If the R2 Launch Edition price is $54,999

[richguess]

Sounds about right, maybe a few thousand dollars more but I doubt it will touch $60k.

Even at $59,999 - it is a still bargain compared to the comp and specially ICE vehicles. You have supercar speed, good range, plenty of storage and modern tech. No one else is offering that combination at that price point. At least, not yet.

My buddy bought a fully loaded Hyundai Santa Fe for $55k. 0-60 in 7.2s and Hyundai's infotainment from a decade ago. No frunk, but a third row and Apple Carplay though! Jokes aside, you are not getting this performance in the ICE space sub $60k.

This should be a grand slam for Rivian. Their main issue, IMO, is brand awareness. I think once they are more comfortably a household name, we will see the R2 (and eventually the R3) everywhere.

No off road chops, but the Volvo ex60 is purported to have speed (more in the 4.4 0-60 range—plenty fast) better range (400 miles) and the obligatory tech. The R2 most def has more panache, I’ll be cross shopping the Volvo for its dealership system and range, thinking I’ll end up with the R2. But who knows?

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[Kachook]

How many offroad now other than some of the original R1T crowd? 2-4% at most? It's capable offroad but the brand turned into a mall crawl vehicle despite the PR spin.

I drove around the grassy excess parking lot area of our church yesterday. Oh,also, my kid had to pee really badly on an hour-and-a-half trip and we were on a two-lane country road in TX. We went off-road to get close to a tree for him to relieve himself. That incline was at least 18 degrees. See, we owners do take our vehicle off-roading. /s

 

[White Shadow]

Sounds about right, maybe a few thousand dollars more but I doubt it will touch $60k.

Even at $59,999 - it is a still bargain compared to the comp and specially ICE vehicles. You have supercar speed, good range, plenty of storage and modern tech. No one else is offering that combination at that price point. At least, not yet.

My buddy bought a fully loaded Hyundai Santa Fe for $55k. 0-60 in 7.2s and Hyundai's infotainment from a decade ago. No frunk, but a third row and Apple Carplay though! Jokes aside, you are not getting this performance in the ICE space sub $60k.

This should be a grand slam for Rivian. Their main issue, IMO, is brand awareness. I think once they are more comfortably a household name, we will see the R2 (and eventually the R3) everywhere.

The masses don't shop this vehicle segment for performance. Most couldn't care less about high performance in a smallish to midsized SUV. So I don't see that as a selling point when compared to ICE vehicles. That said, I do agree that range is quite important when it comes to EVs, not so much ICE. So hopefully 300+ is a reality. I'd rather see a minimum of 400 miles so that 300 could be realistic on a winter highway road trip.

 

[Great Gatsby]

No off road chops, but the Volvo ex60 is purported to have speed (more in the 4.4 0-60 range—plenty fast) better range (400 miles) and the obligatory tech. The R2 most def has more panache, I’ll be cross shopping the Volvo for its dealership system and range, thinking I’ll end up with the R2. But who knows?

I am very interested in the Volvo EX60 but the main concern with it is when it will end up stateside and how competent the software would be when it does. I really like the look and luxury of the Volvo and Polestar vehicles, but they've made a name for themselves with software woes. Same thing could happen with the R2, but I'm less concerned with Rivian's software given my experience with the R1 *knock on wood*.

There is also going to be a cross country XC60 trim for something more adventurous, so that will be interesting to compare against the R2. The issue for Volvo would be timing, as for them, like many others, are hesitant to keep throwing EVs at the U.S. (and understandably so).

 

[Great Gatsby]

The masses don't shop this vehicle segment for performance. Most couldn't care less about high performance in a smallish to midsized SUV. So I don't see that as a selling point when compared to ICE vehicles. That said, I do agree that range is quite important when it comes to EVs, not so much ICE. So hopefully 300+ is a reality. I'd rather see a minimum of 400 miles so that 300 could be realistic on a winter highway road trip.

"The masses" are shopping a Toyota or a Honda, and if feeling adventurous, a Kia. People keep posting in this forum that most people don't care about performance but in reality, I can think of a bunch of dads who would love a faster option for carpool duty lol it being a performance bargain is a selling point, specially at under $60k. Not the main one, but one that I think people keep overlooking. Me personally, the best option under $60k a few years back for a "performance" SUV was a Ford Explorer ST. Had an R2 with these specs been out at the time, it would not have been a question (well the space in the Explorer was nice to have).

Reading between the lines, 300 miles seems to be the minimum for range for the R2, which I think is acceptable. I don't see the R2 reaching 400 miles, but who knows. And honestly, range (as long as its not sub 300) doesn't seem to be that big of a selling point either. Otherwise, I'm sure we would see more Lucids out there. People want a good all around package. The R2 seems to a do a very good job at that and I think it will sell well for all that it has to offer.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

"The masses" are shopping a Toyota or a Honda, and if feeling adventurous, a Kia. People keep posting in this forum that most people don't care about performance but in reality, I can think of a bunch of dads who would love a faster option for carpool duty lol it being a performance bargain is a selling point, specially at under $60k. Not the main one, but one that I think people keep overlooking. Me personally, the best option under $60k a few years back for a "performance" SUV was a Ford Explorer ST. Had an R2 with these specs been out at the time, it would not have been a question (well the space in the Explorer was nice to have).

