Finished R2 demo test drive? Share your review / impressions

[Alan in Tempe]

I just finished looking at the EX60, and recall a few minor differences from what is shown in your table. These are from memory, and I am not sure which differences are standard, standard on the premium package, or optional, so I just say available.

Can't recall if available on the P10+ config, but an extended battery is available to get 400ish mile range.

The EX60 does have laminated side windows available.

It has 120V outlet and V2H available.

It has matrix headlights available that can isolate multiple cars (in-lane and coming towards you in various combinations, and other objects (bikes, pedestrians, etc.) simultaneously.

It has headlight washers available.

I don't believe the EX60 has either CarPlay or Android Auto, but does have a similar Google based feature builtin that comes with 4 years of service.

While not handsfree driving, it does have most of the same features, but with hands on (not point to point).

The R2 does not have hands free rear hatch opening.

The EX60 has 20", 21" and 22" wheels in various options. Rear wheels are wider than front, so rotation front/rear not possible.

It does have a similar active suspension as the R2, except that it is described as being quite a bit more adaptive (going much softer or firmer, and with 500Hz response time).

********** Anyone know the turning circle of the R2? **********

********** Anyone know if the EX60 as a real FM radio? **********

Neither car has grab handles!

The EX60 has similar ventilated plastic seats as the R2, but has leather available.

The EX60 optional tow package has auto extend/retract & hide.

I think I might have to go test drive an EX60 as I wait for my R2 order slot in October/November. I hate that the Chinese have taken ownership of Volvo, but my two previous Volvos were wonderful cars. My 850R was one of my all time favorite vehicles, even with its less than stellar reliability. I will not look at the iX3 as my wonderfully fun i3 was a maintenance disaster such that I will never own another BMW, and the same goes for Mercedes.

I found that a comparably optioned EX60 (P10 Plus) was actually only 1-4k more than a Performance Package Launch Edition R2 (Launch Green, 20" wheels). I didn't exactly finish it (or validate all my data), but here is an excel I through together comparing the two.

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[FlyingPilot2012]

I just finished looking at the EX60, and recall a few minor differences from what is shown in your table. These are from memory, and I am not sure which differences are standard, standard on the premium package, or optional, so I just say available.

Can't recall if available on the P10+ config, but an extended battery is available to get 400ish mile range.

The EX60 does have laminated side windows available.

It has 120V outlet and V2H available.

It has matrix headlights available that can isolate multiple cars (in-lane and coming towards you in various combinations, and other objects (bikes, pedestrians, etc.) simultaneously.

It has headlight washers available.

I don't believe the EX60 has either CarPlay or Android Auto, but does have a similar Google based feature builtin that comes with 4 years of service.

While not handsfree driving, it does have most of the same features, but with hands on (not point to point).

The R2 does not have hands free rear hatch opening.

The EX60 has 20", 21" and 22" wheels in various options. Rear wheels are wider than front, so rotation front/rear not possible.

It does have a similar active suspension as the R2, except that it is described as being quite a bit more adaptive (going much softer or firmer, and with 500Hz response time).

********** Anyone know the turning circle of the R2? **********

********** Anyone know if the EX60 as a real FM radio? **********

Neither car has grab handles!

The EX60 has similar ventilated plastic seats as the R2, but has leather available.

The EX60 optional tow package has auto extend/retract & hide.

I think I might have to go test drive an EX60 as I wait for my R2 order slot in October/November. I hate that the Chinese have taken ownership of Volvo, but my two previous Volvos were wonderful cars. My 850R was one of my all time favorite vehicles, even with its less than stellar reliability. I will not look at the iX3 as my wonderfully fun i3 was a maintenance disaster such that I will never own another BMW, and the same goes for Mercedes.

The online configurator for the EX60 is far more detailed and in depth than Rivian's, which is great but it can be hard to sift through the information. Some features are locked into the Ultra trim (laminated windows, headlight cleaners, B&W sound system) so I didn't really consider them as the overall price jumps up $7k.

I've had great experience with Volvo as well. My 2000 S80 is going strong at 285,000 miles and we love our 2018 XC60. But we've been eyeing Rivian for a while, and the R2 is just about perfect for our first all electric car (bonus that it's American made).

 

[Mos Eisley]

I found that a comparably optioned EX60 (P10 Plus) was actually only 1-4k more than a Performance Package Launch Edition R2 (Launch Green, 20" wheels). I didn't exactly finish it (or validate all my data), but here is an excel I through together comparing the two.

I’d want the ultra for the B&W sound and AWD. A few other goodies and I was at $72. I’ll probably end up at $60k for R2. So not $20k more but enough

 

[Mos Eisley]

I just finished looking at the EX60, and recall a few minor differences from what is shown in your table. These are from memory, and I am not sure which differences are standard, standard on the premium package, or optional, so I just say available.

Can't recall if available on the P10+ config, but an extended battery is available to get 400ish mile range.

The EX60 does have laminated side windows available.

It has 120V outlet and V2H available.

It has matrix headlights available that can isolate multiple cars (in-lane and coming towards you in various combinations, and other objects (bikes, pedestrians, etc.) simultaneously.

It has headlight washers available.

