EVwire brief: The Rivian R2 has received overwhelmingly positive first reviews following media drives and early customer demonstrations that began this week. Across reviews from major automotive publications and first-drive impressions shared by owners and enthusiasts on X, reviewers largely agreed that Rivian successfully translated much of the R1's appeal into a smaller, more affordable package.
The first public drives of the R2 began after the media embargo lifted on June 9, with journalists testing the vehicle on roads and trails around Park City, Utah. At the same time, early demo drives began reaching enthusiasts and prospective buyers, creating a rapid stream of first impressions across social media.
Several prominent EV creators quickly published hands-on videos, the most notable of which include Out of Spec Reviews, Kim Java, State of Charge, Everyday Chris, and RivianTrackr. While each approached the vehicle differently, many arrived at similar conclusions regarding the R2's balance of practicality, capability, and value.
The timing matters for Rivian. The R2 is expected to become the company's highest-volume vehicle and is widely viewed as its best opportunity to expand beyond the premium niche currently occupied by the R1T and R1S.
This article is pretty long, so feel free to watch these videos from veteran EV reviewers first:
What professional and casual reviewers are saying
One of the most consistent themes across professional reviews was the R2's driving experience.
Top Gear's Alex Kalogiannis awarded the vehicle an 8/10 rating and praised its composure, writing that "the overall road experience with the R2 is very flat. It's smooth and even-keeled, and the going has to get very rough to properly upset the cart."
The publication also highlighted the combination of semi-active suspension and unibody construction, noting that it helped keep body motions controlled through mountain roads while maintaining comfort.
Car and Driver reached a similar conclusion. Reviewer Andrew Krok described the R2 as quiet and comfortable on pavement, stating that the vehicle delivered "a mighty smooth on-road ride" while remaining composed through corners and off-road terrain.
Autoblog's Cole Attisha also came away impressed, writing that the R2 felt "surprisingly nimble around tighter corners" despite its battery pack, all-wheel-drive system, and adventure-oriented mission.
The Rivian R2 is expected to be Rivian’s highest-volume seller
Several reviewers noted that the smaller dimensions and lighter feel make the R2 more agile than Rivian's larger R1 lineup, potentially broadening its appeal to mainstream buyers.
The positive reaction wasn't limited to professional reviewers. Here are some X posts form users who test drove the R2:
Taken together, the early reaction suggests Rivian has succeeded in creating a vehicle that appeals both to existing Rivian fans and buyers who may never have considered the larger R1 models.
Concerns include controls, software, and financing
Despite the overwhelmingly positive tone, reviewers did identify a few weaknesses. Rivian's new haptic "Halo" steering-wheel controls were described by InsideEVs as the biggest rough edge on an otherwise polished vehicle, noting occasional misclicks and a learning curve compared to traditional buttons.
The Autopian offered some of the strongest criticism, arguing that the R2 isn't as luxurious, quick, or off-road capable as the larger R1S. The publication also pointed to HVAC performance concerns during testing and limitations in extreme off-road scenarios.
Rivian started the mass production of the R2 in April
Car and Driver noted some minor drawbacks as well, including the absence of smartphone mirroring support, some tire noise on certain surfaces, and the lack of a built-in shade for the panoramic glass roof.
Lease analyst Travis Ketchum also shared some concerns about the R2’s leasing program, which he noted could result in the R2 Performance costing $988 per month. This was echoed by other users, who noted that some configurations of the larger R1S can currently be leased for roughly $899 per month with incentives, which seems like a far better deal than the R2 Performance.
Some attendees at Rivian's first-drive events also noted that several software features available in current R1 vehicles will not be present when the R2 reaches customers. As per EV, features like Rivian Assistant, Climate Hold, Pet Mode, Google Casting, YouTube integration, SiriusXM, Camp Mode, and portions of Gear Guard functionality are expected to arrive later through software updates.
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