The Rivian R2 Reviews are Here!!! 656 HP, 609 lb-ft

[macb00kemdanno]

First reviews coming in

https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a70287174/2026-rivian-r2-prototype-drive/







R2 Battery Capacity Sizes Revealed

Abetterouteplanner, which is owned by Rivian, put up battery capacity figures for the R2.

Large Pack
Dual Motor AWD • 95 kWh

Large Pack
Tri Motor AWD • 95 kWh

Large Pack
RWD • 95 kWh

Standard Pack
RWD • 75 kWh

Standard Pack
Dual Motor AWD • 75 kWh

R2 Embargo / Reviews

Hat tip to Budman in the CNBC thread. But here's what know:

Inside EV's leaked that they test drove the R2 and that their content is coming "very soon."

Further leaks say that the embargo lift is February 10




Kyle from OoS is being coy, but he's probably driven it too, and has this to say on specs (which he obviously has, but can't talk about yet). If you don't want to sit through 30 mins of blabbering:

"It's not looking that good for R2 at the moment. It's looking a little bit weak sauce from the numbers."

He is saying that specifically in relation to the upcoming:

• Volvo EX60
• BMW iX3
• Mercedes GLC Electric

Likely, he's talking purely about battery chemistry/capacity, charging speeds, and range, which are the things he geeks out about most.

Hoping we can finally get some stuff on pricing and packages as well. Super exciting!!

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[Budman]

That battery capacity finding on A Better Route Planning might be a big nothingburger because there are battery capacities for R3 listed as well. All R2 and R3 capacities are listed is "estimate".

Wait for the actual specs......

 

[mkhuffman]

Rivian is building these to make money at $45-50k. The pack sizes in ABRP track with the need for lower cost, and track with range estimates provided previously.

300 miles of range from a 95 kWh pack is 3.2 mi/kWh. It is definitely a reasonable EPA efficiency number for the size and shape of the R2.

 

[macb00kemdanno]

Rivian is building these to make money at $45-50k. The pack sizes in ABRP track with the need for lower cost, and track with range estimates provided previously.

300 miles of range from a 95 kWh pack is 3.2 mi/kWh. It is definitely a reasonable EPA efficiency number for the size and shape of the R2.

Yeah, sounds about right with those numbers. And while it does seem a bit odd to list the R3/R3X capacities early, I seriously doubt the R3 has a wheelbase long enough to fit a 95 kWh battery. So it makes sense that it would have only one size option — the lowest available on the R2 — for commonality.

So yes, we should take this with a pinch of salt, but it does seem highly plausible.

 

[kurtlikevonnegut]

I understand it's their "schtick" but I think the weak sauce thing is missing the forest for the trees. For early adopters and enthusiasts stuff like peak charge and how long it can hold probably matter some. That's the R1 crowd. For the R2 audience I think it's mostly irrelevant. Ask an average Model Y or 3 driver what their peak charge rate is and how long it can hold it and see what they say.

For a mass market vehicle, things like charge rates are not nearly as important as how it looks and how it drives. Do people care in general terms about how long it takes to charge? Sure. Do most drivers of EVs probably wish their car charged faster? Probably. Is it a primary buying criteria for most drivers purchasing a mid-market EV? No. That doesn't mean it doesn't matter at all or that it isn't really important to some people. It just means that at this point I think most EV buyers or drivers acknowledge the fact that local driving with charging at home is more convenient than getting gas and driving long distances with public charging is less convenient than gas. Most if not all EV buyers or owners have accepted that trade off and the difference between 15 and 20 minutes just isn't that significant.

Until the much-acclaimed next generation battery evolution comes about that enables charge times in around 5 minutes to have near parity to gas, the skeptics who think EVs take too long to charge will not come around.

 

[mkhuffman]

I understand it's their "schtick" but I think the weak sauce thing is missing the forest for the trees. For early adopters and enthusiasts stuff like peak charge and how long it can hold probably matter some. That's the R1 crowd. For the R2 audience I think it's mostly irrelevant. Ask an average Model Y or 3 driver what their peak charge rate is and how long it can hold it and see what they say.

