R2 First Drive Reviews - Articles & Videos 📰 🎬

[rodhx]

Yeah….I’ve only read three videos so far, but this is the reason I tend to be skeptical about some of the so called journalists.

(Full disclosure: Rivian flew me to Park City, Utah and put journalists up in a swanky hotel for the launch of the R2. Meals and test cars were provided.)

This is decades-long standard operating procedure for any new vehicle launch. A better reason to be skeptical is that most of those "influenced" invited to the R2 launch are truly awful at what they claim to do.

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[NY_Rob]

Roman did a great job covering all the main interest points in his 25 min video with the R2 Chief Engineer Max. Easy to sit through in one cup of coffee (sorry Kyle!).

 

[macb00kemdanno]

I don't know if it's been talked about in this thread, but I can't believe there's no FM radio. OK, maybe I'm an old fart (46), but no AM radio -- OK, I get it. But also no FM radio? That just seems odd.

 

[wski441]

I don't know if it's been talked about in this thread, but I can't believe there's no FM radio. OK, maybe I'm an old fart (46), but no AM radio -- OK, I get it. But also no FM radio? That just seems odd.

I have never ONCE used FM in my R1. I am sure Rivian has the actual usage information for their infotainment

 

[Mos Eisley]

I test drove yesterday, there's definitely a learning curve using them. They felt solid to me, nice metal and the clicks scrolling felt good. But the push/pull and sideways movements were difficult for me, I'm sure I'd get used to it with more time. And, I'm certain there will be updates for assigning what functions they have. Would be nice to have a bit more customization of what they can do.

Just got done with an hour in R2. No drive but really going over the tech including the sound system. Will write more later but they do not feel chintzy to me. If they loosen up over time, could be fiddly. I found them very quick to adapt to.

 

[NY_Rob]

I don't know if it's been talked about in this thread, but I can't believe there's no FM radio. OK, maybe I'm an old fart (46), but no AM radio -- OK, I get it. But also no FM radio? That just seems odd.

I can't even listen to 10 min of FM radio nowadays... 3min music, 7 min of super loud commercials, rinse and repeat. It's a cesspool, even NPR isn't what it used to be...

 

[morph860]

I don't know if it's been talked about in this thread, but I can't believe there's no FM radio. OK, maybe I'm an old fart (46), but no AM radio -- OK, I get it. But also no FM radio? That just seems odd.

The one we drove had FM radio. Maybe it was streamed from one of the services they had on it? Whatever it was, it was a local FM station.

 

[Snazzy Labs]

Yep – need to be very guarded when it comes to these initial “press release reviews.“ The expectation is glowing feedback in return for free travel, lodging, meals, punch and pie. If you fail to deliver then you don’t get invited next time.

Comparison reviews with direct competitors a bit later on will be far more insightful.

Anecdotally, I disagree. My audience skews tech, not cars, and Rivian still invites me to events with zero expectation that I publish anything—a factory tour and the R1S launch both came and went without a video from me. I’ve been openly critical of them, too, and never once worried about losing access.

Part of that is Rivian being unusually chill and genuinely wanting honest feedback. Most of it is scale. I don’t need early access to run my business. The brand I cover most is Apple, who gives me nothing: no early access, no review units, no communication at all. My feedback is worth more to these companies than a comped hotel room is to me.

So no, I don’t find any of it compelling, and I’d bet most full-time creators don’t either. Being flown out and put up somewhere is just work. And perceived over-positivity mostly comes down to having a limited amount of time with the vehicles which limits the ability to compare and confidently criticize (but I still did as you’ll see).

 

[macb00kemdanno]

The one we drove had FM radio. Maybe it was streamed from one of the services they had on it? Whatever it was, it was a local FM station.

From what I can gather, those stations are streamed... not using an actual tuner. I mean, the interface shows that it has AM station, and we know for sure it doesn't have an AM tuner.

 

[DaveA]

Anybody surprised by some reviewers' description of the haptic wheels feeling "chintzy"? Those who have been in the car, thoughts?

i'm not in love with them...they felt like plastic and haptic was weird... Not a deal breaker, but I much prefer the R1 setup. The wheel rotates some when you push in or towards you from the rear.

 

[rbdavis808]

Anybody surprised by some reviewers' description of the haptic wheels feeling "chintzy"? Those who have been in the car, thoughts?

I agree, somewhat disappointed with the chintzy feel. I had no trouble operating them, though, and think they're a great solution to the touchscreen vs. buttons issue.

My biggest problem with them by far, speaking as a devout Satanist, is the offensive Christian bias in their Haptic Halo name. We'll be calling ours the Beelzebuttons.

 

[AlphaSnowbordergirl]

I don't know if it's been talked about in this thread, but I can't believe there's no FM radio. OK, maybe I'm an old fart (46), but no AM radio -- OK, I get it. But also no FM radio? That just seems odd.

I checked out the car yesterday. It has AM and FM.

 

[AlphaSnowbordergirl]

I agree, somewhat disappointed with the chintzy feel. I had no trouble operating them, though, and think they're a great solution to the touchscreen vs. buttons issue.

My biggest problem with them by far, speaking as a devout Satanist, is the offensive Christian bias in their Haptic Halo name. We'll be calling ours the Beelzebuttons.

I don't think "halo" was chosen due to Christianity. A definition of halo is also "a circle of white or coloured light around the sun, moon, or other luminous body caused by refraction through ice crystals in the atmosphere." Given that Rivian tends to name things after nature.

 

[Thebandit]

I checked out the car yesterday. It has AM and FM.

It's internet radio. It doesn't have actual radio tuners.

 

[Jeremy3292]

My biggest problem with them by far, speaking as a devout Satanist, is the offensive Christian bias in their Haptic Halo name. We'll be calling ours the Beelzebuttons.

Lmao what? Is this a serious post or rage bait lol?

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