We finally drove it. The Rivian R2 is one of the most important EVs ever, and last week, InsideEVs was one of only a handful of outlets that got to drive one of the prototypes.
Spoiler: It rocks. But that doesn’t mean Rivian’s work is done. The company is launching it into a weird and uncertain EV market, at a time when the $7,500 federal tax credit is gone.
It’s a high-stakes, high-risk situation. Based on the car itself, though, Rivian may have what it takes to get through. Read Patrick George’s first drive below, and then catch up on these other big stories:
Toyota just announced an electric Highlander. It’s the company’s most promising and important EV yet, and Tim Levin has all the details.
The Tesla Model Y Standard may be missing a lot of features, but that doesn’t make it a bad option. After a week with it, Andrei Nedelea came away impressed.
One bit of bad news about the R2: Rivian hasn’t fixed the rear mechanical door release problem from the gen 2 R1.
—Mack Hogan, Deputy Editor
Photo: Patrick George
I Drove A Rivian R2 Prototype. It's Going To Surprise People
Rivian’s 300-mile, 656-horsepower SUV is a breath of fresh air for the American EV space. Here are five things to know.
Photo: Toyota
2027 Toyota Highlander: An American-Made, 320-Mile Electric Three-Row SUV
Built in the U.S. with American-made batteries, the 2027 Toyota Highlander will go toe to toe with the Hyundai Ioniq 9 and Kia EV9.
Photo: Andrei Nedelea
Tesla Deleted Lots Of Features In The Model Y Standard, But It Didn’t Ruin It
It has less range, fewer toys and a worse frunk, but it’s still a ton of EV for the money.
Rivian Updated The R2’s Manual Door Release, And People Are Mad
The driver and front passenger can easily open their doors in an emergency. Rear passengers, not so much–and people are angry.