R2 Range Limitations and Rivian's Response

[GRSmith]

To be honest, I think it depends on where you live whether the glass roof is seen as good or bad. Living in western Washington with lots of cloudy days, the more light the better. But if I lived in an area that was hot with lots of sun my perspective would be different... That big window becomes a problem I'd have to work around.

Sponsored

 

[rvnxyz001]

With black interiors, they sure help brighten things up! The A/C keeps cool just fine in every vehicle I’ve had with these. I test drove R2 on 95 degree sunny summer day, had no issues.

In every R2 review I’ve seen, I’ve always heard the AC running super loud. It might be related to the glass roof because the AC needs to work much harder. I’ve never noticed this in other car reviews, although maybe it’s simply because people are filming on their phones, which pick up this kind of noise differently. Or maybe all the reviewers just happen to be in hotter parts of the U.S.

 

[r2fb]

I actually like the sunroof, don't feel it adds materially to heating the car, it filters our EV and IR pretty well. What I'd like them to do is to make it sliding.

Fine but what did that AI generated image add to the discussion?

 

[r2fb]

They need it to keep the car as low as possible for better aerodynamics while still giving you enough headroom. It is also cheaper to implement and assemble. You need at least one fewer part, the headliner, plus tons of clips, then a frame to keep the roof skin attached with some glue. Plus, if you want to sell a car with a moonroof, it involves thousands of additional components and complicated mechanisms, etc.

All this started because people want a moonroof. For them, it is a sign of a luxury car.

And once manufacturers figured out that a giant fixed piece of glass is cheaper, simpler, and easier to package, people started convincing themselves that this is somehow a premium feature too. Now you get a huge glass roof you cannot open, a hotter cabin, more glare, and then you have to hang an aftermarket shade underneath it. No matter how well it is made, that shade will still look cheap and ugly compared with a proper headliner. And who knows what happens to that thing, or where it ends up, in a major accident. Meanwhile, owners will still explain how much they love the "airy feeling" Marketing is a beautiful thing.

Our Q4 does it right, a large moonroof with shade you can open and wireless carplay.

 

[ericft]

With black interiors, they sure help brighten things up! The A/C keeps cool just fine in every vehicle I’ve had with these. I test drove R2 on 95 degree sunny summer day, had no issues.

exactly why i prefer lighter interiors. I was always amazing to see how hot the tesla interior got with the remote temp check feature when cabin overhead protection was off...would wait for the costal cloud if I decide to get an R2...looking less likely right now..maybe glc/ix3....i guess I don't need the offroad capability just wanted a bigger feeling car than my MY or I4..with decent range...and no bugs...

 

[WoodChips]

In every R2 review I’ve seen, I’ve always heard the AC running super loud. It might be related to the glass roof because the AC needs to work much harder. I’ve never noticed this in other car reviews, although maybe it’s simply because people are filming on their phones, which pick up this kind of noise differently. Or maybe all the reviewers just happen to be in hotter parts of the U.S.

When you turn off the fan you can really notice how quiet the R2 is. I suspect the fan speed is partially noticeable because the lack of other sounds.

 

[stantheman]

This thread is very disparate (range, battery degradation, sunroof, software…). I’ve owned a R1T since Jan 2023. I first became aware of Rivian while watching Ewan McGregor’s Long Way Up. The R1T is my first EV, but not my only experience as my brother and boss own Teslas.

I live in Central Arizona and have camped in my R1T at North and South Rim Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce, Yosemite, Edison Lake, Taos NM, Silver City NM. Each of those trips required a lot of planning.
The point is once you become an owner, EPA ratings won’t matter. 200 miles of range is sufficient for any of those trips I listed above. You might have to get creative with Zion and Bryce, but it can be done.

I think anyone considering the purchase of an EV (no matter the brand) should make themselves familiar with ABRP.com (yes I know Rivian owns it-but they didn’t when I purchased mine). Check your typical routes/time of year, places you want to go and see what the cost is on charging time.

I can tell you that a trip to Vista, Ca from my current location is about 1/2 to 1 hour faster in the R2 versus the R1T. I can also tell you that the charge time in the R1T is about an hour for that one way trip. But I enjoy getting to sit down and eat with my family at those stops.

As for the sunroof, I had it limo tinted within a week of purchase. $220 for just the roof with ceramic tint, and it hasn’t been a problem since. I don’t really notice it is there anymore.

In 3.5 years I haven’t noticed any battery degradation. However, my boss and my brother have complained about their Teslas.