For a mass market vehicle, things like charge rates are not nearly as important as how it looks and how it drives. Do people care in general terms about how long it takes to charge? Sure. Do most drivers of EVs probably wish their car charged faster? Probably. Is it a primary buying criteria for most drivers purchasing a mid-market EV? No. That doesn't mean it doesn't matter at all or that it isn't really important to some people. It just means that at this point I think most EV buyers or drivers acknowledge the fact that local driving with charging at home is more convenient than getting gas and driving long distances with public charging is less convenient than gas. Most if not all EV buyers or owners have accepted that trade off and the difference between 15 and 20 minutes just isn't that significant.

Until the much-acclaimed next generation battery evolution comes about that enables charge times in around 5 minutes to have near parity to gas, the skeptics who think EVs take too long to charge will not come around.

Yes but I think range will definitely matter to R2 buyers.

If they really release it at $45k and 300 miles of range, it might be sufficient. If the price creaps up into ix3 territory, 300 miles of range is going to be a problem and hurt sales.

And range matters significantly to people switching from ICEVs to BEVs.

 

[Rade]

Do we know what the battery chemistry is being used in the R2?

 

[Gen(R3)Xer]

Yes but I think range will definitely matter to R2 buyers.

If they really release it at $45k and 300 miles of range, it might be sufficient. If the price creaps up into ix3 territory, 300 miles of range is going to be a problem and hurt sales.

And range matters significantly to people switching from ICEVs to BEVs.

I would assume that things have changed over the past (almost) 2 years since the R2 was revealed, but MKBHD did a video with RJ back in 2024 and here is what RJ said about the base model’s range when asked. The base model’s range will be under 300 miles. On the screen they then post 270 miles. This is on par with Rivian’s other standard model trims. Also if the ABRP’s numbers are to be believed (75kW battery) this makes sense. You can see this at 2:38 in the video.

 

[kurtlikevonnegut]

Yes but I think range will definitely matter to R2 buyers.

If they really release it at $45k and 300 miles of range, it might be sufficient. If the price creaps up into ix3 territory, 300 miles of range is going to be a problem and hurt sales.

And range matters significantly to people switching from ICEVs to BEVs.

Let's be honest though and acknowledge that "range" as it pertains to an EV is a nebulous concept that is highly interpretative. Every manufacturer uses different criteria for how they define it, and as long as the EPA estimate is in the same range as R1 I don't think it will affect sales.

I have been driving a Rivian for over 3 years and for that entire time my Rivian has had a "range" of over 300 miles. I can count on one finger the number of times that I've actually driven over 300 miles without charging.

 

[Gen(R3)Xer]

Do we know what the battery chemistry is being used in the R2?

Structural NMC batteries from LG (4695s).

 

[TexasBob]

I agree with Kyle that these specs, if they hold, are weak. Here is how I am betting they roughly stack:

$45k - 75 kwh RWD, ~260 EPA / ~230 hwy 70 mph range, 10% - 80% ~25 min
$50k - 75 kwh AWD, ~250 EPA / ~215 hwy 70 mph range, 10% - 80% ~25 min
$55k - 95 kwh RWD, ~320 EPA / ~285 hwy 70 mph range, 10% - 80% ~30 min
$60k - 95 kwh AWD, ~305 EPA / ~270 hwy 70 mph range, 10% - 80% ~30 min
$65k - 95 kwh Tri, ~280 EPA / ~255 hwy 70 mph range, 10% - 80% ~30 min

(Updated cost guess and fixed charge time cut / paste error)

 

[macb00kemdanno]

Let's be honest though and acknowledge that "range" as it pertains to an EV is a nebulous concept that is highly interpretative. Every manufacturer uses different criteria for how they define it, and as long as the EPA estimate is in the same range as R1 I don't think it will affect sales.

I have been driving a Rivian for over 3 years and for that entire time my Rivian has had a "range" of over 300 miles. I can count on one finger the number of times that I've actually driven over 300 miles without charging.

The counter to that is that you’re looking at things through rose colored glasses. The average buyer of an $80,000 to $120,000 R1S/R1T is going to be in a different income bracket than someone buying a $45,000 to $50,000 R2. This might be their only car. They might not have the luxury of having multiple vehicles to juggle between.

