into the liftgate like on a Toyota 4Runner.
The interior is also more evolution than revolution, but it looks really good and has a lot of design and ergonomic improvements from the R1 trucks. You still get a large central touchscreen and a wide gauge display, with a more sculptural surround and a cool use of materials. The redesigned steering wheel has scroll wheels with dynamic haptic feedback, and like other Rivians it will support extensive over-the-air updates.
Rivian says the R2 was designed to comfortably seat passengers over 6 feet tall, and it has 40.3 inches of rear legroom and 40.5 inches of rear headroom, both nearly as much as an R1S. The front can fit a carry-on suitcase and a backpack or 6 reusable grocery bags, and Rivian says the cargo area can fit two checked suitcases, two carry-ons and a stroller, as well as other items under the load floor. In addition to a big glovebox in the normal place, there’s a second glovebox in the center underneath the main screen, and the center console has some clever storage solutions. The front seats fold forward along with the rears to create a completely flat interior space, and there are no speakers in the lower door for more storage space.
The R2 rides on a brand new platform that uses a 4695-cell battery pack, with bigger cells than R1. Single-motor (RWD), dual-motor (AWD) and tri-motor (AWD) variants will be offered, with the top-end model able to run from 0 to 60 mph in “well under” 3 seconds. Every motor configuration will achieve more than 300 miles of range and can charge from 10 to 80 percent in less than 30 minutes, and the R2 will use the NACS charge port.
Customers can reserve an R2 starting today, with the base price set at an estimated $45,000. Deliveries start in the first half of 2026 — earlier than expected, with Rivian saying it will first enter production at its existing Normal, Illinois plant instead of the brand’s upcoming Georgia factory. Eventually, total capacity in Illinois will reach 215,000 units per year. Rivian also pulled off a major surprise, debuting the even smaller and even cuter R3 and rally-inspired R3X models, which will go into production after the R2.
