Rivian reveals full R2 lineup and pricing, starting at $57,990 with a $45K RWD model coming later

The Tesla Model Y better watch out, because Rivian has officially revealed R2 pricing and specs for all trims of its upcoming midsize electric SUV. This morning, the American automaker outlined a lineup that immediately begins with a $57,990 Performance Launch model arriving this spring, while a more affordable $45,000 base version is planned for later.

As we’ve pointed out plenty of times in the past, a lot is riding on the success of the R2, Rivian’s smaller, more affordable encore to its R1 line of flagship SUVs and pickups. And for good reason. Nearly three years of anticipation have built enormous momentum and discussion around this new model.

The R2 could very well be the watershed moment Rivian has striven toward as a relatively young EV automaker. Similar to Tesla’s launch of the Model 3, which remains its most affordable option to date. We’ve spent years covering every little tidbit of new information about the Rivian R2, whether it’s targeted specs, expected pricing, or new images or videos, so we don’t need to recap its entire history.

Instead, I’m going to do a quick rundown of the most recent developments, which are some of the more sizable ones, as the American automaker has shifted ever closer to today’s official lineup reveal.

In mid-January, validation prototypes rolled off the Rivian R2 assembly lines in Illinois, with deliveries to follow soon. Less than a month later, those vehicles were completing validation testing, and we began seeing uncamouflaged units out on public roads.

Two days later, a select few media outlets (mostly content creators) were able to get behind the wheel of the R2 prototypes and share their first impressions. Spoiler alert: This SUV is already looking like it’s going to be a major hit in its segment. What we were missing from all these updates was the key metrics people always want to know: which trims of the R2 will be available and when, how pricing breaks down, and the detailed performance specs.

Well, my friends, the time has arrived, and all those questions have been answered, and I think you’re going to like what you see. I’m not going to make you keep scrolling to get to the Rivian R2 pricing breakdown (although there’s plenty more information below you won’t want to miss, including fresh images). The Rivian R2 will offer four trim options of varying performance and pricing:

That was just a taste; there’s plenty more where that came from.

The header says it all, and the feat marks Rivian’s proficiency at delivering on promises made years ago. There’s still time for that to change, which we will dig into later, but as far as R2 pricing goes, Rivian has been touting that $45,000 target for two years now.

Around that same time, Rivian founder and CEO RJ Scaringe said that $48,000 would be the R2’s “sweet spot” in pricing, setting the stage for the R2 as a bona fide contender against the Tesla Model Y and its current reign as the best-selling EV in the world. After seeing today’s pricing breakdown and R2 performance specs, the battle is most definitely on, and Rivian is coming out swinging.

Enough yappin’, let’s get you some more specs, yes? See below:

What do we think?

I personally think the R2 is a winner inside and out, especially for people who are interested in or even own the R1S but don’t need that third row (I’ve never put the third row up since I got it). The acceleration won’t wow anyone and is a fit slower than originally rumored (0-60 mph in 3 seconds), but it’s more than adequate. Let’s also remember that this is an SUV, and an off-road-capable one at that. Per Rivian, R2 offers a class-leading ground clearance of 9.6 inches.

As you saw above, the R2 will initially launch as the Performance trim. Here’s what that entails:

Additionally, the examples of this trim will also include an exclusive Launch Package:

After the limited-edition Launch Package is sold out, customers who opt for the Performance level R2 can still get add-ons such as Autonomy+ ($49.99/month or $2,500/one-time), a premium interior, and the tow package, but those will cost you extra.

There are many more details on how each Rivian R2 trim breaks down by pricing and features, but we’re focused on the Premium trim since its debut is imminent. You can learn more from Rivian directly.

One key spec not mentioned above is charge speeds. You’ll notice in the Rivian images that the R2 features an NACS port moved to the rear of the driver’s side, rather than the front driver’s side on the R1 models. That means you’ll probably have to back into charging spots, which is common for most models these days.

Per Rivian, the R2 can recharge from 10% to 80% in 29 minutes. I assume that stat applies to the top three trims, but I would like to know whether it will vary for the Standard RWD version, which will likely have a smaller battery when it becomes available in late 2027.