People will tell you that you are going to save on maintenance. Maybe. I’ve put 3 full sets of tires on mine in 70k miles. Finally moved away from OEM Pirelli AT on my last set and got the Michelin LTX Platinum and love them. Insurance and registration has been a lot more than my ICE vehicles though.

I live within 30 minutes of two Rivian SC, and service has never been an issue. I had some minor trim pieces detach. Nothing major; however, I highly recommend that you pay for an inspection before end of warranty. I figure that saved me $8k on dampers and half shafts because I drove it like I stole it the first year.

Finally, one of my favorite things about the 2023 R1T is the Meridian sound. I know the R2 premium system isn’t going to live up to that.

That said, I drove the R2 a month ago in 115 degree heat in Phoenix and I was very impressed. It did not feel like a downgrade from the R1T. Only thing I noticed that I didn’t like were the foot pedals.

Bottom line do your homework and don’t rely on the EPA ratings or CR reliability ratings. Check the forums and see what people are saying. There is a reason Rivian has a high consumer loyalty rating.

My wife is getting my R1T and I am getting the R2 for a daily commuter for about 300 miles a week. I love the R1T, but I want to keep the miles off it and save those for adventures.

 

[tivoboy]

To be honest, I think it depends on where you live whether the glass roof is seen as good or bad. Living in western Washington with lots of cloudy days, the more light the better. But if I lived in an area that was hot with lots of sun my perspective would be different... That big window becomes a problem I'd have to work around.

Here in the bay area We have both seasons, in summer the glass roof cover is a god send, and saves lots of AC energy as well, but I take it off by late Oct - Early May just to have more light in the cabin

I imagine I’ll do the same with the R2

 

[savethemanual]

Here in the bay area We have both seasons, in summer the glass roof cover is a god send, and saves lots of AC energy as well, but I take it off by late Oct - Early May just to have more light in the cabin

I imagine I’ll do the same with the R2

I can see Rivian adding an electrochromic glass roof as an option some day like they do on the R1.

 

[Dennisis]

should make themselves familiar with ABRP.com

And PlugShare for sure. I’ve visited some pretty remote places and it’s handy to see what alternate charging options are around. Still a nice resource though not needed as much as more chargers keep coming on line.​

 

[savethemanual]

Our Q4 does it right, a large moonroof with shade you can open and wireless carplay.

Always tradeoffs. The Q4 has much less power compared to R2P, very limited off road capability and no self driving is going to be available on current model.

 

[r2fb]

Our Q4 does it right, a large moonroof with shade you can open and wireless carplay.

Always tradeoffs. The Q4 has much less power compared to R2P, very limited off road capability and no self driving is going to be available on current model.

I can get a Blazer EV SS or an Audi SQ6 to fix the power issue and I could not care less about the other 2 since I have an HW4 tesla and have never paid for FSD. The Q4 actually has decent lane keeping. I just like the R2's looks and software. Mine will never see off road besides 100 ft in an apple orchard parking lot, just like the majority of R2's.

Q4 is my partner's car and she's happy with it. Its real shortcomings are in software.

 

[Qamera]

I for one absolutely hate glass roofs..no idea why it is needed, I never look out the top of the car when driving. And neither do my kids in the back seat. All it does is excessively heat the car. Regardless of UV filtering, and external source of light will heat the car up. when i had my Y I had the aftermarket installed sun shade up all the time. Plus I don't need any more risk of skin cancer on my head than is necessary..They need to do away with top glass as a measure of a premium vehicle...

There is a no glass option but only on the upcoming standard. Here in the PNW, that extra light is gladly appreciated

 

[savethemanual]

There is a no glass option but only on the upcoming standard. Here in the PNW, that extra light is gladly appreciated

The Standard trim still has a glass roof, it lacks the drop down rear glass though along with a few other interior options. Makes sense to keep it on lower trim as to maintain streamlined production.

 

[TechDad]

All R2's have a glass roof because it simplifies the manufacturing/assembly process of the car. By having a large opening at the top, it enables easier installation of internal components such as seats, dashboard and other things. As the manufacturing process gets more automated (picture those robotic arms you see in factory videos that do all kinds of things as the car goes down the assembly line), having this large access at the top streamlines things. Then, near the end, when they are done with large internal components, they can slap on the glass and finish the rest of the manufacturing/assembly.

I think we're going to see more and more cars with glass tops for this same reason. It simplifies manufacturing.

Sponsored