Rivian R2 Prototype Spotted Towing, Testing Real-World Capability

RJ just dropped a big one on Instagram: the very first photo of a production-intent Rivian R2 towing a trailer out in the wild. Seeing this stage of testing gets me hyped because towing is such an important real-world capability for so many of us.

Rivian hasn’t shared the official numbers yet, so we don’t know the exact capacity of the trailer in the photo or what the final tow rating will be for the R2. But it’s fun to start thinking about where it might land compared to other EVs and crossovers in its class.

For reference, the Tesla Model Y with the towing package tops out at 3,500 lb. The gas-powered BMW X3 can go up to 4,400 lb. Other EV competitors come in lower, so if Rivian can beat or even match the higher end of that range, the R2 would immediately stand out as one of the strongest towing options in the segment.

So while we wait for Rivian to drop the official R2 towing specs, it’s clear they’re putting in the miles and testing scenarios right now. And honestly, that’s one of the most exciting things about this stage, we get to watch the R2 grow into the real-world EV a lot of us have been waiting for.