PARK CITY, Utah – Rivian promises one breakthrough feature after another with its new 2027 R2 compact electric SUV, which just went on sale for prices starting at $57,990.
The five-passenger R2 is a make-or-break vehicle for Rivian, the ambitious EV specialist that burst upon the world with a contract to build electric Amazon delivery vans and the R1T and S luxury electric midsize pickup and SUV.
In addition to EV performance and efficiency, the R2 aims to be the vehicle that delivers artificial intelligence into consumers’ daily lives.
Friendly, helpful AI, that is. AI that drives your kids to school and remembers anniversaries, not the apocalyptic, robot assassin kind.
The R2 has a lot riding on it, and the little SUV mostly delivered as I drove from pampered Park City Utah over highways, past grazing land, over knife-edged rocks and up goat paths to 8,500 feet in the Wasatch Mountains.
Rivian execs say the most notable AI features will be delivered to R2s via over the air updates later this year, but the SUV debuts with plenty of goodies to keeps its owners happy until then.
2027 Rivian R2 drive modes
How big, how fast and how much?
The R2 competes with five-passenger compact electric SUVs like the BMW iX3, Cadillac Optiq, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Lexus RZ and Mercedes EQE.
It stacks up well on paper. Its 115.6-inch wheel base and 185.9-inch length land it in the middle of that pack.
There’s plenty of passenger and cargo space, along with useful cubbies for bottles, cups, wireless device charging and the other conveniences buyers expect.
Also per usual, the R2 hits the road with the top trim level called Performance, which leaves no box unchecked on its way to the $57,990 Launch Package. All prices exclude $1,495 destination charge.
A motor for each axle gives the R2 Performance full-time all-wheel drive, admirable traction control when off road, 565 horsepower, 609 pound-feet of torque, 330-mile range on a charge and 3.9-second 0-60 mph time.
The R2 Performance Launch Package is on sale now.
Rivian will populate the model line below it over the next 18 months or so. A 450-hp AWD Premium model should be available for $53,9909 in late 2026.
Early 2027 sees the 350-hp AWD Standard model with a 345-mile range.
Those three trims all have a 87.9 kWh lithium-ion battery. All figures in this column regarding charging and other performance apply to it.
Late 2027 should see the arrival of a 350-hp rear-drive Standard model with a smaller battery.
2027 Rivian RS trim levels and prices
Note: All prices exclude $1,495 destination charge
Source: Rivian
At home on highways and high country
The R2 Performance I tested is competitive with all comparable electric SUVs for price, performance and comfort.
It almost certainly leaves them in the dust for off-road capability, based on an hour-long scramble over trails that see more ORVs and mountain bikes than SUVs with hands-free highway driving, ventilated seats and 975-watt audio systems.
The ball’s in your court, Jeep. I await your response eagerly.
Back on paved roads from resort villages to pastures and hills that haven’t yet been paved to accommodate the 2034 winter Olympics, the R2 is fast, smooth and quiet.
A “semi-active” suspension delivers a smooth ride on the highway and absorbed ruts and
The steering is precise and responsive on-road, but adjusts for painstaking rock-climbing and deep ruts off-road. The steering response and feedback are linked to drive-mode settings, so you don’t saddle yourself with darty, autocross response when you need more play picking your way through a rocks, limbs and other debris.
Rivian doesn’t offer hill descent control or trail-control for other tricky terrain.
Features like that are in the works, but the twin electric motors’ precise control and prodigious torque output provide all the control anyone with a modicum of off-road experience will need for all but the most demanding, technical conditions.
2027 Rivian RS Performance launch package key features
Wake up! Your car got smarter last night
The R2 launch package includes adaptive cruise control and a hands-free system to handles curves and surrounding traffic. It won’t initiate lane changes to pass or for other maneuvers on its own, without driver input, so it’s not the most sophisticated system on the road.