Speaking of which, Rivian is still touting that $45,000 price point, but as we know, a lot can change in 18 months. That’s still encouraging news, though many people, aside from the die-hards who want an R2 in their driveway this month, may consider holding out for the Standard RWD long-range for $48,490. That truly does feel like the sweet spot.

Pricing aside, the Rivian R2 introduces some cool new features, including a powered rear liftgate window, a fold-flat cargo floor in the rear, and class-leading interior space (40.4 inches of legroom and 40.4 inches of headroom). The frunk (seen above) is also noticeably smaller than in the R1, but is still more spacious than most other EVs.

With the launch of the R2, Rivian is also introducing three new exterior color options:

Other available options you’ve already seen on the R1s include Borealis, Forest Green, Glacier White, Midnight, and Launch Green (available exclusively to Launch Package customers).

While the dash of the R2 looks quite similar to its R1 siblings, Rivian has made some streamlined changes we’d like to point out. The most noticeable is probably Rivian’s new haptic “halo” dials on the steering wheel. Per Rivian:

These dynamic and context-aware controls—capable of scrolling, pushing, pulling and tilting—provide distinct physical responses for multiple functions, bridging the gap between digital software and tactile hardware to keep the driver’s focus on the horizon. Both the physical wheels and underlying haptic technology were designed in-house.

You’ll also spot some new textiles in the interior of the Rivian R2, depending on which pricing tier you choose. For instance, the Performance and Premium trims feature Birch wood accents in “Black Crater Signature” with the option to choose “Coastal Cloud Signature.” The standard trims feature a Black Crater interior.

On the tech side, the new SUV delivers 200 sparse TOPS (Trillion Operations Per Second) of edge AI compute for UX, enabling new features we saw at the December event, such as Rivian Assistant. That technology will also help power Autonomy+, as I mentioned above. As a refresher, Autonomy+ delivers Level 2+ hands-free assisted driving to 3.5 million miles of roads across the US and Canada.

On that note, there was zero mention of LiDAR in Rivian’s recent press release or R2 spec sheet. That makes sense, given that the immediate focus is on the trims hitting the market now (or in the near future). If you recall, Rivian said in December that it plans to integrate LiDAR into future R2 models, alongside its Gen 3 Autonomy computer, called the Autonomy Compute Module 3, or “ACM3.” Here’s a recap of all that tech from December’s Autonomy and AI Day.

For quick comparison, the ACM3 will deliver 1,600 sparse INT8 TOPS. I also want to clarify that Rivian’s Autonomy+ hardware will be built into every R2 and is just paywalled. The monthly or one-time fee is optional, and all R2 deliveries will include a complimentary 60-day trial of Autonomy+.

For those of you who like to get extra spec-y, here are all of the R2’s dimensions:

As briefly noted in the pricing table above, Rivian has shared the EPA-estimated range for its initial two R2 trims, as well as its own estimates for how far the Standard and Long Range versions will go. The 330-mile EPA range is right on par with its competitor, the Tesla Model Y, and more than adequate for an SUV of this size.

I was hoping to see a bigger jump in range from the Dual Motor to the RWD option with the same battery capacity, because 15 miles doesn’t exactly move the needle for me. That 345-mile estimate is from Rivian, too, so the EPA-certified range may come in higher in 2027 when that trim hits the market. We will see!

Conversely, I can more clearly see the argument to go with the premium trim of the R2 over the Long Range Standard with RWD. For $5K more, you get dual motors, more horsepower, and better features, and you’re only sacrificing 15 miles of estimated range… well, that and an extra $5,000.

I love my dual motors in the R1S in the winter, so that might be the (theoretical) dealbreaker for me (I’m not in the market for another SUV right now). What option would you go with? Let me know in the comments.

Last but not least, here is some footage of the R2 doing its thing. If you read past the pricing and specs of the R2 and made it this far, your reward is some exciting new b-roll from Rivian. Enjoy! Book your own R2 directly through Rivian, here.

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Scooter Doll is a writer, designer and tech enthusiast born in Chicago and based on the West Coast. When he’s not offering the latest tech how tos or insights, he’s probably watching Chicago sports. Please send any tips or suggestions, or dog photos to him at scooter@9to5mac.com