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.
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.
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.
Rivian is taking the R2 on a cross-country Block Party tour starting April 3 in Venice, with stops in seven cities through late May. No demo drives yet, but you can see the colors in person, explore the interior, and hang out with the community.
I recently made the case for why the R2 Performance Launch Edition is the best value in the lineup. But starting in late 2026, Rivian will begin shipping R2s with Gen 3 hardware, LiDAR, and the custom RAP1 chip, and there is no retrofit path for early buyers. If autonomy and future-proofing matter to you, here is the other side of that argument.
