Rivian R2 Review: A Tidier (in Size and Price) SUV Is Ready for the Suburbs

Rivian, after four years selling its R1S, a hulking three-row electric S.U.V. that easily reaches six-figure prices, is making the leap into the mainstream.

Nipping at Tesla’s heels, Rivian recently introduced a highly anticipated smaller (and more affordable) S.U.V. aimed at the upscale masses.

It’s called the R2, but a more appropriate name would have been the R2.0.

That’s because this new sport utility (which is shorter by 15 inches, and 2,000 pounds lighter) incorporates many of the things R1S owners said they missed. (Rivian also makes a truck, the R1T.) The R2 still features advanced software, off-road capabilities, a whisper-quiet cabin, decent range and probably the most comfortable seats of any vehicle I’ve ever driven.

Not only are the price and dimensions of this new version closer to what most American buyers want, but the R2 addresses many of the R1S’s shortfalls.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/07/business/rivian-r2-review.html