Rivian R2 First Impressions! Things are Heating Up! 

CORRECTION: All motor configurations *CAN* go over 300 options. The base $45K single-motor RWD version will have an estimated 270mi / 434km range. Shout out to @frescosmalls for calling that out! Here's the reservation link also - bensullins.com/r2

In MKBHD's video they mentioned the base R2 had a ~270mi range.

Whole heartedly agreed on all points. As a owner of MY LR and M3 LR, I cannot wait to get my hands on R2, and I am sure my daughter will be thrilled with R3/R3x as well. I too put deposit down for my R2. CEO just totally crushed it with presentation! Aside from the body design, workmanship, and luxurious interior material R uses are what separate R and the rest🧭

I didn't even know there is going to be an R2. If they can keep that price point, that will be phenomenal!

I like Rivian and RJ as the CEO! I own a R1T, but they won’t keep me as an EV owner until you tell me range 300 miles +, with recharge times of 20 minutes or less, 0-100%! I know there are videos and articles of EV batteries in testing and maybe close to market that improve recharge times, but until those batteries are in EVs in the market, I’m not thinking of an EV as my next purchase! I will gladly trade my home charging for trips to the gas station! I take many road trips and the charging times just kill me!

Wish it was here sooner :/ Thx for going and sharing, we appreciate ya homie

Just reserved my R2!

Same ordered one for wifey. And my R1T is perfect for my lifestyle.

The Toyota Rav4 I currently drive is the last ICE vehicle I'll ever own. I've wondered what EV I'd replace it with, and this may be it. Even camping for a week in Colorado, as I do every summer, I don't need a full-size SUV. I do need more than 200 miles of range, though.

1:17 Good direction with going with NACS charge port. But Rivian needs to put it on the LHD driverside

Great vehicle R2--- hopefully 7500 point for sale will still be in effect!🎉🎉

Looks like the charging port is on the opposite side from where Tesla places them? Do you think they will move to the other side to be more compatible with the Tesla supercharger network?

Big scroll wheels on steering wheel. Brilliant!. Nice design and great utility. I hope this would push Tesla to mode a Model Y2....

If you do get a chance to drive it, think about the controls. I have a minor physical ailment in that my right hand is not up to typing on a touch screen. Are there ways to operate the vehicle which do not require operating an iPad with right hand only?

Looks soo good! 🔥

SHEEESH.. Goood meeting you Ben! Let me know if you wanna get your hands on the Cybertruck for a review

Very cool that the R2 and R3 and R3X will all come with the NACS port. It's unfortunate that Rivian has the chart port on the right rear of all three vehicles. If it was on the right front or left rear, they would only take up one sport at a Tesla Supercharger instead of two like they would currently. I wonder if Rivian can change that before they start production?

good video Ben, as always..reserved my R2!

I like the R3. No price announcement on it. It looks like the VW GTI.

A detail I hoped Rivian would show in their new R2 which it sadly did not was a frunk lid that opened to the front bumper similar to the Ford F-150 lightning. To me, this is a HUGE missed opportunity. Yes, the current design as seen on the R1 series likely makes for better structural integrity and cheaper manufacturing. But I found that trying to load the frunk with a heavy object over such a high lift height is ridiculous. It's anything but back-friendly and requires a step stool making the frunk access almost useless. Perhaps with the lower height of the R2 this might be less of an issue but it's a head-scratcher that Rivian did not go in this direction. Another thing that worries me is the back hatch. The R1 has insanely expensive repair costs for rear-end collisions (the subject of a couple of different articles I have seen). While I do not have any details on why this is so, the look of the rear hatch in the R2 on the surface at least looks quite similar to the R1. I have no facts to back me here, but my fear is that the rear of the R2 could again require very expensive repairs in the event of a rear-end collision. It's issues like this which could could make for expensive insurance rates. That said, I do sincerely hope I am wrong. Ben, I would welcome your thoughts. Thanks for another great report.

In terms of using Tesla superchargers why do they have a charging port at the right side??

It’s cool for sure. I wonder how long it will take the aftermarket to create new badges for the dual motor spec that say R2D2 😂. I’m actually really excited about the R3!

Can you fit 4’ x 8’ plywood?

One more note from the @electrek interview with RJ. He says the supercharger cable will reach because the port is in the corner versus the side. I still want to see it tho

I think the R2 defines Rivian future design language , I agree , this will change Rivian and grow sales substantially.

R2 and R3 are awesome! But there is still a market for pickups and 3-row SUVs. They will still sell well.

Thanks Ben and that new R2 is yummy!!! By the way, your audio sounds so good here. Mind telling me which mic you're using?

For the R2, the back seat windows go all the way down? My dogs need to know!

Any word on potential tow capacity?

The only thing you need is a long breath...delivery by mid June 26 (if everything goes as planned).

This should sell very well. I am Tesla owner with an S and 3 in my garage. I’m not an SUV guy, but if I was one, I’d buy the R2 in a heartbeat. Or maybe the R3. Well thought out, better quality and materials than my 3, and access to Tesla supercharger network. 👍👍👍

When did you heard that all models will be over 300 miles ?

