GABarber
Member
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2026
- Threads
- 2
- Messages
- 19
- Reaction score
- 16
- Location
- Southern California
- Vehicles
- Tesla Model Y
A long time Tesla owner'd first R2 ride.
I have owned hybrid cars since the earliest Prius and still own a 2008 nearly one of its kind GMC Yukon Hybird Denali which I treasure, but like me, is due for retirement.
I have owned a first gen Chevy Bolt, a 2019 Tesla Model 3, and my daily drive is a 2021 Tesla Model Y with the acceleration boost option. I single pedal with the Tesla in sport mode and max regen and tend to drive it like a sports car.
My biggest complaints of the Tesla are the road noise on the 2021 (even with the expensive Tesla tires) which makes long highway drives stressful, uncomfortable seating for my aging back, my wife not being comfortable in it (partly because of my driving), the unreliable estimated mileage available, and the lack of enough storage in the back. Its Autodrive is a little shaky - being an early module and i don't feel comfortable with how it drives on the highway when using it. Some of the goofy changes made in recent years to the Model Y kept me from upgrading.
I test drove the R1S last year and found it too big for the spaces at my office and at home, and the inconvenient location for the charge port, as I have to back in at home because of turning space. It's handling felt a little like piloting a boat in Newport Harbor compared to the tesla.
I made my R2 reservation in April 2024. Although I saw one last year at an exhibition in Laguna beach, but they wouldn't even let you near it unless you were an "influencer".
While fiddling around on my phone Sunday I suddently found a demo drive reservation open up near me in Costa Mesa and jumped on it.
I spent ofbout 45 minutes checking it out and driving it. It was configured in sport mode with max regen. I drove it hard on the highway and on curvy corners and stopped hard at speed several times. I also did my fair share of parking manuvers to ensure I felt comfortable with the back cameras. It performed well..
Here are my pro's and con's (big and little)
I like the half moon gray and the 21' inch wheels better than I thought I would. The ride on the 21's was pretty quiet (even with the back window open - more on that later).
I was debating the 21's vs the 20's for comfort - but I've been told by an expert that the 21's beat the 20's for comfort because of the AT tires on the 20.
R2 acceleration certainly rivals the Tesla with the Acceleration Boost option - with a few differences. it requires a deeper press on the pedal before the accelation jumps. Where the Y rockets at the slightest touch, this gives you a bit more control in the R2. Different, but maybe better to avoid jackrabbit starts. Also because the suspension is looser and higher than the Y, you definitely feel the car lean back on hard accelleration - and it rolls more in hard turns. That said, I found I could drive it like my Y and it was more comfortable and quiet. Yay!!
The seats comfort I found somewhere between the Y's and my GMC. They could be a touch more comfortable. I have relatively long legs and a back with issues and would have preferred more control over the seat base to make it slightly more level. It's not as bad as some toyotas, but I can see some needing a butt pad or some spacers under the seat base to allow for more forward pitch. (I think this is called seat rake)
Thank goodness there is the old turn signal and familiar shift level which works like my Y with the small exception that clicking up on the turn signal doesn't disengage the signal like it does in a Y (at least one that still has them). To my ears the turn signal sounded more like a low frequency bong than a familiar click - they should provide options with a sound that is easier to hear above the low-frequency noise while rumbling along on the highway.
There are two display panels - one in the center position and one just behind the steering while. If you are tall but don't want the steering wheel at shoulder level, part of the panel behind the wheel gets obscured by the steering wheel. This panel could be mounted lower or allow a vertical position adjustment. The big wide panel is nice but if you are a senior using bifocals, its a little hard to keep in focus. From my seat position I had to lean over to the right to work the panel. Many Tesla drivers buy adapters so the panel can tilt toward the driver—I wish Rivian offered that tilt option.
It has these two control wheels on either side of the steering wheel - not unlike the Y - but they are more prominent and more easily accidentaly hit when handling the steering wheel. They didnt feel premium , a little too easy to turn and my left one even felt a little loose. I would have much preferred them slightly smaller and more recessed and with firmer response - more like the Y. Other than accidentally destroying what was left of my hearing with the volume control, I didn't spend much time scoping out their features and made sure I kept my distance from them when driving.
Fortunately there is good iPhone connectivity and the MagSafe charger on the console firmly holds the phone.
The overhead glass is tinted but can't really be made opaque and I could definitely feel my scalp getting warm during my short drive around. I would need to buy a cover for it ASAP like I have on my Y. Why have something like this without being able to really block the infrared??
