GoKawiilRivian may be all in on robotaxis and autonomy, but it’s still got human drivers — and EV buyers — to win over. The pricey R1S SUV and R1T pickup brought Rivian A-list media attention and cult-hit status, but the company faces a critical next step. The 2027 R2 is Rivian’s bid for mainstream success, scaled-down but not dumbed down.
We drove a R2 Performance model from the streets of Park City, Utah, into Wasatch Mountains’ twisties and then off-road trails, an idealized triathlon for the do-it-all driving that Rivian intends for its adventure-minded customers. In its newly attainable price range, the R2 proclaimed itself as a class of one: a muscular electric SUV that’s legitimately capable off-road, but whose technology and sheer ingenuity feel a full generation ahead of anything from legacy automakers.
That dual-motor R2 will meet buyers beginning June 9th, starting from $59,485 in “Launch Package” form, with up to 345 miles of range. That compares with R1S models that range between $79,000 and $124,000, out of reach for many people who’d otherwise long to own a Rivian.
That price will dip as low as $46,485 for a single-motor Standard version — but not until summer 2027 — with 350 horsepower and a roughly 275-mile driving range. Don’t bother marking your calendar: A Standard Long Range appears an easy choice for $3,500 more, boosting range to about 345 miles, enough for another critical hour on highways before a recharge. That version should arrive earlier in 2027. If you can’t wait until then, a dual-motor R2 Premium will ask $55,485 for 450 horses and up to 330 miles of EPA-estimated range, arriving later this year.
Rivian says the R2’s autonomy stack will add hands-free, point-to-point driving to its Universal Hands-Free (UHF) system by year end. The company will charge a one-time $2,500, or $49.99 a month, for that “Autonomy Plus,” versus $99 a month for Tesla’s competing Full Self Driving (Supervised). The Launch Package includes Autonomy Plus for the vehicle’s lifetime.
I say no rush. The R2 is too good to let the robots have all the fun.
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