Electric vehicle company Rivian has introduced its next-generation SUV, the R2. Built on a new platform featuring single-, dual-, and tri-motor electric drive systems, the new 2026 Rivian R2 is a compact SUV with seating for five people and a base price of $45,000.
Equipped with a new battery, Rivian says every R2 will exceed 300 miles of driving range, and the most potent version of the SUV will accelerate to 60 mph in less than three seconds. The new R2 also boasts a new electrical network architecture for improved onboard technology, and Rivian promises a hands-free and eyes-free Level 3 advanced driving assistance system (ADAS).
Reservations for the 2026 R2 are open on the Rivian website. Plans call for the SUV to start rolling off the automaker’s Normal, Illinois, assembly plant by the summer of 2026.
If you know what a Rivian R1S looks like, then you know what a Rivian R2 looks like. The family bloodline is unmistakable but shrink-wrapped around the R2’s new, smaller platform.
Rivian says the R2 is 15.7 inches shorter than the R1S and a little more than 5.5 feet tall, making it easy to park in a garage and maneuver in tight spaces. Viewed side by side, the size difference between the R1S and the R2 is immediately apparent.
Exterior design highlights include rear quarter windows that pop out and a rear window that powers down into the tailgate to give the R2 an open and airy feeling when driving with the windows down. Rivian also says it has developed a line of accessories for the R2, including a rooftop tent, bike racks, and campsite equipment the SUV can power when you’re adventuring.
Rivian focuses on sustainability inside the R2, with materials made from ocean plastic and upcycled wood. The company’s clean, uncluttered interior design themes make the compact R2 seem larger inside than it is, and a panoramic glass roof gives the SUV an airy feel.
Digital instrumentation and a widescreen infotainment system showcase the data and details, and two large thumbwheel controls on the steering wheel provide haptic feedback as the driver cycles through screens and menus. In response to feedback from owners, the new SUV features not just one glove box but two, providing plenty of in-dash storage. There is also more storage in the door panels, along with Rivian’s signature integrated flashlight.
Under the hood, the R2 provides a sizable front trunk (frunk). Behind the power liftgate, there is more cargo space, though not as much as the larger R1S. However, the R2 offers something you won’t find on the larger Rivian: fold-flat front seats that make it easy to camp inside the SUV with an inflatable air mattress.
Rivian R2 buyers will choose between three different electric drive systems. At the entry-level price, the SUV has a single electric motor powering the rear wheels. A dual-motor setup with one at each axle provides all-wheel drive, more power, and quicker acceleration. The tri-motor model adds a third motor at the rear and is the version of the R2 that screams to 60 mph in under three seconds.
Regardless of the layout, each Rivian R2 will provide more than 300 miles of driving range on a fully charged battery. Unfortunately, Rivian did not expand upon these details, so expect horsepower, torque, recharging times, and efficiency ratings closer to the SUV’s arrival in 2026.
Rivian says the R2 features a new electrical network architecture with greater computing capability to power improved technology.
In addition to the compact digital instrumentation panel, the R2 features a landscape-oriented widescreen infotainment system containing most of the SUV’s features, functions, and controls. Over-the-air update capability will allow Rivian to keep the system fresh in the future.
Regarding safety, Rivian pointed to the crash-test ratings of its R1T pickup truck and R1S SUV as proof of its dedication to protecting its customers. The inference is that Rivian engineered the new R2 to do the same.
In addition, thanks to the SUV’s new network architecture, five radar units, and 11 cameras, Rivian is promising the R2 will offer a hands-free and eyes-free Level 3 ADAS.
Initially slated for production in a new Georgia assembly plant, delays with the facility mean Rivian will launch the R2 from its existing Normal, Illinois, factory. The company expects to make the first customer deliveries during the first half of 2026.
The Rivian R2 will compete with other compact electric SUVs when it goes on sale. There are plenty of them, and the biggest seller is the Tesla Model Y. However, the R2 will also target every similarly sized and priced alternative, from the Acura ZDX to the Volvo EX40 (the renamed Volvo XC40 Recharge).
Something tells me Rivian’s rivals ought to worry.
Rivian is the source of information in this article. It was accurate as of March 7, 2024, but it may have changed since that date. Always confirm product details and availability with the automaker’s website or your local dealership.
Christian Wardlaw is a veteran automotive journalist with nearly 30 years of experience in test-driving vehicles. In addition to JDPower.com, his work has appeared in numerous new and used-car buying guides, newspapers, and automotive industry trade journals.
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