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Rivian has been promising a cheaper, smaller electric SUV for years. It is finally here. The R2 started reaching customers in June, and it might be the most important car the company has ever built.

Smaller, Cheaper, Smarter

The R2 is a midsize electric SUV that slots below the bigger, pricier R1. It keeps the same boxy, adventure-ready look, just shrunk to fit a normal driveway and a normal budget.

It is roughly the size of a Tesla Model Y, which is no accident. That is the best-selling part of the market, and Rivian wants a real piece of it.

That budget is the whole point. Rivian needs the R2 to sell in volume, and it is aiming to build at least 20,000 of them this year alone.

The Numbers

The launch car is the dual-motor R2 Performance, with 656 hp and 609 lb-ft, enough for 0 to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds. A single-motor rear-drive version makes a still-healthy 350 hp.

There is also a dual-motor version with 450 hp for buyers who want all-wheel drive without the full Performance price. Choice is part of the pitch.

Range is strong. The rear-drive car is rated at around 345 miles, while the all-wheel-drive version manages up to 330. Charging runs at up to 210 kW, taking the battery from 10 to 80 percent in 29 minutes.

Priced to Sell

Here is where it gets interesting. The R2 Performance starts at 57,990 dollars, with a Premium trim following late this year at 53,990.

A rear-drive Standard model arrives in early 2027 from 48,490 dollars. That is Rivian build quality at a price that finally reaches beyond early adopters.

Why It Matters

Rivian made its name with the expensive, brilliant R1 truck and SUV. The trouble was that very few people could actually afford one.

The R2 fixes that. If it drives anything like its bigger sibling and holds that price, it could be the car that turns Rivian from a niche darling into a mainstream player.

First deliveries are already happening, starting with the Performance. The rest of the rollout stretches through 2027 as the cheaper trims come online.

Rivian is building the R2 at its plant in Normal, Illinois, with a new Georgia factory to follow. Scaling production is now the whole challenge.

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Rivian's R2 Is the One That Matters