Engadget Reviews the Rivian R2: A Mid-Size Electric SUV Priced Under $60,000
Engadget has rated the Rivian R2, a mid-size electric SUV from the US maker, 9 out of 10. Power, range and a roomy cabin are praised, while the voice assistant is still unavailable.
Tech website Engadget has published a review of the Rivian R2, a mid-size electric SUV from US automaker Rivian, and scored it 9 out of 10. The R2 reached roads this year as the company's third EV, following the R1T pickup (2021) and the three-row R1S SUV (2022). Reviewer Sam Rutherford calls it "just right": not too big and not too expensive. Pricing starts under $60,000, and can be lower depending on specification.
Design and interior
The R2 borrows design cues from the R1S: a boxy body, flush door handles and the brand's pill-shaped headlights. It has a 5.2 cubic foot front trunk with a drain, and a rear hatch with a retractable window. Behind the second row, the cargo area offers about 30 cubic feet. The cabin is 185 inches long, the same as the reviewer's Ford Mustang Mach-E, yet the R2 felt roomier to him. The main display measures 15.6 inches and the driver's display 11.5 inches. He notes small flaws too: a special tool is needed to remove the rear headrests, and there is only one wireless charger, on the driver's side. He also regrets that the R2 lacks a design trait of its own.
Technology
Rivian uses its own in-house infotainment system, without Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. Maps are powered by Google. Music and other services require a Connect+ subscription, at $15 a month or $150 a year. The Rivian Assistant voice assistant is not yet available on the R2; the company plans to add it before the end of the year.
Driving
The R2 Performance has 656 horsepower and goes from 0 to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds. A dual-motor R1S offers 533 horsepower and 4.5 seconds. The R2 weighs around 5,000 pounds, compared with 6,600 to 7,100 for the R1S. The reviewer adds that the suspension is on the firm side. The base model will not arrive until next year.
