Rivian R2 Drive Modes Explained, All Eight and What They Do

The R2 comes with as many as eight drive modes, the number you end up with depending entirely on the trim you have ordered. When Rivian released its full breakdown of the R2 range and prices, I then received a direct explanation from them regarding what the Conserve function does on the R2.

It’s frustrating that the R2 Standard has the same 9.6 inches of clearance as the Performance model, the same 32-inch overall tire diameter, yet it doesn’t come with All-Terrain.

One structural difference is more important than any of the individual settings. The R1 alters its ride height when the driving mode is changed since it is fitted with air suspension; the R2 does not and therefore the clearance remains the same in all modes on all trims. This means that the settings which can be adjusted include pedal mapping, steering resistance, stability and traction limits, and torque split. The Performance trim adds damper firmness because it is the only one with semi-active suspension, and I can confirm just how significant this setting is when towing at the maximum 4,400 pounds, where the Soft setting felt floaty over large bumps and the Firm setting brought the whole car down.

The modes every trim gets

All-Purpose is the standard setting and this is the one that most owners will choose. The pedal response is set in the middle of the range and stability control remains on. Furthermore, Rivian has also certified the EPA figures for this mode, giving the 330 miles shown for Performance and the 345 miles for Standard RWD Long Range in All-Purpose.

Snow causes the pedal map to become softer so that a heavy pedal input won’t lose traction on a slippery surface, and it raises the stability thresholds so that intervention occurs earlier. On the R1 it also keeps the rear motor engaged rather than allowing it to disengage in order to improve efficiency, and the dual-motor R2 models probably act in the same way.

The Sport setting improves the pedal response and makes the steering heavier. This applies to all models, the base Standard being one example that leads people to think it comes with power. Launch Mode is located within Sport, under Drive Modes, then Sport, then Launch, so it has to be looked for carefully if you’re searching for it in the main list. The mode was included with software version 2026.24, which was released on July 15, so any vehicles delivered before that date did not have it when they were handed over.

Conserve is doing something different on R2

I was given the details about this by Rivian. Conserve adjusts the torque and power limits, which causes the car to slow down and results in a more relaxed drive with a lower 0 to 60 time. In addition to altering these limits, Rivian modifies the way torque is delivered, reducing the rate at which torque reaches the parts downstream of what your foot is requesting. The third change takes place even further upstream in the accelerator pedal map, which determines the torque request that is sent to the drive units initially.

There is no reference at all in that regard to dropping an axle. With the R1 model, Conserve switches to front-wheel drive, and it is this feature that owners most frequently mention when discussing Conserve. The R2’s approach, on the other hand, is based completely on torque management.

Off-road, and what gets cut

The All-Terrain setting is only suitable for light conditions; on the R1 it reduces the traction thresholds and makes the damping softer, while on the R2 it has no ride height to adjust, so it is in effect doing less than the R1 version.

Soft Sand helps to maintain the wheel’s momentum in loose sediment so that you don’t end up digging in. Because the Rally mode sends power towards the rear and reduces stability, Rivian has positioned this setting as being suitable for use on ice, mud, dirt and asphalt; both of these statements are taken from the R1 documentation, as Rivian has not published a stability control breakdown specific to the R2.

I haven’t yet been able to determine whether All-Terrain performs any useful function without the ability to adjust ride height, and I don’t know what Conserve operates like on the single-motor Standard when there is no longer any torque split to manage since that trim won’t be available until 2027. Rivian has said that Conserve keeps being improved over the air, so I’ll redo the calculations for my vehicle when the next build arrives.

Jose Castillo Founder and Editor

Jose Castillo is the founder of RivianTrackr and has owned and driven Rivians since early in the brand's consumer history. He currently drives an R1S and an R2 in Florida and uses Universal Hands-Free every day. As a credentialed Rivian journalist, he has covered the R2 First Drive in Park City and SXSW firsthand and has spoken directly with Rivian's software and autonomy leadership.

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