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
Universal Hands-Free 2.0 Arrives In Q3 With Stop Light Response, Auto Park, And On-Ramp To Off-Ramp
Universal Hands-Free 2.0 arrives in Q3 and finally takes the system off the highway, adding stop light and stop sign response, automatic lane changes on surface streets, Auto Park, and On-Ramp to Off-Ramp routing. It is the groundwork Rivian needs before Point to Point shows up in late 2026.
R2 Performance Leases for Model Y Money, Full Breakdown
Rivian’s R2 Performance Launch Edition lease numbers are out, and they land right on top of the Tesla Model Y Performance. Both start at $57,990, with monthly payments within about sixty bucks of each other. Here is the full breakdown against the Model Y and the entry R1S, including where the Tesla still wins and where the residuals actually flip.
R2 Launch Will Be Missing Several R1 Software Features
The R2 will launch without several software features R1 owners use regularly, including Rivian Assistant, Climate Hold, and Pet Mode, with Rivian indicating some will not arrive for at least the first month of ownership.
The Entry R2 Standard Now Starts at $44,990, Arrives Summer 2027
The base R2 Standard finally has firm numbers. Rivian set it at $44,990 before destination and moved it up to a Summer 2027 arrival, with rear-wheel drive, 350 hp, 355 lb-ft, and 275-plus miles of estimated range.
After Two Years of Waiting I Finally Drove the Rivian R2 and It Delivered
Rivian flew me out to Park City to drive the production R2 on road and off road, and after two days with it I’m convinced the only thing that can slow this car down is how fast Rivian can build them. Demand is not the problem. The R2 Performance is genuinely quick, the cabin stays quiet even on the all terrains, and the rear legroom is almost absurd for the size. The R2 Standard surprised me more than I expected too, and RivianOS 2.0 makes my R1 feel slow. Here’s the full rundown on the drive, the new pricing, the software, and where the autonomy roadmap is actually headed.
Rivian R2 Warranty Coverage Explained and How It Compares to R1
Rivian has shared R2 warranty terms ahead of demo drives, and every trim gets the same coverage, 4 years or 50,000 miles comprehensive and 8 years or 120,000 miles on the battery and drive system. That matches the entry R1 rather than the higher trims. Here is how it compares across both R1 generations.
If You Are Getting a Rivian R2, Plan on Carrying Charging Adapters
The R2 goes on sale tomorrow as Rivian’s first real volume seller, and a lot of new owners are about to learn that their NACS port cannot plug into much of the public charging world without help. Here is why you will want a CCS1 and a J1772 adapter in the frunk, and how the A2Z options compare to Rivian’s official pair on price.
The Sunday Drive, Rivian Week in Review, June 1 to June 7, 2026
R2 starts showing up at Rivian Spaces ahead of deliveries, the Adventure Network crosses 1,000 chargers, NHTSA reopens the toe link issue with a much bigger scope, and Rivian Care expands into five new states.
Rivian Fixes Random Privacy Toggling in Latest R1 Hotfix
Quick heads-up for R1 owners, the 2026.15.01 (Gen 1 R1) and 2026.15.30 (Gen 2 R1) hotfix is out, and Rivian patched something…
Rivian Adventure Network Hits 1,000 Chargers Across 148 Sites
The Rivian Adventure Network has crossed 1,000 chargers across 148 sites in North America, with new openings in Independence, Missouri and Rocklin, California, and a 98% reliability score that earns it an A rating.