Rivian announced on Thursday that its crucially important third model will go on sale this spring. The R2 midsize SUV will be available for just under $60,000 with 656 horsepower and is rated at 330 miles of range. However, the much-advertised $45,000 version of the electric SUV won’t be available until the end of 2027.
The California-based electric SUV and pickup truck maker announced at SXSW that the first R2 model, the R2 Performance, would go on sale in spring with the highest power rating, two electric motors, all-wheel drive, and a blistering 3.6-second 0-60 mph estimate. A Tesla-style NACS charging port will also be included on R2s rather than relying on an adapter for Supercharger and other CCS stations, as the Rivian R1 models do.
A Launch Package will also be available on the R2 Performance for a limited time and include options like a towing package to boost capacity to up to 4,400 pounds, a special green exterior paint color, and Rivian’s new Autonomy+ advanced driver assistance system for the vehicle’s life. It’s noteworthy that Rivian is making Autonomy+, which it detailed in December, optional on other R2s as a $2,500 one-time fee or $49.99 a month, unlike Tesla, which is going toward a subscription-only model.
All-terrain, off-road tires, other paint colors, and wood interior trim are other extra-cost options on the Performance.
The lower-priced, lower-powered R2 Premium goes on sale toward the end of this year for about $55,000. Horsepower goes down dramatically to 450, but the range stays the same, as does most of the standard equipment.
It won’t be until next year, though, that the R2 will get closer to the price of popular Tesla Model Y variants when the Standard version goes on sale for just under $50,000. You lose an electric motor and power goes down to 350 horsepower, but range goes up slightly to 345 miles. A dual-motor, all-wheel drive setup with 450 horsepower will be an option on the Standard, though the front seats won’t be ventilated, the rear seats won’t be heated, and the stereo will have fewer speakers.
Since the first prototype was shown in 2024, Rivian has promised an R2 that will go for around $45,000, but that’s being pushed off until next year. Details are being kept under wraps; apart from that, it’s targeted to have a 275-mile range.
And a year is a long time in the EV landscape, especially right now. Rivian’s been clear it’s not going after mainstream brands like Hyundai and Toyota (or, until yesterday, Honda), but upscale, established brands are rolling out similarly sized EVs with significant range promises, like the Volvo EX60 that also goes on sale this spring with as much as 400 miles of range. There’s the unpredictability of not just the EV market, but the automotive market in general, tariffs, inflation, and chip shortages.
Ballooning gas prices and being the new kid on the block could boost early R2 sales, though. And Rivian is ramping up to grow from a very niche brand with few service and sales locations in anticipation of having a vehicle with wider appeal. But it’s increasingly clear in these unpredictable times how important the R2 is for a still-fledgling EV company.
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