New Rivian R2: everything we know about Europe-bound electric SUV
Rivian has revealed the first details of the R2, a new mid-sized SUV that’s coming to Europe.
The R2 is poised to challenge the Tesla Model Y, Volkswagen ID.4 and BMW iX3, and is pitched as a capable five-seater designed for “big adventures and everyday use”.
Rivian is most famous for creating the world’s first electric pick-up truck – the R1T and also sells the R1S seven-seat SUV in the US. Now, it is expanding into the smaller SUV segment and going global with the R2 and R3.
The R2, R3 and performance-focused R3X are based on a new platform which Rivian says builds on its experiences with its larger models. The platform consolidates and removes parts for a simpler construction and uses a structural battery to form part of the vehicle’s floor, saving weight and space.
The R2 will offer a choice of three motor setups. There will be an entry-level rear-wheel-drive option, a two-motor all-wheel-drive and a three-motor setup using a single front motor and two rear-mounted units. That version will go from 0-60mph in less than three seconds.
Rivian hasn’t quoted any numbers but says the R2 will come with a choice of two batteries, the larger of which will return more than 300 miles of range. That’s presumably under the US’s tougher EPA testing, which makes it comparable to a Tesla Model Y. Rapid DC charging will allow a 10-80% top-up in under 30 minutes.
The R2’s styling clearly borrows its front end from the R1, with the almost cartoonish upright LED headlights and full-width light bar. Behind that, the R2 is a boxy SUV with appealing smooth, simple lines.
Rivian says the interior is designed for ease of use, with premium quality sustainable materials that are easy to clean. All the seats fold completely flat to allow it to carry plenty of cargo or even act as a camping base. As with the rival Fisker Ocean, owners will be able to open all the windows, quarter lights and drop the rear tailgate glass to “invite the outside in”.
At 4.71 metres long, the R2 is roughly the same size as a Model Y but has a longer wheelbase. Rivian says there is an “extreme focus” on rear passenger legroom, as well as what it describes as ample sized boot and frunk, plus additional interior storage.
“Our R1 flagship vehicles served as our handshake with the world – with R2 and R3 our obsessive goal is to stay true to Rivian’s product attributes while making our products accessible to a lot more people,” said Rivian chief design officer Jeff Hammoud. “Through a tight integration of hardware, software and human-centered design, we designed R2 by balancing form with function, while building on our inviting and iconic design language.”
The R2 will support over-the-air updates to upgrade and add features and Rivian says it will bring dramatically improved driver assistance, with 11 cameras and five radar sensors for assisted driving systems.
The R2 is scheduled to go on sale in the US in early 2026 priced from $45,000 (£35,000). International sales will begin shortly after. Rivian plans to bring the R2 to Europe which, hopefully, means we’ll see it on UK roads in 2027.
