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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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…
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.
VION just dropped a grey version of their R1 roof sunshade that matches the Ocean Coast interior on the R1T and R1S. They sent one over to test, so here is a quick look plus where to grab one with 10% off. Black is still around for the Black Mountain crowd too.
NHTSA reopened the Rivian rear toe link issue in late May, and the new investigation covers 114,922 R1T and R1S vehicles, far more than the roughly 20,000 caught up in January's recall. An investigation is not a recall and it may close with nothing, but the jump from a few thousand serviced cars to nearly the entire modern R1 fleet is the part worth watching, especially landing weeks before R2 deliveries start.
