The Sunday Drive, Rivian Week in Review, July 20 to July 26, 2026
Rivian halts Half Moon Grey R2 deliveries, sues the federal government over tariff refunds, and puts out a charging adapter warning. Plus R2 battery pack costs, a tire efficiency breakdown,… · Rivian
Rivian Is Building a Massive New Space Right in Orlando’s Tourist Corridor
Rivian is building a massive new 40,000 square foot showroom, service center, and charging hub right off I-4 across from the Millenia Mall in Orlando. I stopped by the site today and construction hasn’t gone vertical yet, but once it does this thing is going to move fast.
Rivian Autonomy+ One-Time Payment Is Worth It Before the Price Goes Up
Autonomy+ is easy to dismiss right now. The feature set is light, the big capabilities aren’t here yet, and $50 a month is a tough sell for hands-free lane centering. But the $2,500 one-time payment is a different conversation. You’re not paying for what Autonomy+ is today. You’re locking in at today’s price for everything it becomes, point-to-point driving, eyes-off capability, and eventually personal Level 4 autonomy, all tied to your VIN and yours for the life of the truck. Tesla just killed their one-time FSD purchase option entirely and confirmed the $99 monthly price is only going up from here. Rivian is still offering you a way out of that subscription trap. It might not be open forever.
The Rivian R2 Is Heading to Coachella 2026
Rivian is heading back to Coachella both weekends of the festival, April 10-12 and 17-19, and this time they’re bringing the R2 along. If you’re going and have been curious about the car, this is a pretty easy way to see it in person before deliveries even start.
R2 First Drives Coming in June at Rivian Spaces and Service Centers
Rivian has confirmed that R2 first drives are coming in June at your local Rivian Space or Service Center and yes, I’ll finally be getting behind the wheel for the first time too.
ABRP Relaunches With Fresh Design and New EV Tools
A Better Route Planner relaunched its website this week with a fresh look and a new EV Comparison tool that lets you stack up to three EVs side by side. Rivian acquired ABRP back in June 2023, and the platform keeps getting better.
Rivian Is Adding Battery Pack Health Visibility via OTA
Rivian is adding a dedicated battery health screen via OTA, giving owners a direct look at state of health, max potential charge rate, and current charge rate, all from the About screen in vehicle settings, no service appointment needed.
Range, Grip, and a Fair Price. The Hankook iON HT Might Be the Perfect EV Tire
After 2,000+ miles on the Hankook iON HT, I’m ready to call it… this might be the best all-around tire for most…
R2 EPA Docs Drop With 335-Mile Range, 210 kW Charging, and a Heat Pump Upgrade
Rivian’s R2 EPA certification documents are in, and the range numbers actually beat the company’s own estimates. The Performance trim with 21-inch All-Seasons hit 335 miles certified, topping Rivian’s projected 330. All-Terrains drop it to 314. The Large pack carries 86.8 kWh of usable capacity with 210 kW DC fast charging. Employee deliveries start this month, so real-world impressions aren’t far off.
What’s Coming In Rivian Software 2026.07
Rivian’s 2026.07 brings a handful of useful changes for R1T and R1S owners. The highlight: Rear Defrost now automatically activates the front wiper heating element too. Apple Music gets Dolby Audio support and a new Streaming Quality setting to reduce buffering. Gen 2 owners also get a fix for inconsistent range estimates and reduced highway steering wheel vibrations.
2026.07
Rivian’s 2026.07 brings a handful of useful changes for R1T and R1S owners. The highlight: Rear Defrost now automatically activates the front wiper heating element too. Apple Music gets Dolby Audio support and a new Streaming Quality setting to reduce buffering. Gen 2 owners also get a fix for inconsistent range estimates and reduced highway steering wheel vibrations.