2026 Rivian R2 First Look

Rivian's five-seat SUV features big tech upgrades — and two gloveboxes.

Andrew Ganz | 

Mar 8, 2024 | 3 min read

Rivian

The new Rivian R2 broadens the automaker's reach and significantly lowers the cost of entry to its lineup. Inside, the new electric vehicle boasts five seats and has exterior dimensions roughly on par with an Audi Q5 or BMW X3, placing it squarely in the popular compact SUV segment.

Some important details about the 2026 Rivian R2 were recently released, including photos of the upcoming model.

Rivian

Rivian R2 Looks Like a Scaled-Down R1S

Stretching 185.6 inches long, the R2 is about 15 inches shorter than the company's R1S SUV and more than 30 inches shorter than the R1T pickup truck.

Stylistically, though, the R2 is clearly inspired by the R1S. It wears scaled-down sheetmetal similar to the R1 with carryover details such as the large vertical running lamps, blacked-out windshield pillars, and broad-shouldered side detailing. The tailgate features a roll-down rear window reminiscent of the kind offered in the Toyota 4Runner for years. The rear-quarter windows — those that look into its cargo area — vent outward, too.

Rivian

Inside, the R2 features some new ideas for Rivian — perhaps most notably two gloveboxes that deploy from beneath the dash. (By comparison, the R1T and R1S lack any glovebox.) A new steering wheel design with haptic dials controls the central touchscreen.

The R2 is a five-seat model with a three-passenger rear bench. All five seats can be folded flat for either cargo hauling or in-car camping.

Eleven cameras and five radar sensors combine with hardware upgrades to provide what Rivian says is an improved hands-off driving experience for the automaker's Driver+ driver assistance system. Driver+ is a so-called Level 2 system comparable to Ford's BlueCruise or General Motors' Super Cruise.

Three Powertrain Options for 2026 Rivian R2

At the unveiling, Rivian CEO R.J. Scaringe said the R2 will be available in three configurations:

• A version with a single rear-mounted motor and rear-wheel drive
• A version with motors mounted front and rear for all-wheel drive
• A version with a single front motor and dual rear motors

The R2 features a new battery type with upsized cells that the automaker says offers energy density improvements. Two battery sizes will be available, the larger of which Rivian estimates will offer more than 300 miles of range on a full charge. Using a Level 3 charger, Rivian estimates the R2 will be able to charge from 10% to 80% in less than half an hour.

Notably, the R2 will come with a charging port using the North American Charging Standard, which was developed by Tesla and recently shared with any automakers who wish to use it. This means the R2 will be able to use the Tesla Supercharger network.

The quickest of the three available powertrain configurations will run from zero to 60 mph in "well under 3 seconds," Scaringe said during the unveiling.

Rivian

R2 Will Cost Around $45,000 to Start

Rivian says the R2 lineup will start at around $45,000, which will likely buy the base rear-motor version. The company is now taking $100 refundable deposits on its website. That base price makes the R2 about $30,000 cheaper than the least-expensive version of the larger R1S, though it's worth noting that the larger model comes only in a dual-motor configuration.

Production is set to begin in the first half of 2026 at Rivian's Normal, Illinois, assembly plant. Rivian has not announced how much versions with extra motors will cost, nor has it stated whether there will be any optional trim levels or features.

Andrew Ganz

Andrew Ganz has had cars in his blood ever since he gnawed the paint off of a diecast model as a toddler. After growing up in Dallas, Texas, he earned a journalism degree, worked in public relations for two manufacturers, and served as an editor for a luxury-lifestyle print publication and several well-known automotive websites. In his free time, Andrew loves exploring the Rocky Mountains' best back roads—when he’s not browsing ads for his next car purchase.