Rivian built a smaller more affordable R2 and we flew to California to find out if it lives up to the hype
Published on Mar 12, 2026 at 7:13 PM (UTC+4)
by Alessandro Renesis
Last updated on Mar 19, 2026 at 9:19 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
We flew to Irvine, California, to test drive the Rivian R2, arguably the most important Rivian vehicle yet.
Rivian may not be a household name right now, certainly not globally, but the R2 could well change that.
It’s smaller than the R1, and maybe a little more suited for everyday use.
And the price will surprise you – keep scrolling to see what it is.
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Why the R2 is so important for Rivian
Making electric cars is expensive, and making them make money is tricky.
In addition, building EVs is a notoriously unprofitable business, which is why most electric car makers start with expensive, high-end vehicles and then transition towards affordable options.
That’s what Rivian did.
They started with the R1T and R1S, which are great, but definitely not for everyone.
The R2 is an everyday vehicle that – nearly – anyone can buy.
You might say it’s middle of the road.
The price tag is probably where it should be
Compared to the R1, the R2 is a bit more compact, designed to balance off-road capability with everyday comfort.
The R2 maintains the same angular styling of the R1, with Rivian’s signature LED lights and square silhouette, but it’s just smaller.
Spec-wise, you’ve got 300 miles of range, 656hp for the AWD model, and a 0-60 time of 3.6 seconds, which is pretty good.
The R2 is a daily driver, but it’s perfectly capable of handling off-road driving as well.
During our test, we drove from Irvine into the Santa Ana Mountains in California
And the Rivian R2 proved composed in the city and even more impressive on the trails.
And the best part is the price.
The R1 starts at over $70,000, but you can easily creep up to six figures with all the bells and whistles.
But the R2 ‘only’ starts at around $45,000.
It’s not exactly for everyone, but it’s definitely what you’d call ‘attainable.’
And the EV market certainly needs more affordable vehicles.
Particularly affordable vehicles that also happen to be quite good.
Alessandro is an automotive journalist with 10 years of experience covering supercars, automotive history, emerging vehicle technology, and luxury transportation. He wrote the first article published on SupercarBlondie.com when the website launched in 2022 and has since built a reputation for insightful reporting across the automotive and transportation industries. His expertise is grounded in hands-on experience. Alessandro has driven every Tesla model ever produced, from the original Roadster to the Cybertruck, and regularly covers the latest developments in electric vehicles and automotive innovation. His passion for transportation extends beyond cars, he has even flown a Boeing 787 Dreamliner simulator in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. His reporting spans everything from classic American muscle cars and rare automotive discoveries to luxury yachts, private aircraft, high-end watches, and cutting-edge vehicle technology. Known for his deep knowledge of automotive history and ability to uncover the stories behind iconic vehicles, Alessandro brings readers a blend of historical context, technical expertise, and first-hand experience.
