Rivian’s Model Y Moment? I Drove the R2

This is the Rivian R2, and it may be the electric SUV that takes Rivian from cool startup to mainstream American success story. Rivian has already proved it can build desirable electric adventure vehicles, but the R2 is different. This is the smaller, more affordable, more practical SUV aimed directly at the heart of the EV market — where the Tesla Model Y has dominated for years. In this video, Nik Miles drives the Rivian R2 in Park City, Utah, and looks at why this SUV matters so much for Rivian’s future. With up to 345 miles of estimated range, available dual-motor all-wheel drive, 656 horsepower, a 3.6-second zero-to-sixty time, a drop-down rear glass, flat-folding seats, clever storage, and access to Tesla Superchargers through NACS, the R2 could be Rivian’s biggest moment yet. But the real question is not just whether the R2 is fast or clever. It is whether Rivian can build enough of them, price them right, and convince mainstream buyers to choose it over Tesla, Hyundai, Kia, Ford, and the rest of the EV field. Is the Rivian R2 the SUV that finally puts Rivian shoulder to shoulder with Tesla? Watch the full drive and find out.