Rivian R2: Everything We Know

Rivian

The Rivian R2 is Rivian’s future platform and electric mid-size SUV, which was announced on March 7^th, alongside the R3 and R3X. The R2 is supposed to bring Rivian’s performance and capabilities in a smaller, five-seat package optimized for everyday use and adventuring.

Price and Specs

Rivian hasn’t provided complete details on all the build options for the R2 just yet – but it will be starting at $45,000 USD. It’ll have an estimated range of up to 300+ mi, and a 0-60mph (0-100 km/h) in under 3 seconds in select trims. This, alongside the 5-seat capacity, makes the R2 a strong competitor against the Tesla Model Y Long Range in the United States – which starts today at $47,990.

Battery Options

We expect Rivian’s offerings to vary widely based on the battery and motor package. Today, Rivian offers a Standard Pack, Large Pack, and Max Pack on the R1S and R1T. For the R2, Rivian will launch two battery packs, and the larger pack will be the one that obtains both the 300+ mi of range and the 3-second 0-60mph acceleration. This could change in the future, but for now, this seems pretty settled, as Rivian intends to offer fewer configuration options to reduce manufacturing complexity.

The R2 will also feature a structural battery based on Rivian’s new 4695 cells, which they say will offer significant improvements in both energy density and output. Rivian intends to focus its efforts on this new cell size going forward.

Motor Options

On the R1T and the R1S, the motor options are a dual-motor AWD, trimotor, and quad-motor variants. However, for the R2, Rivian will be offering it in a single-motor (RWD) variant, as well as a dual-motor (AWD), and tri-motor (two rear, one front) configuration. This is mostly to make the vehicle as cost-efficient as possible.

Rivian Wave

EV Rebates and Tax Credits

We’re currently not sure if the R2 will be eligible for the United States Federal EV Rebate, or Canada’s iZEV rebate. The Canadian rebate is more flexible but is only $5,000 CAD (~$3600 USD), while the American rebate is a tax credit, and is based on battery material origin and vehicle production. It’ll likely be eligible for the full $7,500 USD (~$10,000 CAD), but we’ll have to wait for confirmation from Rivian.

Charging Capabilities

One of the most important things for the R2 is the inclusion of Tesla’s NACS port, and built-in Supercharger support. Additionally, for the R2 specifically, the charge port will be moved to the rear left quarter panel – matching the location of Tesla’s NACS port – making it easy to fit your Rivian in at a Tesla Supercharger and not worry about blocking any stalls.

The R2 will also be CCS compatible but will require a CCS-to-NACS adapter. At this point, Rivian does not intend to provide an adapter with the R2, so a third-party adapter will be required unless Rivian releases an OEM option.

Rivian has said that the R2 will be able to charge – on the right hardware – from 10% to 80% in less than 30 minutes. That’s expected to be in line with the top EVs in this price range. The numbers may even improve as Rivian fine-tunes their new 4695 cells.

Autonomy

Rivian Wave

Rivian’s built up an entirely new autonomy hardware system, including 11 cameras, 5 radars, and an updated compute platform. While they haven’t said exactly how many self-driving capabilities they intend to include, this is an upgraded package from the R1S and R1T Gen1’s MobilEye EyeQ4 “Mid” system. This new system, also included on the second generation R1S and R1T, is MobilEye’s EyeQ5 High, or “MobilEye SuperVision”.

Rivian’s custom compute package also includes compute from Nvidia, but supposedly this board will be in training mode and non-functional until Rivian launches its own autonomy solution. The MobilEye hardware will be responsible for Rivian’s autonomy features, including full-surround perception, automated lane changes, and highway and traffic jam assist – which is essentially an advanced highway lane-keeping assist. Rivian intends to eventually phase out the MobilEye hardware, but we’re not sure when that will happen.

Release Date

Rivian’s R2 is currently available for reservation in the US for $100 USD, and Canada for $150 CAD. The estimated delivery date for the United States is expected to be mid-2026, and Canada will follow along at the same time.

Rivian also intends to launch the R2 internationally, following its North American launch. We know plenty of European customers are considering the R2 as their first or next EV, but we haven’t heard any exact dates for its release in Europe yet. Rivian will likely allow reservations outside of North America once the R2 ramp is completed at its Normal, Illinois facility.

We’re excited to see the launch of the Rivian R2 as it’s expected to bring Rivian into the mainstream and make Rivian a household name.

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Rivian Battery Options: Range, Cost and Battery Pack Sizes (kWh)

Rivian Wave

Rivian offers a variety of battery packs and motors to give customers the range they need at the lowest price point possible. Let's take a look at the various battery sizes Rivian offers, their costs, and the range you’ll get with each package.