I'd like to see the hood shorter and the cargo increased in the rear; but overall it's awesome

300 miles plus really is the sweet spot. 🤙

Thoughts on them putting the NACS port on the wrong side? So they can't actually use Supercharger V3 either, unless they take up 2 parking spaces. What a ridiculous oversight! I'm most excited about the R3X, that's my kind of vehicle for sure!

I'd like to see a R2T vs the X and other distractors

i WANT one!!! but i'm skeptical that the price will stay at $45k....

Would be poetic justice to fund the purchase of the R2 by selling one of the Tesla Roadsters promised to you.

Ben - are you planning to replace your R1T with the R2?

Ben - a year or so ago you offered a review and asked yourself if you would go Rivian again knowing what you know now…And you said no, you’d go with the Ford truck. Was that just limited to the truck line? Or is the R2 strong enough (without Car Play?) to overcome your earlier concerns ?

I couldn't be more disappointed that they didn't announce an R2T... what a bummer

Does it have a tow package?

Adaptive suspension, ventilated seats, ambient lighting?

Love the R2, R3 and R3X options, and now Canoo is claiming a $35k utility wagontruck. The prices are dropping.

Charge port is in the wrong location for Tesla Superchargers, otherwise this looks like a great design

I think its ridiculous that they are hard stuck on the this 300 miles range. I want to buy one for work and drive a ton.

45 k... in 2 years in not 45 k now. All brands are announcing lower price *future* EVs because they anticipate lower battery prices. So it is a bit optimistic to say that 45 k will be a huge advantage for Revian.

Is the charger on the wrong side 🤦‍♂️

45k sounds nice, but I don’t think they will be able to sell it that low

They gotta stop with the all glass roofs (unless there's a sun-shade, but it didn't look like it). That's an instant hell-no here in TX.

Apple CarPlay or Android Auto?

My guess is it will be around 700-750hp and weigh around 5000lbs

they did everything great until they showed the charge port location. Thats a deal breaker for me and I think its a deal breaker for alot of people. Its a road trip vehicle. why make it difficult to charge at super chargers. That in itself just blows my mind they didnt think that was important enough to do. I hope they change it before production. if not I wouldnt touch there products with a 10 foot pole.

Things

Prototype is easy, mass production is hard. Rivian is almost banckrupt. They need a lot of money to put R2 and R3 in the market at a decent price. I gave them max 10% to succeed this

I wish Tesla would make any one that uses there network put it on the right side

Apple should buy rivian

They one upped Tesla with the 4695 battery!

You'll be trading in come Q1 2026, Ben, I'm sure of it!

V2 SC don't work either

The $7500 tax credit would be perfect to offset the max pack battery cost up front

Seat comfort and long trip comfort as I’m 77

First of all the starting price won’t be the starting price when the truck comes out. Haven’t we learned from Tesla yet. They certainly have. Lots of hype on the quotes starting price “wow so exciting! But guess what? Not gonna happen that way no way know how but hey, they sucked in the hype and good for all of us, the starting price, wow.

Yes but not available till 2026, by then it will cost US$10k more just like Cybertruck pricing.

This truck is beautiful. Tesla and the big 3 has a real problem on there hands with this vehicle. Gm is stupid for not buying rivian right now with the cash flow they have this would give them a shot against tesla. Especially how cheap rivian stock is right now its a bargain for gm.

I just bought a bunch of stock. I can hold for 2 years no problem.

Estimated delivery begins 2026 :(

And the response to this amazing news is another big decline in their stock price😂😂😂😂

I don’t want to be Debbie-downer, but I just don’t believe the R2 will ever be that cheap, assuming they are still in business to even see it to fruition. Rivian is selling the R1S and R1T for around $100k and it’s still losing money. Tesla is selling Model Y’s for around $45k and it has huge advantage on volume and it’s a much more stripped-down vehicle. Not to mention, this size cross-over is already saturated with every car manufacturer having a BEV in this space. R2 isn’t going to be even selling for another 2 years. Rivian investors are only going to tolerate these losses for so long.

No more TESLA now ????

I think you have some info wrong. They said every trim would be capable of 300 miles, but it’s clear the $45k one won’t be 300 miles. You’ll need the large battery for that. Also they never mentioned the tax credit, so the $45k could be with the tax credit included.

Ben, R2 looks great, but do you genuinely believe Rivian will be around in long enough to even deliver? Their financials are awful and it’s a huge disincentive to purchase a car from a car company on the ropes.

It’s over for Tesla

2 years might as well be vaporware. That is so long that anyone that wants one will have likely moved on to something else. These Silicon Valley startups raise money off of these “releases” and then use the money to build it 2 years later. Sketchy, but now legacy automakers are doing the same thing.

Yep, cheapest and longest!

Fake Tesla fanboy 😂

The car is incredibly ugly. Who would drive it with those headlights? It’s like what Toyota did with the Prius… why make it weird and ugly looking? If you want to do different, at least do something out there like the cybertruck… acquired taste sure but for cybertruck it’s either badass or ugly, nothing in between.