The new Rivian R2 wants to be your best friend

Rivian is finally showing off a car that more people can actually afford. The company held a press event where it revealed its newest prototype, a midsize SUV called the Rivian R2. This vehicle is a huge deal for the brand that, until now, has been known for making very expensive trucks and SUVs that cost as much as a small house. Now, Rivian is going for the "mass market." If you have been waiting for an electric SUV that looks cool but does not break the bank, this might be the one.

The Rivian R2 looks a lot like its big brother, the R1S, but it has gone on a bit of a diet. It is about 15.45 ft long, and as a result, it's much easier to park in a normal garage or on a busy city street. The R2 looks like a rugged box on wheels, but it is actually very similar in size to the popular Tesla Model Y. Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe says this car is the key to the company's future. He does not want Rivian to be a boutique brand; he wants to build a giant company that changes how we drive.

One of the most exciting things about the Rivian R2 is the price tag. Rivian says the SUV will start at around $45,000. That is a big price gap from other models, which often cost over $75,000. Of course, the first models to hit the streets in 2026 will likely be the launch versions with more features and higher prices. Still, having a starting price under $50,000 puts Rivian right in the middle of the fight for the best EVs on the market.

The R2 version that journalists tested during the press event has two electric motors that deliver a combined 656 horsepower. It also has 609 lb-ft of torque. That is enough power to make the car accelerate to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds. Even though it is built with families in mind, it can definitely move like a sportscar. Rivian also promises that it will travel about 300 miles on a full charge, which should be plenty of range for a long weekend trip to the mountains.

Charging the Rivian R2 looks to be relatively quick, too. The company claims the battery can go from 10% to 80% in about 30 minutes thanks to a new 400V system. Other electric cars use even faster 800V systems, but 30 minutes is still fast enough for a coffee break and a quick stretch. The test version of the car had a battery pack that held about 87.4 kWh of energy.

Inside the car, things look very different from a traditional SUV. Rivian has removed almost all the physical buttons. Instead, you use a large touchscreen and two scroll wheels on the steering wheel called "Halo Wheels." These wheels click like a computer mouse and let you control things like the music, the air conditioning, and the driving modes. The software chief at Rivian says buttons are old-fashioned because they can only do one thing. With the Halo Wheels, the car can get "smarter" over time through software updates.

Even though the new R2 is smaller and lacks the fancy air suspension of the more expensive R1S, it still loves the dirt. It has a ground clearance of nearly 25 cm, which is more than enough for most trails. During test drives, it handled dusty hills and rocky paths with ease using its "All-Terrain" mode. Because it is lighter and sits lower than the R1S, it also feels more stable when taking corners on the highway. It seems Rivian found a way to make a car that is both comfortable for the school run and tough enough for a camping trip.

The wait is almost over. The first R2 variant, featuring dual motors and all-wheel drive, launches this spring.

We’ll be sharing full details—pricing, options and more—on March 12. That’s just 4 weeks and 2 days from today. But who’s counting?

*Prototype vehicles shown. Final… pic.twitter.com/YB59GLEXG8

— Rivian (@Rivian) February 10, 2026

Building this car was a massive engineering task. To keep the cost down, Rivian simplified everything. The Rivian R2 uses about 4 miles less wiring than the early R1 models. It also has half as many parts, which makes it faster and cheaper to build in Rivian's factory in Normal, Illinois. This efficiency is exactly what the company needs to survive and grow. By making the car simpler, they can pass those savings on to the buyers while still offering high-tech features like advanced cameras and sensors for automated driving.

The world of EVs is getting crowded, but the Rivian R2 stands out with its unique personality. It does not look like a "blob" or a spaceship - it looks like a classic SUV that is ready for an adventure. With a planned release in the first half of 2026, many people are already putting down deposits to save their spot in line.

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