Rivian R2 (US) review

At launch, the top-tier $57,990 Rivian R2 Performance will be available. This one’s a dual-motor AWD set-up providing 646hp and 609lb ft of torque. This is also the only model with the semi-active dampers, which are integral to how smooth the utility vehicle drives, regardless of terrain.

The Premium trim is also a dual-motor AWD affair, though it lacks the higher-performance dampers and it’s shy a couple hundred horses in comparison, offering up 450hp and 537 lb ft. This model comes in at $53,990.

There are two versions of the Standard R2 slated for next year. These will be rear-drive-only, single-motor models, with 350hp and 335 lb ft. The differences being one will be a long range version, allowing for approximately 345 miles of range versus the 275 miles the non-extended range model is said to be capable of.

All models are powered by a 87.9kWh battery, save for the bog-standard model, which is all we know about it at this stage. Premium and Performance trims come with 330 miles of estimated range while the Standard long-range version is said to offer 345 of usable range, so Rivian says, anyway.

Which one should I get?

Right now, the Performance model’s hardware has us opting for that one, though we’re sure to change our tune once the R2 has more time to breathe, as its predecessor did. If that’s any indicator, things with the R2 will only get better.