The battery options differ on Rivian’s Gen 1 and Gen 2 vehicles (model year 2025+), so we’ll break it down by vehicle generation. One thing to note is that even though Gen 2 has smaller battery sizes in general, the vehicles are far more efficient than the first generation, so you’ll be able to travel further on the same battery size.

Rivian divides its models by the number of motors and battery pack size. The motor options are Dual, Tri, and Quad, while the battery options are Standard, Large, and Max. So, when selecting a model, you’ll see names such as Dual Standard (two motors and the Standard battery) and Dual Large or Tri Max (three motors and the Max battery).

Here are your battery options for the current generation of vehicles (R1S and R1T) and their range and cost.

Gen 2 Battery Options

You’ll note that the upcoming Quad Motor Ascend vehicles aren’t listed here just yet. Rivian hasn’t unveiled the details of the Quad Motor battery packs and pricing yet, but we’ll update the table above once that information arrives.

The Max Tri-motor models include the same battery pack as the Dual Max models, but their range is reduced due to the additional weight of the extra motor and the vehicle's performance tuning. The Tri-motor vehicles also include a variety of standard options, such as the Dynamic Glass Roof, Premium Audio, the Ascend interior, and others, which drives the price up to the $30,000 premium over the Dual motor variant.

Of note, the only official EPA range estimates are for the R1T’s Standard pack and the R1S’ Standard and Max packs.

Gen 1 Battery Options

Rivian offered more options in its battery lineup in Gen 1, and the range of its lowest-level offering was a bit bigger – 258 miles in Gen 2 compared to 270 miles in Gen 1. That difference is mostly due to the smaller pack size – 105kWh in the Standard Gen 1 vehicles, while only 92.5 kWh in the Gen 2 vehicles.

The battery ranges above are all EPA estimates.

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New Details About Rivian's R2/R3 Steering Wheel: Dynamic Clicks & Haptic Feedback

Rivian

Rivian’s upcoming vehicles, including the R2 and R3X prototypes, will include a next-generation steering wheel that offers an innovative approach to driver control and feedback. We recently had a chance to chat with Marty L., UI/UX Director at Rivian, who shared exciting details about the new features and functionality of this wheel.

Three Axes of Freedom

The new steering wheel design looks great, with large, mostly exposed scroll wheels at either side of the steering wheel. However, the most interesting part of the wheel is the functionality it introduces. As expected, the steering wheel will have three axes of freedom, similar to the steering wheels in the current R1S/R1T models, but instead of requiring a separate button to navigate left and right, you’ll be able to tilt the scroll wheel left/right.

• Tilt Left/Right: The ability to navigate left and right by tilting the scroll wheel

• Push In: A push or press feature that can be used to confirm selections or switch modes.

• Scroll Up/Down: Scroll up and down with dynamic haptic feedback

These scroll wheels are the cornerstone of changing the most used settings in the vehicle. However, Rivian plans to use them for more than just basic features. You’ll be able to adjust a variety of settings directly from the scroll wheels.

Dynamic Haptic Feedback

The biggest innovation with Rivian’s new steering wheel will be the ability for the wheel to provide dynamic haptic feedback as you’re scrolling. While most scroll wheels have a basic click sensation, Rivian’s will have adaptable feedback that changes depending on the function you’re adjusting:

• Volume Control: When adjusting the vehicle’s volume, the haptic feedback (the “clicks”) will be more spaced out, with distinct, widely separated clicks corresponding to each volume level (e.g., 1 through 10).

• ADAS Speed Adjustment: For adjusting speed settings, you’ll feel more closely spaced clicks that offer more precise control, giving a tactile sense of small incremental changes.

This feedback ensures drivers get a clear, physical confirmation of each adjustment, making it easier to make changes without taking their eyes off the road.

Rivian

Resistance for Added Control

The new steering wheel is beyond just clicks, Rivian’s scroll wheels will have varying levels of resistance. Marty explained that users will feel a slight resistance when they scroll up or down to change settings. For example, as you’re scrolling up to the next volume level or speed increment, the wheel will offer a subtle resistance before snapping into the next position. This makes the interaction feel natural and intuitive—almost like turning a dial that clicks into place.

Which Models Will Feature This Steering Wheel?

The steering wheel is currently featured in Rivian’s R2 and R3X prototypes, which have been showcased at various events. This innovative wheel will be rolled out to all R2 and R3 models. However, when asked whether the new wheel would make its way to the current R1S and R1T models, he simply responded with a “stay tuned,” hinting that Rivian may have plans to introduce it to its current lineup in the future.

This new steering wheel design is a testament to Rivian’s focus on technology, software, and innovation to produce some of the best EVs. As Rivian continues to redefine what’s possible in vehicle interiors, as they did with Dolby Atmos support, this new steering wheel will likely set the standard for user experience in future designs.

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