Yet. Rivian engineers say over the air updates coming this year should give the R2 the most advanced self-driving system on the road, though it will still require the driver remain engaged in case they need to take over.
An update this summer should allow the system to respond to traffic lights, stop signs, intersections and other events.
Rivian plans an update for “point-to-point driving” late this year — buy which they basically mean, you get in the R2, point and say “Take me there.”
Point-to-point requires a several major steps from Rivian’s internally developed AI system: a virtual assistant to handle spoken commands and queries and the ability to process everything from neighborhood traffic to highway in city-center driving.
The goal is for the system to handle anything that arises, as long as street margins and signs are visible. Effectively: self-driving in all but the worst conditions.
Even before that arrives, the virtual assistant constitutes a big step for Rivian. It sat on the sidelines so far while other automakers fitted vehicles with everything from Google and Siri virtual assistants to Mercedes and Toyota’s branded “Hey Mercedes!” and “Hey Lexus!” assistants.
Range and charging time
The R2 Performance and Premium have 330-mile EPA-rated ranges.
The AWD R2 standard boasts a Rivian-estimated 345-mile range. Those three all have an 87.9 kWh battery that can charge at up to 230 kW, going from 10-80% in as little as 29 minutes.
The RWD R2’s undisclosed battery promises a Rivian-estimated 275-plus miles.
The R2 has a standard NACS charging port.
Interactive route-planning software is built into Rivian’s system to ensure efficient DC fast-charging stops on long drives.
What could be better with the Rivian R2?
The Rivian R2’s roof consists mostly of a long single glass pane over both rows of seats.
Somebody must love this layout, because it’s widely used, particularly in EVs.
I’m not a fan.
Automakers insist the glass is treated so sunlight doesn’t overheat or dazzle occupants. That’s not my experience. The overhead sun warmed me more than I liked and light from overhead snuck between my sunglasses and eyes.
A fabric shade would address this.
Rivian also is committed to touch-screen and flat-panel controls in lieu of buttons and dials.
On the plus side, when you get all your preferences set,the R2 remembers them, from seat position to where you like the vents aimed. A minus: It’s a pain if you want to adjust almost anything while driving.
I find the system pretty good, but it’ll drive some folks crazy, and I can’t say they’re wrong.
The virtual assistant may help, but I suspect some owners will never accept that either.
Why buy a 2027 Rivian R2?
The R2 is a strong early candidate for my list of 2026’s best new vehicles.
It hits the ground running and should get even more appealing as new features and less expensive models arrive.
It’s a welcome new player in what’s becoming one of the strongest classes of vehicles: five-seat luxury-performance electric SUVs.
2026 Rivian R2 Performance Launch Package at a glance
All-wheel-wheel drive electric five-passenger SUV
Seats 5
On sale now.
Base price: $57,990. All prices exclude $1,395 destination charge.
Model tested: Performance Launch Package
Price as tested: $57,990
Power: 656 hp, 609 pound-feet of torque
Motors: One electric motor on each axle
Battery range: 330 miles
Transmission: Single-speed direct-drive automatic
Battery size: 87.9 kW
Maximum charging speed: 230 kW
Charging time: DC: 10%-80% in 29 minutes; 240V AC: xxx hours
Wheelbase: 115.6 inches
Length: 185.9 inches
Width: 78.1 inches (side mirrors folded)
Height: 66.9 inches
Ground clearance: 9.6 inches
Approach/departure angles: 25/26 degrees
Breakover: 20.6 degrees
Passenger space: NA
Cargo space: 28.7 cubic feet behind rear seat; 79.4 with rear seat folded
Curb weight: 5,004 pounds
Towing capacity: 4,400 pounds
Assembled in Normal, Illinois
Contact Mark Phelan: mmphelan@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @mark_phelan. Read more on autos and sign up for our autos newsletter. Become a subscriber.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Rivian R2 EV gets all As on the highway, off road and for new AI tech
Reporting by Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press | USA TODAY Network
