Finished R2 demo test drive? Share your review / impressions

[Jeremy3292]

Range not really. Price will hold some people back but I have seen exactly one of the Standard Y in real life. I don’t think it will ever sell well. Difference in premium AWD and R2 AWD isn’t that great and Performance is the same price.

Also FSD doesn’t actually matter that much. As good as FSD is, only 15% of Tesla owners pay for it.

If Rivian can get the price a little lower on AWD after they catch up on backlog it would definitely be close.

Also as an aside I was at my local coffee shop and I told a guy I know I was probably selling my Cybertruck soon and getting a Rivian a few people around me said how much they love Rivian.

Range without a doubt is better. EPA numbers mean nothing. Model 3/Y will dust an R2 on the highway at any speed over 60mph.

Not sure what you’re looking at. Model Y is multiple thousands cheaper than R2. R2 standard trim has a smaller battery so not comparable except to Model Y standard trim, which is even cheaper than $45k

Also I didn’t bring up FSD at all. I’m not a Tesla lover or hater, just a realist.

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[Rivian R2D2]

Want an ongoing honest opinion, know many have that tingle like opening up their brand new Samsung or iPhone box and taking the wrap off the new device,

For real people what are your honest opinions and not just the glazed over eyes feelings?

What don’t you absolutely dislike?

Love my Model Y but it rattles all over, suspensions sucks and it’s just ok!

 

[NinjaWrap]

Not sure what you’re looking at. Model Y is multiple thousands cheaper than R2

R2 vs Y

Standard RWD $44,990 vs $39,990

Premium AWD $53,990 vs $49,990

Performance $57,990 vs $57,990

 

[Jeremy3292]

R2 vs Y

Standard RWD $44,990 vs $39,990

Premium AWD $53,990 vs $49,990

Performance $57,990 vs $57,990

Yeah agreed on P trim. I think Tesla is struggling to sell those as is. So $5k and $4k difference on the trims I mentioned. That's a lot of money to to a lot of people. That's all I was saying.

 

[rivordel]

Had the opportunity today (in one day!) to drive the BMW ix3 (attended the "Ultimate Drive Event" in Chicago) as well as the R2. My bottom line: the ix3 is my choice, if money is the same (which it isn't, of course). I have zero need for off road capability, and the ix3 felt more like a traditional mall-crawling SUV, as opposed to the R2, which felt more truck-like. The BMW drivetrain felt extraordinarily smooth, while the Rivian felt smooth, but also heavy at the same time. The tech in the iX3 is truly awesome (the new thin screen beneath the windshield is beautiful). And between the two if I were to bet on reliability I'd choose the BMW. May still go with the R2 given the delta on price, but I think the BMW is tough to ignore. (Not to mention, the BMW crushes on range and charging speed and dealer network).

 

[ribuck97]

Took a second drive… this time I had the spouse with me. Drove from DelMar CA in their CatalinaCove with 20” Taking route on 56 east 4 miles then some twisty back roads west.

Wife liked it much better than my Tesla Model 3 DM AWD LR. She seriously dislikes regen brake driving and did not like it at all… but liked the way the car drove/handled. Said it is much larger than her Volvo XC60 which is roughly the same exterior dimensions.

The running efficiency numbers on it were sitting at 2.7 mi/kwh (I think). I tried to find it/reset quickly but no dice. If so that means the testers were averaging ~240 miles range. This is if I pulled up the correct screen.

The CatalineCove looked much better on the car but seemed “flat” in the CA sun (or it was just dirty).

Wife said to save the $40k and get the R2…. The one sticking point I have is the car camper capabilities. Love to hear if any 6’ people went and climbed in with the seats down.

Oh, can you turn down the interior chimes for turn signals, etc???

 

[Voronbrg]

-I felt the new wheel buttons are nice, but a little too big?
-Waiting on tri motor, felt faster than the dual R1, but still slow compared to quad.
-Liked how they kept most of the same materials. Carpet is a big one for me, R1 R2 carpets are easy to clean, unlike glued fibers on plastic everyone else uses.
-The parts they cut, don't feel noticeable, unlike tesla cutting back on everything USEFUL.

 

[Just Passing By]

Are these demo cars all early full production units, still pre-production units or a mix? I presume the VIN would indicate? Its not surprising there might be early issues on new production vehicles but I'm wondering if some of the issues people have identified/commented on are just reflecting when the car was produced?

 

[Jeremy3292]

-The parts they cut, don't feel noticeable, unlike tesla cutting back on everything USEFUL.

This. I'm not a Tesla hater at all for the record. I didn't think I'd miss the things on my Highland Model 3 over my older Model 3 when I upgraded. But I came to despise it. No turn stalk (which they added back) wasn't that big of a deal - the buttons are fine. But then came no drive stalk - have to use the screen to shift. I HATE it so much. They tried some software help to auto put it in in reverse when doing a 3 point turn but it still sucks. Again, didn't think I'd miss the no drive stalk but I actually realized how much I LOVED the drive stalk on the steering wheel.