They might not have a two car garage with a home charger. They might live in a townhome or apartment without charging available, making them rely on expensive fast charging. These are cost factors that you need to consider.

Having a car that is more efficient, goes longer per charge, and has you sitting a public charger for a shorter amount of time could be seen as a plus.

I have charging at home, so I can just pull in the garage and plug in at the end of the day. But if I didn’t have that luxury, my calculus would change.

 

[kurtlikevonnegut]

I agree with Kyle that these specs, if they hold, are weak. Here is how I am betting they roughly stack:

$45k - 75 kwh RWD, ~260 EPA / ~230 hwy 70 mph range, 10% - 80% ~25 min
$52k - 75 kwh AWD, ~250 EPA / ~215 hwy 70 mph range, 10% - 80% ~32 min
$59k - 95 kwh RWD, ~320 EPA / ~285 hwy 70 mph range, 10% - 80% ~30 min
$65k - 95 kwh AWD, ~305 EPA / ~270 hwy 70 mph range, 10% - 80% ~30 min
$69k - 95 kwh Tri, ~280 EPA / ~255 hwy 70 mph range, 10% - 80% ~30 min

I think the prices will be lower and EPA estimates will be higher. Charge rates may be better but 25-30 minutes is probably about right. Even if you think that the charge rate is disappointing it shouldn't be at all surprising given all of the information available.

 

[Gen(R3)Xer]

I agree with Kyle that these specs, if they hold, are weak. Here is how I am betting they roughly stack:

$45k - 75 kwh RWD, ~260 EPA / ~230 hwy 70 mph range, 10% - 80% ~25 min
$52k - 75 kwh AWD, ~250 EPA / ~215 hwy 70 mph range, 10% - 80% ~32 min
$59k - 95 kwh RWD, ~320 EPA / ~285 hwy 70 mph range, 10% - 80% ~30 min
$65k - 95 kwh AWD, ~305 EPA / ~270 hwy 70 mph range, 10% - 80% ~30 min
$69k - 95 kwh Tri, ~280 EPA / ~255 hwy 70 mph range, 10% - 80% ~30 min

I’d take these ABRP numbers with a HUGE grain of salt.

There was a video that MKBHD did with RJ after the R2 was revealed back in 2024. At the time RJ said the $45K base model would have under 300 miles of range. In the video they flashed 270 miles on the screen. This seems completely believable, but the more expensive AWD model having even less range doesn’t make much sense to me. I don’t think they would put the smaller battery in that.

The launch model has already been confirmed as a dual-motor that‘s well equipped. I’d say that comes in at $55-$60K and has 300+ miles of range. That’s the sweet spot. I don’t think they’ll be able to squeeze a Max pack in this smaller package, but I could be wrong. I’d love to see a high-end model with 400+ miles of range, but they also don’t want to cannibalize R1S sales too much.

Dammit, they need to release the specs already. Hopefully the 2/10 official debut is real.

 

[kurtlikevonnegut]

The counter to that is that you’re looking at things through rose colored glasses. The average buyer of an $80,000 to $120,000 R1S/R1T is going to be in a different income bracket than someone buying a $45,000 to $50,000 R2. This might be their only car. They might not have the luxury of having multiple vehicles to juggle between.

They might not have a two car garage with a home charger. They might live in a townhome or apartment without charging available, making them rely on expensive fast charging. These are cost factors that you need to consider.

Having a car that is more efficient, goes longer per charge, and has you sitting a public charger for a shorter amount of time could be seen as a plus.

I have charging at home, so I can just pull in the garage and plug in at the end of the day. But if I didn’t have that luxury, my calculus would change.

My point is that the EV skeptics aren't diving in until charge times are well below 10 minutes, and for MOST buyers, the difference between 15 minutes 10-80% and 25 minutes 10-80% is far less important than how it looks and how it drives if they consider it at all.

Let's be honest about the target market for the R2. Rivian is not trying to convert masses of EV skeptics. Rivian is looking to take market share from Ford, Hyundai, VW, and mostly Tesla within the current EV market with non-EV drivers being on the margins.

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