After my send off on the road by the Rivian rep, I found myself on the highway with the rear dropdown open. I wanted to close it and found the control overhead. Naturally you would push a control above you upward to roll the window up and pull down for down - no way - it works the opposite - something I didnt figure out until later. I can't be the only person that noticed that.
Unfortunately THERE IS NO FM RADIO - I dont listen to music much and don't care a damn about surround sound or how many speakers - but I do listen to my local public radio....Who thought this was a good idea on a premium car?
Another somewhat goofy thing I noticed is no popout hooks on the upper inside for your clothing or drycleaning. A real head-scratcher, as they have been there in any car I remember. The Rivian rep pointed out that there are hooks (or something like that) behind the seats . They are too low to keep a dress or long coat off the floor and the slot is so narrow that your typical drycleaning take home bundle would have no chance to be hung there. A bit of silliness that defies the rest of the marvelous engineering.
The door opener button on the door is oddly placed on the inside of the door which requires you pull your arm and shoulder back and access it with your thumb. A bit awkward.
The rear seats fold down pretty flat, leaving you a lot of room for trips to storage - or camping, etc. Unlike the Y they don't offer a button at the back of the car that drops them.
Now we get to a personal pet peeve and something that lowers my opinion of Rivian management's responsibility and concern for the safety of Rivian drivers. Having once escaped a burning car surrounded in flames I still am concerned about being trapped in the car with no way out if the locks or electronic latches dont work. There does not appear to be a way to physically open the doors from the outside or escape from the inside if the battery has failed (like you can in the Y). I think even the R1 has this. Now maybe there is some secret panel somewhere or feature that would allow you to get out, but the Rivian reps were unaware of it and never briefed on this question. Tesla is embroiled in multiple litigations from families were loved ones died a horrible death - why would Rivian ignore this issue?
(followup and good news - others in the forum said there were emergency releases in the rear - my reps had no knowledge of this - looked for them and couldnt find them when I insisted they were supposed to be there - another here in the forum provided documentation for front and rear manual releases - its just that they are not obviously placed and to find them in an emergency you would have to be well trained. Rivian did provide for special backup power in case of general power failure so I stand corrected here. I will stop by the service center and look for them myself and update the reps)
OK - I will definitely buy the car - but will endup doing something with the seat, buy a inside cover for the glass roof as soon as I can get one, and make sure we have a window shatter tool handy to be able to escape. I may go with a shorter lease in the hope that they can fix these annoyances in subsequent years.
I have owned hybrid cars since the earliest Prius and still own a 2008 nearly one of its kind GMC Yukon Hybird Denali which I treasure, but like me, is due for retirement.
I have owned a first gen Chevy Bolt, a 2019 Tesla Model 3, and my daily drive is a 2021 Tesla Model Y with the acceleration boost option. I single pedal with the Tesla in sport mode and max regen and tend to drive it like a sports car.
My biggest complaints of the Tesla are the road noise on the 2021 (even with the expensive Tesla tires) which makes long highway drives stressful, uncomfortable seating for my aging back, my wife not being comfortable in it (partly because of my driving), the unreliable estimated mileage available, and the lack of enough storage in the back. Its Autodrive is a little shaky - being an early module and i don't feel comfortable with how it drives on the highway when using it. Some of the goofy changes made in recent years to the Model Y kept me from upgrading.
I test drove the R1S last year and found it too big for the spaces at my office and at home, and the inconvenient location for the charge port, as I have to back in at home because of turning space. It's handling felt a little like piloting a boat in Newport Harbor compared to the tesla.
I made my R2 reservation in April 2024. Although I saw one last year at an exhibition in Laguna beach, but they wouldn't even let you near it unless you were an "influencer".
While fiddling around on my phone Sunday I suddently found a demo drive reservation open up near me in Costa Mesa and jumped on it.
I spent ofbout 45 minutes checking it out and driving it. It was configured in sport mode with max regen. I drove it hard on the highway and on curvy corners and stopped hard at speed several times. I also did my fair share of parking manuvers to ensure I felt comfortable with the back cameras. It performed well..
Here are my pro's and con's (big and little)
I like the half moon gray and the 21' inch wheels better than I thought I would. The ride on the 21's was pretty quiet (even with the back window open - more on that later).
I was debating the 21's vs the 20's for comfort - but I've been told by an expert that the 21's beat the 20's for comfort because of the AT tires on the 20.
R2 acceleration certainly rivals the Tesla with the Acceleration Boost option - with a few differences. it requires a deeper press on the pedal before the accelation jumps. Where the Y rockets at the slightest touch, this gives you a bit more control in the R2. Different, but maybe better to avoid jackrabbit starts. Also because the suspension is looser and higher than the Y, you definitely feel the car lean back on hard accelleration - and it rolls more in hard turns. That said, I found I could drive it like my Y and it was more comfortable and quiet. Yay!!