Can't wait to go back to a tech car that still lives in the practical world unlike Tesla these days. Tesla makes it feel like they don't want you in the car driving or doing anything...which they really don't with FSD push (which is great btw).

 

[Voronbrg]

Are these demo cars all early full production units, still pre-production units or a mix? I presume the VIN would indicate? Its not surprising there might be early issues on new production vehicles but I'm wondering if some of the issues people have identified/commented on are just reflecting when the car was produced?

I believe they are production.

 

[Yamazaki]

Are these demo cars all early full production units, still pre-production units or a mix? I presume the VIN would indicate? Its not surprising there might be early issues on new production vehicles but I'm wondering if some of the issues people have identified/commented on are just reflecting when the car was produced?

I was told by the rep I spoke to here that the one I drove is a pre production model... which is why some stuff didn't work/wasn't there.

 

[Mos Eisley]

I was told by the rep I spoke to here that the one I drove is a pre production model... which is why some stuff didn't work/wasn't there.

I was told the opposite last night. That the vehicle we were driving was a production vehicle. Rivian said last week that several things, like Sirius XM and Rivian Assistant would not be available for the first month or so but were coming soon.

 

[dduffey]

Took my wife for a demo drive, I didn't drive. Got a good 20 minutes and they were efficient at getting folks in and out. Nothing new to add that hasn't been said or covered before.

Fit and finish were good, build quality looked/felt good. Riding passenger felt comfy and quiet from road noise and NVH, going to be a better family hauler than either our R1T or MY. Great visibility except for longer hood than MY. Much easier to navigate than R1. AC wind/cabin fan was loud but it was very hot and humid today.

Austin had white, launch green, and CC. The CC looked great in person, darker than online pictures.

She said it feels like a truck in a good way, but she drives a MY and the only truck she has driven is my R1T... So I take that as it drives like a Rivian and not a Tesla.

She is sold, has picked out the design, and now we wait. Happy wife happy life.

 

[Mos Eisley]

Right - so got to drive last night for about 40 minutes. Count me in as one of the guys who said he'd bribe them to let me buy the demo right there.

LOVE LOVE LOVE it... we had perfect weather and as soon as I hit the 5X button and all the windows went down and the air rushed in, I was the happiest I've been behind the wheel in.... forever.

I had the Ratatouille flashback moment:

I now know what the R2 is: It's nothing less than the 21st century reincarnation of the International Travelall.



My Aunt Judy had a Travelall. Sitting in the way-back with the window down, hanging out the back window, heading to the lake, lunch on the tailgate were glorious times. The Travelall went everywhere and we were always happy in it. R2 is that same happy place.

I don't really have much to add about the drive that hasn't been said. The haptic wheels are, at least first time in the car, harder and more fiddly to use while driving. I recall Top Gear's complaints about flappy paddles when they first started coming to cars. Functions that you wanted were hard to use because they turned with the wheel. So muscle memory will take some retraining. I seemed to notice more while driving than while parked, that volume and fan speed control lagged more. I'm sure it will become more, um... dialed in over time.

Also- the frunk release button on the showroom demo and the one we drove was... inconsistent. It occasionally responded almost immediately, sometimes took five seconds, a couple of times not sure it wanted to respond at all. And I'll repeat it would be great to have an audible notice, a tock, chirp or beep of some sort. The button for the back window worked the same every time. My 5'7" wife had no issues closing the hood,; she liked the auto close at the end once she realized how it worked.

We drove on the AT 20's. All city driving. With the windows down over 40mph, there's a fair amount of road hum. When pushing it through the curves, the AT's audibly complained. I'm going to eventually schedule another drive when I can try the 21" Pirellis. For certain, whether going with the risky choice of the 21's or sticking with the 20's, I'm going to want all-season's on the R2.

Nobody needs the power this thing can lay down, but it makes you giddy when you step on it. Regen, even on low, felt aggressive to me but not in a bad way, just unfamiliar. I was learning to feather pretty quickly. Mashing the breaks was fine though obviously lacking the tactile feedback of mechanical breaks. Interesting watching the on-screen schematic, the R2 keeps it's bias towards the rear even through most of the acceleration and it feels like the regen is demanding more from the back end as well.

The ride comfort over bumpy pavement, even in sport mode, is really excellent. Very smooth and composed. Visibility and ride height are just right. My wife is slightly mobility limited and getting in and out for her was easier than her current CX5. We were on the freeway doing about 70 and she made the comment of the night: "We really are going to have a flying car in our lifetime."

Now just to get it in the driveway.

 

[cusetownusa]

I think it looks really small to me because my nearest demo drive is 250 miles away. really tiny from that distance.

what is this, a center for ants?

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