Rivian R2 vs Ford Mach-E

[AlphaSnowbordergirl]

I don't get the whole cross shopping argument happening her. As someone who will probably never take the R2 off road or camp in it, ever, I am cross shopping the R2 or a sedan. Yes, they are two completely different types of cars. But I am also the only one driving it so I technically don't need a large car. It's just a "do I feel like getting apples, or should I get an orange today". I like both types of cars, but I will be choosing my car on what car speaks to me. Rivian as a company somehow speaks to me despite probably not being aimed towards this city dweller. R2 will be cross shopped even if what its cross shopped with whether sedan or crossover doesn't make sense to you.

Sponsored

 

[mkhuffman]

I don't get the whole cross shopping argument happening her. As someone who will probably never take the R2 off road or camp in it, ever, I am cross shopping the R2 or a sedan. Yes, they are two completely different types of cars. But I am also the only one driving it so I technically don't need a large car. It's just a "do I feel like getting apples, or should I get an orange today". I like both types of cars, but I will be choosing my car on what car speaks to me. Rivian as a company somehow speaks to me despite probably not being aimed towards this city dweller. R2 will be cross shopped even if what its cross shopped with whether sedan or crossover doesn't make sense to you.

I agree. I crossed shopped my R1T and my Mach-e. They couldn't be more different, but that is what I did. The R2 is much closer to the Mach-e in form and function than the R1T is, so of course people are going to cross shop them. I would.

 

[Vanillalite]

You are not alone, a fraction of the reservations for any vehicle get turned into orders except the hottest of the hot (Bronco, Maverick, Mach E initially). I would guess Rivian will be the same, 25-50% will convert the rest will get a refund like in your case, just get a refund you cannot transfer or sell your spot.

FWIW I reserved a Lightning, never ordered, 2 Broncos never ordered, Maverick Ordered, Volvo EV30 Never ordered, 2 R2's (We'll see), 2 Scouts (We'll See). Refunds from Ford and Volvo were easy. Rivian and scout should be as well. More of a price lock play for me, but will have some vehicle space open up in 2027, so I'll decide then once they deliver a lot of vehicles. Wouldn't grab an early Rivian or Scout if it was free, let someone else work out the bugs and there will be bugs.

Agree on this, and it’s something some people fail to take into consideration when wondering about delivery times. It’s less about how many people preorder on a whim, and more about how many people actually end up wanting/needing (or being able to afford) the vehicle when the time comes. Conversion rate on this kind of thing really matters.

Even in your hypothetical there is a big difference between 25% and 50% along with the stops in between.

Not counting that certain people will want certain motor types so you’re splitting it out even further.

 

[mkhuffman]

My wife and I agree, @mkhuffman - as long as one removes the horse from the vehicle....

(Wife was raised by picky car snobs, and it rubbed off a little bit....)

Not a Mustang? Many people agree with you.

 

[Great Gatsby]

Our '23 Mach-E still gets software updates, some of them adding nice new features or improving existing ones. They're definitely not Rivian-level updates, but the Mach-E also didn't have as many glaring issues right off the lot, either—a benefit, for now, of coming from an established car company. That said, I agree that the Mach-E is largely set, while the R2 should get regular updates for years. (I haven't driven a Lyriq, but I really like the Mach-E screen setup. In general, I prefer the vertical screen, which puts everything in easy reach of the driver.)


As for the OP’s post: As others have said, the R2 will be a small SUV while the Mach-E is a crossover. The Mach-E does have pretty good ride height and seating position for a car, but the R2 will be noticeably more upright. If you want an SUV, you’ll probably be happier with the R2; if you think you want a crossover, wait and see. Pay the $100 and test drive when it’s available


That said, some comments after living with a ’23 Mach-E for almost 3 years and a ’25 Gen2 Dual Performance for about a year:

• If the R1 is any indication, the R2 will be dramatically better off-road, but also just driving in snow, etc., despite the Mach-E having AWD.
• As others have said, the R2 will have more interior room and storage, though the Mach-E has a surprising amount of space for its size.
• If the R2 has the Gen2 R1 adaptive brights (please please please), they’re incredible.
• The R2 should have better cameras, better “smart” features, and just all-around more-advanced stuff. And it will continue to get better over time.
• The R2 should have faster charging.