Reading between the lines, 300 miles seems to be the minimum for range for the R2, which I think is acceptable. I don't see the R2 reaching 400 miles, but who knows. And honestly, range (as long as its not sub 300) doesn't seem to be that big of a selling point either. Otherwise, I'm sure we would see more Lucids out there. People want a good all around package. The R2 seems to a do a very good job at that and I think it will sell well for all that it has to offer.

Volvo says all the problems are behind them with the new operating system and computer. Once journalists get hands-on, we'll know about those claims. As for the Japanese car companies... they're just not serious about BEVs. Any product they put out now and the immediate future are nothing more than half-hearted stop-gap measures—to maintain a certain level of relevancy and to prevent a small number of their customers from defecting to other brands. One thing is clear, legacy offerings are and won't be as software-defined as cars from pure EV companies. They claim their EVs are bespoke, and frest from-the-ground-up. That's only a half-truth. From strictly business POV, it's more efficient use of capital to share as much as possible between their ICE and EV products. For years Ford insisted theirs were totally new. Now they admit it was spin.

Kia & Hyundai have done well with their EVs, but I'm willing to bet most of those customers are first-time EV owners. The sort who wouldn't gamble with a new/unproven brand. And they don't know what they're missing (against cars that receive regular updates and evolve to be better products after purchase). For them, it's a safe choice, just like their previous dependable ICE car; but runs on electricity. These may just be OK cars in reality. And the majority of professional reviews confirm it. But, for these owners, with no first-hand experiences to contradict their personal truth, the OK "appliance" is great because it works as advertised.

 

[Great Gatsby]

Volvo says all the problems are behind them with the new operating system and computer. Once journalists get hands-on, we'll know about those claims. As for the Japanese car companies... they're just not serious about BEVs. Any product they put out now and the immediate future are nothing more than half-hearted stop-gap measures—to maintain a certain level of relevancy and to prevent a small number of their customers from defecting to other brands. One thing is clear, legacy offerings are and won't be as software-defined as cars from pure EV companies. They claim their EVs are bespoke, and frest from-the-ground-up. That's only a half-truth. From strictly business POV, it's more efficient use of capital to share as much as possible between their ICE and EV products. Kia & Hyundai have done well with their EVs, but I'm willing to be most of those customers are first-time EV owners... the sort who wouldn't gamble with a new/unproven brand. And they don't know what they're missing (against cars that receive regular updates and evolve to be better products after purchase). For them, it's a safe choice, just like their previous dependable ICE car; but run on electricity.

Hit the nail on the head with the Kia/Hyundai and EV products. I had an EV9 for a brief stint of time. Because I sold it so quickly, people think I hated it. I didn't, on the contrary, it was a great car. I did want an EV though, not an electric gar car. The EV9 was a gas car made electric. Don't know why they didnt just offer an electric Telluride tbh, because that is how it felt. I'd still recommended it for anyone transitioning from ICE to EV. Anyone going from a Tesla/Rivian/Lucid will be sorely disappointed by the software and app integration. Even my wife's Mach-E was a better implemented EV, and it was 2 years old at that time! The Koreans sure know how to make a good car, just not a great EV at the moment.

As for the Japanese, Toyota revealed 3 new EVs and I think they will all do moderately well. Not because they are great, but because people trust the brand (to a fault IMO). If Toyota is doing an EV, they must be doing them right and they must be reliable! At least, that is how some people must be viewing it.

I do think some legacy manufactures are reading the tea leaves and gearing up for better EVs. GM hasn't cancelled any EVs (yet) and sounds like they studying how to improve them in the future. Ford, while disappointingly canning a ton of EV projects, seems to be headed in the right direction with their universal EV platform. The BMW iX3 seems to be a huge step in the right direction for BMW as well - and they did promise it would software defined. The aforementioned Volvo EX60 sounds like a similar story for Volvo.

All that to say, I wouldn't discount legacy manufactures entirely. They are arriving late to the party, but better late than never IMO.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

GM hasn't cancelled any EVs (yet)

But they have. https://electrek.co/2026/01/23/chevy-bolt-ev-never-got-chance-gm-flips-to-gas-cars/. All legacy brands have a lot of catching up to do. Some are more awake than others. And to be successful, they have to do a lot more than catch up if they want to regain leadership status. Otherwise, they're just merely surviving. What's holding them back is the very same reason they are afloat enough to fight another day. Like all business organizations, it's the faction within the company that brings in profits that has power of control. So for them, even if they admit EVs are the future, it's the ICE faction that brings in the lion's share of profits today. And it's the faction that has power.

 

[richguess]

I am very interested in the Volvo EX60 but the main concern with it is when it will end up stateside and how competent the software would be when it does. I really like the look and luxury of the Volvo and Polestar vehicles, but they've made a name for themselves with software woes. Same thing could happen with the R2, but I'm less concerned with Rivian's software given my experience with the R1 *knock on wood*.