The seats comfort I found somewhere between the Y's and my GMC. They could be a touch more comfortable. I have relatively long legs and a back with issues and would have preferred more control over the seat base to make it slightly more level. It's not as bad as some toyotas, but I can see some needing a butt pad or some spacers under the seat base to allow for more forward pitch. (I think this is called seat rake)
Thank goodness there is the old turn signal and familiar shift level which works like my Y with the small exception that clicking up on the turn signal doesn't disengage the signal like it does in a Y (at least one that still has them). To my ears the turn signal sounded more like a low frequency bong than a familiar click - they should provide options with a sound that is easier to hear above the low-frequency noise while rumbling along on the highway.
There are two display panels - one in the center position and one just behind the steering while. If you are tall but don't want the steering wheel at shoulder level, part of the panel behind the wheel gets obscured by the steering wheel. This panel could be mounted lower or allow a vertical position adjustment. The big wide panel is nice but if you are a senior using bifocals, its a little hard to keep in focus. From my seat position I had to lean over to the right to work the panel. Many Tesla drivers buy adapters so the panel can tilt toward the driver—I wish Rivian offered that tilt option.
It has these two control wheels on either side of the steering wheel - not unlike the Y - but they are more prominent and more easily accidentaly hit when handling the steering wheel. They didnt feel premium , a little too easy to turn and my left one even felt a little loose. I would have much preferred them slightly smaller and more recessed and with firmer response - more like the Y. Other than accidentally destroying what was left of my hearing with the volume control, I didn't spend much time scoping out their features and made sure I kept my distance from them when driving.
Fortunately there is good iPhone connectivity and the MagSafe charger on the console firmly holds the phone.
The overhead glass is tinted but can't really be made opaque and I could definitely feel my scalp getting warm during my short drive around. I would need to buy a cover for it ASAP like I have on my Y. Why have something like this without being able to really block the infrared??
After my send off on the road by the Rivian rep, I found myself on the highway with the rear dropdown open. I wanted to close it and found the control overhead. Naturally you would push a control above you upward to roll the window up and pull down for down - no way - it works the opposite - something I didnt figure out until later. I can't be the only person that noticed that.
Unfortunately THERE IS NO FM RADIO - I dont listen to music much and don't care a damn about surround sound or how many speakers - but I do listen to my local public radio....Who thought this was a good idea on a premium car?
Another somewhat goofy thing I noticed is no popout hooks on the upper inside for your clothing or drycleaning. A real head-scratcher, as they have been there in any car I remember. The Rivian rep pointed out that there are hooks (or something like that) behind the seats . They are too low to keep a dress or long coat off the floor and the slot is so narrow that your typical drycleaning take home bundle would have no chance to be hung there. A bit of silliness that defies the rest of the marvelous engineering.
The door opener button on the door is oddly placed on the inside of the door which requires you pull your arm and shoulder back and access it with your thumb. A bit awkward.
The rear seats fold down pretty flat, leaving you a lot of room for trips to storage - or camping, etc. Unlike the Y they don't offer a button at the back of the car that drops them.
Now we get to a personal pet peeve and something that lowers my opinion of Rivian management's responsibility and concern for the safety of Rivian drivers. Having once escaped a burning car surrounded in flames I still am concerned about being trapped in the car with no way out if the locks or electronic latches dont work. There does not appear to be a way to physically open the doors from the outside or escape from the inside if the battery has failed (like you can in the Y). I think even the R1 has this. Now maybe there is some secret panel somewhere or feature that would allow you to get out, but the Rivian reps were unaware of it and never briefed on this question. Tesla is embroiled in multiple litigations from families were loved ones died a horrible death - why would Rivian ignore this issue?
(followup and good news - others in the forum said there were emergency releases in the rear - my reps had no knowledge of this - looked for them and couldnt find them when I insisted they were supposed to be there - another here in the forum provided documentation for front and rear manual releases - its just that they are not obviously placed and to find them in an emergency you would have to be well trained. Rivian did provide for special backup power in case of general power failure so I stand corrected here. I will stop by the service center and look for them myself and update the reps)
OK - I will definitely buy the car - but will endup doing something with the seat, buy a inside cover for the glass roof as soon as I can get one, and make sure we have a window shatter tool handy to be able to escape. I may go with a shorter lease in the hope that they can fix these annoyances in subsequent years.
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