• I can get a Mach-E service appointment in a couple days and have my car back the same day or (if it’s serious) the next day or two. If they need to order a part, they give me the car back and call me when the part is in. We’ve had three Rivian service appointments; each took 3 months to get, and the first two the vehicle was in the shop for 3-4 weeks, mostly sitting in a lot. (Our next appointment is coming up.) That said, Rivian is improving the service experience, and in high-Rivian-ownership areas like the Bay Area we’re starting to see appointment times shorter than 3 months out. They’re also opening a few new Service Centers here, so the hope is that by the time the R2 comes out, things are a lot better.
• “Better infotainment” isn’t as clear-cut for some of us. Not trying to dredge up the CarPlay debate again, but on the Mach-E, I use CarPlay 99% of the time (since HVAC controls are always accessible), and right now, with the features we have today, I find the actual infotainment-related driving experience better in the Mach-E. Apple Maps, Waze, etc. are far better than Rivian’s nav, even after the recent Google Maps update. (I have to use my phone on road trips because I can’t rely on the built-in nav.) I can also use many hands-free features Rivian doesn’t have, plus I can use things like my favorite podcast app, the MLB app, the Sirius app (which has many more stations), etc.
• Blue Cruise is currently better than Enhanced Highway Assist. It feels safer, lane changes are smoother, it disconnects less—it’s just a better experience. BUT Rivian’s system is improving steadily, and I expect the R2 to have better hardware than the Mach-E, so by the time the R2 debuts, <fingers crossed> Rivian’s should be superior.
• Mach-E premium audio is better than the “Premium” audio in our Gen2. I hope the R2 offers a premium system that’s better.
• The Mach-E’s build quality is much better. Everything feels more solid, from the exterior panels to the fit of doors to the lack of rattles when driving. I chalk this up to Rivian being a brand-new company still learning how to make cars (and using thinner panels to reduce weight on such a huge truck). So I expect it to get better by the time the R2 rolls out.
• The Mach-E has a sunglasses holder
  
  
  (Aside: I find it interesting that the OP’s range is only 220. We have a Premium Extended Range and we regularly get close to 300, even on road trips.)

I do several road trips throughout the year and anything further than 3 and a half hours is not worth taking the Mach-E. Even in the summer, getting 230 miles would be an impressive feat, and mind you, we are not driving 80 mph with the AC on blast. The charging times also leave a lot to be desired. In the winter, the range is downright atrocious. I did not notice my Rivian take that much of a range hit in the winters, and this is the Gen1 without the heat pump.

Honestly, my main complain is that. The range and charging speed of the Mach-E. I have found the Rivian range to be pretty reliable while the Mach-E can say 189 miles or 320 at full charge depending on its mood. I have also found the audio to be fine, though do I have a Gen 1 RIS (non-Meridian) so not sure how that fares compares to the Gen2. Build quality is mostly solid, and honestly quite impressive for a Ford. I have also found Bluecruise to also be fine, but certainly not to be worth paying for.

The Mach-E has proven to be a great and reliable commuter car for my wife. And as stated above, much of it is just fine. We got a good deal on one and made more sense than a lot of the competitors at the time. You bring a lot of good points about the Mach-E, mostly reminding me that service is readily accessible and who knows how Rivian will be faring in their service centers once the R2s come out. I can be patient with appointments, not sure my wife will do the same lol

 

[Great Gatsby]

Had a G1 R1S reserved. Drove a few of them before our order was up. Did not feel it was the right vehicle for a 2nd car for wife. Did not even consider an ICE vehicle. She had our R1T for a few months and said "I could never go back to an ICE vehicle". Looked around at the EV mix at that time. Found a Mach E PE GT. love driving the car. R1T is the beast and MME is the sporty fun car. Not that the R1T is not, just a different feel. We also have an R2 on order. Reserved while RJ was unveiling. When ours is ready we will assess what we like best and go from there. like the R2 as it smaller then R1s. We've seen and sat in the R2. For us it's more size wise a 2nd car feel.
my 2 cents.
To each their own.

At the time, I told myself to not even look at the GT trim as this would be wife's car and she didn't care for the performance. Now I can't help but feel like we should have just sprung for the GT. Seems like everyone who has it seems to adore their Mach-E much more than I do. I generally enjoying driving it when I get the chance, but certainly can't help but feel like its missing just that bit of extra oomph. Specially compared to my quad.

 

[mkhuffman]

At the time, I told myself to not even look at the GT trim as this would be wife's car and she didn't care for the performance. Now I can't help but feel like we should have just sprung for the GT. Seems like everyone who has it seems to adore their Mach-E much more than I do. I generally enjoying driving it when I get the chance, but certainly can't help but feel like its missing just that bit of extra oomph. Specially compared to my quad.

My GT didn't have MagneRide but to many it smooths out a fairly rough riding car. It didn't bother me, but my family always commented about how bouncy it was. That was even after replacing the rear shocks with Koni shocks adapted to the MME.

There is not much you can do with a conventional suspension when the travel is so limited. Putting the R1 at the lowest suspension height reminds me a lot of how my MME drove.

 

[Great Gatsby]

My GT didn't have MagneRide but to many it smooths out a fairly rough riding car. It didn't bother me, but my family always commented about how bouncy it was. That was even after replacing the rear shocks with Koni shocks adapted to the MME.

There is not much you can do with a conventional suspension when the travel is so limited. Putting the R1 at the lowest suspension height reminds me a lot of how my MME drove.