There is also going to be a cross country XC60 trim for something more adventurous, so that will be interesting to compare against the R2. The issue for Volvo would be timing, as for them, like many others, are hesitant to keep throwing EVs at the U.S. (and understandably so).

Allegedly late summer arrival. I have an Audi Q8 Etron with 22k miles that is warrantied until 1/28, so I’m thinking if I went with the Volvo I’d do what I did with the Audi and let someone else take the first depreciation hit. 2 years in, the $80k Audis are sub $40k.

 

[VegasWeezy]

The launch edition will be $55,999 + $2000 (Destination) for a total of $57,999.

• There will be free paint upgrade options,
• free connect +
• and possibly a wheel upgrade for free.
• Also some unique LE badging.

That's my prediction. They have to do something extra special to kick this off right...in particular for those on the fence about lidar.

This would be acceptable, assuming it has a bare minimum range of 320 miles.

Under 320 miles of range would be an embarrassment for a large/max battery pack.

And the price needs to be under $60k including paint, interior and wheel options for this to be a success.

Price and range seem to be the two most important factors to the average consumer. Other factors like 0-60mph times, off-road capabilities, and LiDAR/autonomy are nice, but they are not the drivers of mass sales.

 

[Mos Eisley]

Hit the nail on the head with the Kia/Hyundai and EV products. I had an EV9 for a brief stint of time. Because I sold it so quickly, people think I hated it. I didn't, on the contrary, it was a great car. I did want an EV though, not an electric gar car. The EV9 was a gas car made electric.

What makes you say that? The EV 9 is an E-GMP engineered ground up just as the EV-^, The Ioniq 5/6 etc.

 

[Great Gatsby]

What makes you say that? The EV 9 is an E-GMP engineered ground up just as the EV-^, The Ioniq 5/6 etc.

Not to detract too much from the topic of this thread, but here is my experience:

From the hardware side, a litany of buttons (I know people view these as a plus), a small frunk and no real sub trunk area was a head scratcher for a vehicle of its size. Semi-related but the charge port is also arguably in the worst place to put it - the passenger rear side. From the software side, much biggest list. inconsistent PAAK, slow/irresponsive app and the same software as the Telluride which also includes infrequent (mostly bug fixes) updates. Nothing that sounds like too an terrible experience, but when you add it all up, you just start to wonder why you spent so much more when you could have just gotten a Telluride. I know it was a ground up EV, that is why I was said it would have made more sense to just use the same chassis as the Telluride and just add the electronical components, like BMW did with the 4 series and i4. GMP platform vehicles do not feel like ground up EVs. Obviously a matter of opinion, but these feel more akin to ICE than EVs, and I do think that was intentional.

 

[tpberding]

(320 mile, 650hp, no lidar), how do you feel? Good for us and for Rivian?

I guess it depends on how the LE is configured at that price. If it looks and feels like an R1S in terms of quality of materials and interior design, the price seems right.

 

[DuoRivian]

Hit the nail on the head with the Kia/Hyundai and EV products. I had an EV9 for a brief stint of time. Because I sold it so quickly, people think I hated it. I didn't, on the contrary, it was a great car. I did want an EV though, not an electric gar car. The EV9 was a gas car made electric. Don't know why they didnt just offer an electric Telluride tbh, because that is how it felt. I'd still recommended it for anyone transitioning from ICE to EV. Anyone going from a Tesla/Rivian/Lucid will be sorely disappointed by the software and app integration. Even my wife's Mach-E was a better implemented EV, and it was 2 years old at that time! The Koreans sure know how to make a good car, just not a great EV at the moment.

As for the Japanese, Toyota revealed 3 new EVs and I think they will all do moderately well. Not because they are great, but because people trust the brand (to a fault IMO). If Toyota is doing an EV, they must be doing them right and they must be reliable! At least, that is how some people must be viewing it.

I do think some legacy manufactures are reading the tea leaves and gearing up for better EVs. GM hasn't cancelled any EVs (yet) and sounds like they studying how to improve them in the future. Ford, while disappointingly canning a ton of EV projects, seems to be headed in the right direction with their universal EV platform. The BMW iX3 seems to be a huge step in the right direction for BMW as well - and they did promise it would software defined. The aforementioned Volvo EX60 sounds like a similar story for Volvo.

All that to say, I wouldn't discount legacy manufactures entirely. They are arriving late to the party, but better late than never IMO.

The Toyota/Subaru EVs are broadly competitive, especially for the price. The bZ Woodland which is essentially a wagon and its sister Trailseeker start at $40k and are dual motor, 280 miles and a 4.1 as tested zero to sixty. Decent space. Dashboard is not to my liking but I can see it doing well as it is well made, spacious, good ride, reasonable efficiency and likely reliable.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Riviantrackr says R2 will have 5G connectivity instead of 4G LTE.

Rivian’s R2 Will Be Among the First Vehicles to Launch With Next-Gen eSIM Technology

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