R1S vs R2 = Tier 1 Luxury vs Entry Level EV?

[ENVErider]

I have the 2025 R1 S tri motor and also have a reservation for the R2. I have the same concerns that you have expressed that a vehicle that will cost approximately 70% of the cost of the larger vehicle can be equal in luxury or performance. What will help me decide whether I trade down to an R2 will be what is available on the R1 as compared to rhe R2 in 2027 when my lease is up. For instance, the range difference between the R1 and R2 is meaningful will lthat somehow change, will there be a larger battery that will a avaibke and what upgrades will be available in the R2. I think that if Rivian wants to move R1 owners into an R2 they will need to introduce upgrades to the R2 minimizing the difference in range, performance and features.

Respectfully, your expectations for the R2 and Rivian's goal may be unrealistic. Rivian has never said they built the R2 to move R1 drivers into it; they built it to compete with the Model Y and others looking for an everyday affordable "mass-market" EV, ideally many R2 buyers will be first time EV buyers. When comparing it against the MY, the world's best-selling model, I think they have built a better vehicle, so while some compromises were made, like charging performance, its still the most anticipated release in 2026.
I'm not sure where you arrived at 30% reduction. Yes, it is apples and oranges, but the R1S base model is over 40% more than R2 base and the full trim quad($127,490) is more than twice the top tier trim LE R2 ($60,990).
There's nothing wrong with wanting to keep your R1S; I'm an early reservation holder too, and I can't be certain I'll be willing to let go of my beautiful, amazing truck with its air suspension and off-road capabilities. I view my own indecision as evidence of how awesome the R1 is, not how mediocre the R2 is. Whatever I decide to do, I know that I will be in a rivian next year and beyond. Maybe you've just convinced yourself that you want to keep your R1S; almost anything may feel like a step down.

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[Zathras]

I've only owned Ts, and have seen R2 close up twice. The R2 interior is a little less qualify than R1, but certainly not a Hyundai quality comparable vehicle either. The most striking difference in person is how much smaller the R2 is. It is Subaru Forester or Honda CRV size. Take out the air suspension & a little quality on the interior and you have a much less expensive vehicle. According to my Rivian engineer neighbor the R1 suspension is $17,000/vehicle more than a standard fixed suspension.

That is interesting and pretty much convinces me not to switch from my R2 reservation to a used R1. That suspension is going to be a bugger to repair, as compelling as it is.

 

[MizunoRunRun]

This is an interesting thread.

We had the opportunity to sit in an R2 this past weekend at the Nashville space and was quite impressed with the interior. Very comfy, the screens appear to be 4K from a display aspect. Super crisp, responsive...loved it.

Just my humble opinion, but I do agree with others...not sure if I would use 'luxury' as an adjective to describe a Rivian.

We have test driven a Gen 2 R1s dual performance and a Tri...slate sky interior. While both are impressive, the vibe is a nice interior with impressive acceleration with the ascend interior more polished than the adventure. Interestingly we also just had the opportunity to sit in a pre-owned 2026 Tri storm blue/slate sky with 4k miles just the other day. Seats were not as comfy as the original demo model we drove but ride quality was great.

The car dealer had several other dealerships nearby so we test drove a '26 EX 90 (interior nicer in quality than the R1S however tech/touchscreen was meh....hated the heads-up display...had a jello type feel when turning but the ride was very smooth)

We then headed down to BMW and test drove a '26 iX...never had driven one before and wow, talk about luxury. SUPER nice interior and took off like a flipping rocket. Not a big fan of the exterior look but that ride is amazing.

We still will likely pursue our R2 reservation, especially since the iX is no longer coming to the US in the future (however the iX5 is one to keep an eye on in the next year or so). But if anything, test driving all these guys/sitting in them within 24 hours was super beneficial...highly recommend to do something similar if you live in an area where you may have the opportunity to.

 

[KineticKev]

I find this thread quite interesting also lol. I think some people have interesting expectations. As another said Rivian never announced the R2 to replace the R1S but as a new product it has generation enhancements which will obviously make its way to the R1's. There is also a clear price difference that has to equate to a small cost savings in luxury. Air suspension is clearly a luxury. Decisions like not putting the designed texture in the side of the headrest of the R2 like in the R1's is a cost savings that's more of a visual effect of luxury than an inferior material. I'm sure some seat bolstering and soft touch material will be a little less but some materials will generally be less due to it being a smaller vehicle.

An Audi A6 will have less luxury than an A8, a Mercedes E class will be less luxurious than an S Class, etc so I would expect the R2 to be no different in comparison to the R1's yet they all maintain a level of luxury within its price class.

 

[zakool21]

For reference, the 2026 iX starts at almost $76k, which is $20k more than the R2. And that's a very low trim iX.

 

[BCondrey]

Good lord we hear this all the time... "A $100K luxury vehicle such as the R1S should be like...". Nonsense. We don't buy R1 vehicles because they are "luxury". We buy them for what they are. The best in their class. It doesn't mean they are luxury. We pay extra for stuff we appreciate (although we may never use) like off-roading, water-fording, and environment-appreciating.

 

[ENVErider]

Good lord we hear this all the time... "A $100K luxury vehicle such as the R1S should be like...". Nonsense. We don't buy R1 vehicles because they are "luxury". We buy them for what they are. The best in their class. It doesn't mean they are luxury. We pay extra for stuff we appreciate (although we may never use) like off-roading, water-fording, and environment-appreciating.

Well said; I don't care about status or luxury; I appreciate that I have a truck that can quietly take me safely through a blizzard, or up a rugged road to the top of a mountain, run my kitchen while I camp, get better every month with OTA updates, and just being awesome at so many things from hugging curves to crossing creeks.
I don't get all the fuss about the R2 not being an R-1 like luxury vehicle; it was supposed to be the everyman's car that competes with the MY, not a R1S with a row of seats removed. It reportedly provides exactly the same autonomy features, and having spent weeks in M3/MY, the R2 appears to be a huge step up in luxury. And nearly all configurations fall under $60K; sometimes this forum can be a tough crowd to please.

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