Rivian made its name with big, pricey adventure rigs. The 2027 R2 takes that same attitude and packs it into a smaller two-row SUV. It also cuts the price enough that a lot more shoppers can finally join the club.
- R2 pricing starts at $59,485 for the launch model. It drops to $46,485 when a lower-range Standard version arrives in summer 2027.
- The top R2 Performance makes 656 horsepower and can hit 60 mph in a claimed 3.6 seconds.
- A unibody build cuts cost and weight, and the R2 still has 9.6 inches of ground clearance and up to an estimated 330 miles of range.
A Price Ladder Built for More Buyers
The R1S and R1T are great machines, but they’ve never been cheap. The least expensive R1S now starts at $85,165. Earlier this year, ahead of the R2 launch, Rivian also dropped its most affordable R1S, the Dual Motor Standard Pack, which started at $76,990.
The R2 lineup heads the other way. Four versions are rolling out over time, and each one costs less than the one before it. The first to arrive was the R2 Performance with Launch Package. It landed this spring at $59,485, including a $1,495 destination charge. After that, the plan looks like this:
- R2 Premium at $55,485, due later this year
- R2 Standard at $49,985, due in the first half of 2027
- Lower-range R2 Standard at $46,485, due in summer 2027
That last model would undercut the cheapest R1S by nearly $39,000. That’s a big gap, and it’s the whole point. Rivian is clearly hoping the R2 pulls in buyers who liked the brand but couldn’t stretch to an R1.
Smaller Body, Same Rivian Look
The R2 measures about 186 inches long, 78 inches wide and 67 inches tall, and it rides on a 115.6-inch wheelbase. It’s roughly 15 inches shorter than the R1S, which puts it at the compact end of the midsize crossover class. Squared-off edges, short overhangs and big wheels keep it looking like a Rivian, and there’s just enough fresh styling for it to stand on its own. Seating drops to two rows for five people, and for now it only comes as an SUV.
The biggest change is under the skin. The R1 models use body-on-frame construction, but the R2 is a unibody. That lowers cost and weight. It also limits off-road ability a bit and caps towing at 4,400 pounds. The upside is space. You get about 29 cubic feet of cargo room behind the second row and 79 cubic feet with the seats folded flat. There’s also a roughly 5-cubic-foot frunk up front.
Don’t expect the R1’s air suspension either. The R2 uses struts up front and a multilink rear setup with steel coil springs and conventional anti-roll bars. You’ll find that same layout on plenty of gas-powered midsize SUVs. Adaptive dampers still let it firm up or soften for different surfaces.
It’s still built to get dirty. With 9.6 inches of ground clearance, 32-inch tires and those short overhangs, it has a 25-degree approach angle and a 26-degree departure angle. That’s solid footing for weekend trail runs.
Plenty of Punch From the Top Trim
The R2 Performance puts one electric motor on each axle for all-wheel drive. Together they make 656 horsepower and 609 lb-ft of torque, usually split about 40/60 front to rear. Rivian says the R2 weighs around 5,000 pounds. In sport mode with launch control, it’s rated to hit 60 mph in 3.6 seconds and run the quarter mile in 11.3 seconds. Top speed is 130 mph.
You don’t need launch control to feel it, though. A quick jab of the pedal shoves you back into the seat, so merging onto the interstate or slipping into a gap in city traffic is easy. There’s so much passing power on the highway that triple-digit speeds can sneak up on you. The front motor can also disconnect to save energy. It happens so smoothly that early testers couldn’t feel the switch.
The Premium keeps two motors and the same 88-kWh battery pack as the Performance, and Rivian estimates about 330 miles of range for both. Output drops to 450 horsepower and 537 lb-ft, which is still enough to reach 60 mph in under five seconds. The R2 Standard also uses the 88-kWh pack but switches to a single motor driving the rear wheels, rated at 350 horsepower. A lower-range Standard rounds out the bottom of the lineup.
Who Should Put the R2 on Their Shortlist
If you’ve wanted a Rivian but the R1 felt too big or too expensive, keep an eye on the R2. It keeps the brand’s rugged style, quick acceleration and trail-ready stance in a smaller, more affordable package. Buyers who tow heavy loads or want air suspension and a third row should still look at the R1. Everyone else can pick a spot on the price ladder. Get the Performance if you want one now. If you’d rather save money and can wait, hold out for the Premium or Standard.
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