I drive my R1S, BMW M240 and my wife's Mach-E pretty regularly (sometimes all in the same day). A few software updates ago, I considered the R1S as having the worst ride. They did some magic though and the suspension on the R1S is probably the best now of the three, while the Mach-E might be the worst, and by far. It feels like it has gotten worse over time. It has become a lot more crashy and easily rattled. Car is under 20k miles. My wife has started to notice too. Next time we take it in for service we'll have it looked at, but seems to be a common issue with the ones that don't have the adaptive dampers that are exclusive to the GT model. I think if we had gone with the GT, I probably wouldn't even be considering changing it tbh, range and charging speed aside of course.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

I drive my R1S, BMW M240 and my wife's Mach-E pretty regularly (sometimes all in the same day). A few software updates ago, I considered the R1S as having the worst ride. They did some magic though and the suspension on the R1S is probably the best now of the three, while the Mach-E might be the worst, and by far. It feels like it has gotten worse over time. It has become a lot more crashy and easily rattled. Car is under 20k miles. My wife has started to notice too. Next time we take it in for service we'll have it looked at, but seems to be a common issue with the ones that don't have the adaptive dampers that are exclusive to the GT model. I think if we had gone with the GT, I probably wouldn't even be considering changing it tbh, range and charging speed aside of course.

Up until late MY24, R1S suspension was exactly the same (hardware-wise) as R1T. The problem was that suspension was tuned specifically to the T's longer wheelbase and inherent harmonics. This is why the S was more unsettled compared to the T. Supposedly late MY24 received same S-specific hardware and tune as MY25, that is tuned to the shorter suspension. The newer hardware can be retrofitted to older cars.

 

[ENVErider]

Apples and Oranges ... not the same class of vehicle for a valid comparison! The R2 is an SUV. The Mach E is a crossover.

Ditto, apples and oranges. Many people compare Teslas to Rivians because they are both software-based. However, even the high-end Model X falls short of Rivians in off-road capabilities and can't level itself in a camp setting, and it's much smaller than the R1 despite the similar length. The MachE is a great commuter, but these are two different vehicles.

 

[usulio]

I don't get the whole cross shopping argument happening her. As someone who will probably never take the R2 off road or camp in it, ever, I am cross shopping the R2 or a sedan. Yes, they are two completely different types of cars. But I am also the only one driving it so I technically don't need a large car. It's just a "do I feel like getting apples, or should I get an orange today". I like both types of cars, but I will be choosing my car on what car speaks to me. Rivian as a company somehow speaks to me despite probably not being aimed towards this city dweller. R2 will be cross shopped even if what its cross shopped with whether sedan or crossover doesn't make sense to you.

Ok if that works for you. For many, such a big investment as a car is based on what capabilities they need to use or at least want to use, and what price those are available at. If you are rich enough not to need to worry about that for your car (as most on this forum seem to be), imagine someone cross shopping a vacation home in the keys with a condo in aspen or something…

 

[Great Gatsby]

This forum took a strange turn. We already own a Mach-E. We ARE cross shopping it with the R2 when it comes out. Mostly because it will be different, not something that feels the same. If this is something other people aren't doing, then who cares? Strange cars get crossed shopped all the time as people try to see what fits their needs and wants. I was looking at a Lyriq while also considering the R1S. Are they similar? Besides being EVs, not really. Totally fine to compare different cars that each have different use cases.

All that to say, thank you to all who offered their insight as current Mach-E owners and those with rumor/knowledge on the R2. I'm leaning towards just making the reservation as others have said and seeing how it goes. Either way, I'm excited for it! RJ seems pretty pumped about its release and he makes it sound as if there is a lot we are not being told yet, so can't wait to get more details hopefully by end of year.

 

[AlphaSnowbordergirl]

Ok if that works for you. For many, such a big investment as a car is based on what capabilities they need to use or at least want to use, and what price those are available at. If you are rich enough not to need to worry about that for your car (as most on this forum seem to be), imagine someone cross shopping a vacation home in the keys with a condo in aspen or something…

My argument was that peole act like people cross shopping two complete different vehicles is strange when any vehicle can be cross shopped with anything. Even buying houses you could cross shop a small condo in the city or a larger house in the suburbs, both very different but may fullfill different needs or desires. Sure an SUV will allow me to easily go around with a dog, but a sedan will let me get more milage and fit in smaller spaces better. That is my argument. Different types of vehicles fullfill different needs and it is not strange to cross shop completely different options.

 

[usulio]

My argument was that peole act like people cross shopping two complete different vehicles is strange when any vehicle can be cross shopped with anything. Even buying houses you could cross shop a small condo in the city or a larger house in the suburbs, both very different but may fullfill different needs or desires. Sure an SUV will allow me to easily go around with a dog, but a sedan will let me get more milage and fit in smaller spaces better. That is my argument. Different types of vehicles fullfill different needs and it is not strange to cross shop completely different options.

Again, fine by me if that works for you. You'd said "I don't get the cross-shopping argument" and I'm just saying that lots of people have a specific budget and specific needs and only shop vehicles that fit those. For those people it's hard to understand doing it another way

 

[TimK]

It’s also quite ugly. Try as I may to like it, I just cannot.

As one who will not forgive Ford marketing for daring to call the Mach-E a Mustang. I think the Mach-E is a good looking vehicle.

Sponsored