VehiclesSeptember 13, 2026

It doesn’t have to be Tesla all the time: The Rivian R2 emerges as an alternative to the Model Y

There is hardly any car class with more options, yet none suffer from as much uniform boredom as mid-range electric SUVs. The Tesla Model Y, once the world’s best-selling car, can be seen on every corner, and new models coming especially from China all share the same look. But now there’s finally some variety coming from America.

After Rivian already introduced the optimistic alternative to the dystopian Cybertruck with the R1T and R1S, this startup, also founded in California, is now targeting a smaller market with the R2 to compete against the Model Y, Ford Explorer, and BMW iX3. With its 4.72 meters in length, it is about half a meter shorter than its larger sibling, giving it the best chances of eventually making its way to Europe as well.

Electronics Foundation for Future VW Models

We will become familiar with the electronics architecture even sooner. This is because Jeff Bezos, who had an American company build him a customized Amazon delivery vehicle, is involved in Rivian. Moreover, since VW’s own software subsidiary Cariad has struggled to get off the ground, VW has also invested nearly six billion dollars in Rivian and their joint venture. There, the two companies are developing the electronic backbone for future VW models based on the American zonal architecture, aiming to start with the ID. Up next year.

Stunningly sharp graphics, intuitive menus on the screens, and charming “Halo” dials with haptic feedback are all part of this design concept. Additionally, there are two digital displays—one small in front of the driver and one large in the center—along with extremely fast over-the-air updates that bring new functions to the vehicle as well.

Image: Rivian

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And when the situation demands it and the budget allows, there’s also ample assistance: In the R2, eleven cameras with a total of 65 megapixels and five radar sensors not only provide perfect visibility while driving, turning, or parking but also free up the driver’s hands on the highway. Like Tesla or Cadillac, the R2 handles driving alone in such situations and only requires occasional attention from the driver as a formality. With one of the upcoming updates, this is expected to work well in urban areas as well.

Outdoor Features Instead of a Uniform Look

Although the city is home to the R2, its horizons lie far out in the wilderness. Rivian sees itself as the cool outdoor brand among car manufacturers — not as rustic as a Defender or a Land Cruiser, but always equipped with trail shoes and a functional jacket. “Wall Street meets Jack Wolfskin” is their motto, and it shows up in many details. These include the flashlight integrated into the driver’s door, which charges itself there automatically, as well as the key designed like a carabiner.

And while it lacks a gear tunnel under the rear seat like its larger sibling, the R1, at least the rear windshield can be fully retracted, allowing easy transportation of long items such as surfboards. This is complemented by a 147-liter front trunk, two glove compartments, and a surprisingly large trunk space for its class, with a capacity of over 2,000 liters at best.

Not to mention the ground clearance, which is particularly important for Rivian: the R2 boasts 24.4 centimeters of ground clearance, more than its competitors. It also features a 25-degree front slope angle, a 26-degree rear slope angle, and a 20.6-degree ramp angle. The water depth rating is 50 centimeters. Combined with driving modes such as All-Terrain, Snow, Sport, Soft Sand, and Rally, the R2 truly exudes a more off-roading spirit than typical urban drivers would expect.

At its core, the R2 is not a traditional SUV but rather a conventional passenger car. As such, it does not feature a ladder frame but uses an integrated battery structure as its platform, with a self-supporting bodywork built on top. This design creates space and helps reduce weight. With a length of 4.72 meters, width of 1.91 meters, and height of 1.70 meters, the R2 is a full-sized mid-class SUV, and its 2.94-meter wheelbase ensures the rear seat area above the low floor can accommodate two adults as well.

Even with adaptive dampers instead of air suspension like the R1, the R2 delivers a driving comfort that no Tesla Model Y can surpass, nor can a BMW iX3, a Volvo EX60, or a Mercedes GLC. It rolls smoothly and effortlessly even on Manhattan’s poor roads, while remaining wonderfully quiet inside.

Performance version leads the way

While the R1 sometimes appears like a colossus struggling to move due to its sheer power, the R2’s size and driving performance match well together—especially in the performance version, which is now launching in the US. Equipped with two engines, it delivers just under 490 kW of power and 826 Nm of torque, enabling it to reach 100 km/h in 3.6 seconds and often securing pole position when starting from a traffic light. The fact that its top speed is around 200 km/h doesn’t bother anyone, at least in the US. And who can know how things stand with high-speed driving here, since the R2 won’t arrive across the Atlantic until at least 2028?

The weaker performance at the charging station is a more significant issue. The battery, with just under 90 kWh of capacity, which now distributes its energy to external devices and the home battery via a V2L adapter, is still acceptable, and a range of 531 kilometers is manageable—even though competitors from Europe, often considered inferior, already achieve ranges of 700 kilometers or more. However, the fact that the R2 can only draw power from the grid at around 200 kW is at best standard today and will become a serious drawback in two years.

Image by Thomas Geiger

In addition to the performance version, Rivian is also planning three more variants. There’s a Premium model with 336 kW of power, a stripped-down rear-wheel-drive version using the standard battery as a Long Range option, and an entry-level variant offered at a discounted price. This version not only lacks a front motor but also features a smaller, unspecified battery. By doing this, the Americans lower the current starting price of $57,990 (about 50,000 euros) to a carefully calculated $44,990 (around 39,000 euros), putting it just 10 percent above the entry-level Model Y — except their car looks far more modern and doesn’t park at every corner.

Risks of Scaling Up Production

Now all that remains is to hope that Rivian doesn’t stumble on its path to growth and avoids the “production hell” Elon Musk faced with the Model 3 and Model Y. Otherwise, even the timeline could go awry, along with the already delayed European launch in two years. Moreover, the R3, clearly inspired by the Golf I, is already ready for export at a price of just over $30,000.

Perhaps they should at least send us a few R2 charging lids across the Atlantic by then. Rivian has indeed designed a labyrinth inside it that’s perfect for killing time while waiting.