I don't believe the EX60 has either CarPlay or Android Auto, but does have a similar Google based feature builtin that comes with 4 years of service.

While not handsfree driving, it does have most of the same features, but with hands on (not point to point).

The R2 does not have hands free rear hatch opening.

The EX60 has 20", 21" and 22" wheels in various options. Rear wheels are wider than front, so rotation front/rear not possible.

It does have a similar active suspension as the R2, except that it is described as being quite a bit more adaptive (going much softer or firmer, and with 500Hz response time).

********** Anyone know the turning circle of the R2? **********

********** Anyone know if the EX60 as a real FM radio? **********

Neither car has grab handles!

The EX60 has similar ventilated plastic seats as the R2, but has leather available.

The EX60 optional tow package has auto extend/retract & hide.

I think I might have to go test drive an EX60 as I wait for my R2 order slot in October/November. I hate that the Chinese have taken ownership of Volvo, but my two previous Volvos were wonderful cars. My 850R was one of my all time favorite vehicles, even with its less than stellar reliability. I will not look at the iX3 as my wonderfully fun i3 was a maintenance disaster such that I will never own another BMW, and the same goes for Mercedes.

I believe turning radius is just under 20’.

 

[DuoRivian]

Yeah. The 60 I priced out was $20k more. Can’t do that much but I like everything that I see about it.

That seems a very large delta is you are comparing like for like with dual drive, similar performance - ie P10 vs Premium the delay is $5k and the Volvo has free interior and paint upgrades.

 

[Mos Eisley]

That seems a very large delta is you are comparing like for like with dual drive, similar performance - ie P10 vs Premium the delay is $5k and the Volvo has free interior and paint upgrades.

I wasn’t comparing like for like. The R2 price is the R2 if want. The Volvo price reflected the trim level is want in that car. And as I explained up this thread a bit. The delta is closer to $12k+

 

[DuoRivian]

I wasn’t comparing like for like. The R2 price is the R2 if want. The Volvo price reflected the trim level is want in that car. And as I explained up this thread a bit. The delta is closer to $12k+

Saw that message and yes $12k not $29k and for a superior spec level in the Volvo with a better stereo etc which some people want that they have the choice. If you do an apples to apples comparison (as much as possible) then the price difference is much smaller and that’s the only fair way to compare.

 

[Mos Eisley]

Saw that message and yes $12k not $29k and for a superior spec level in the Volvo with a better stereo etc which some people want that they have the choice. If you do an apples to apples comparison (as much as possible) then the price difference is much smaller and that’s the only fair way to compare.

They’re really too dissimilar in use case in my book to be apples to apples comps. But I get you.

 

[Lionel_Hutz]

Did a demo drive at the San Diego UTC location. For locals looking to demo: go somewhere else. It's an absurdly bad location/route: first, got stuck at the exit gate because the person who drove before me didn't "badge in" properly, meaning the parking lot gate wouldn't open for their card. Had to back up past multiple (appropriately) pissed off people who were stuck behind me and go back to the showroom.

Once we got that sorted, the route takes you through a construction zone where a very busy road is down to one lane. Spent 15 minutes of the drive trying to get through a single light. And the end point of the route is a residential neighborhood on the other side of a wall from the parking lot. I let the folks at the showroom know that they should change the route because this really isn't what they want customers' first impressions of their cars to be. I only got excuses, so I don't expect them to change the route any time soon.

I only got about five minutes of actual drive time in the car. Impressions were that it's pretty good. Steering is nicely weighted, sound system was fine, super spacious inside. Seats were good and seating material is great. Interior quality a mixed bag--looks nice but some of the touch points felt cheap (and loose) and the plastics in the trunk and below the midpoint of the doors are very cheap. LOTS of power but the throttle mapping needs more fine-tuning. There was more road noise and NVH than I'd hoped for.

 

[TXR1SMD]

I'm not about to sift through 39 pages of replies, to see if my review falls on the majority or minority of the opinions, but here goes.


Early adopter R1T owner, Day 1 R2 reservation holder, 2 min after launch, invitation to configure was received on 6/16, did my demo drive on 6/18.

As it stands right now, I guess I have three options: Configure and take delivery, cancel my reservation, or sit on it a while and see how things go. I'm leaning toward the third and here's why:

The R2 is a cool vehicle. It builds off of what Rivian started with the R1 vehicles, but in a package that's available to the masses. That said, maybe I was expecting a scaled down R1 and that is not at all what it is.

It's too small for my liking. I think the most obvious size change is the height. It sits low, and standing next to it for some reason made it feel very not-SUV-like. It's probably the exact right size for most people, but again, coming from an R1, it's more of a change than I was expecting.

The materials are appropriate for the $50k price point, but not anything special. The R1 by comparison feels like a luxury vehicle. A lot of this is the result of the manufacturing simplicity needed to reach the target price. Trim and pieces seem to be larger and molded together. The quality of the plastics is average. I hate hate hate the recycled material on the dash used as trim. In a test unit with about 1100 miles on it, there were already more creaks and rattles than there should have been. I assume this was a production unit, not a pre-pro demo.

The sound system is below average. I've never been in the camp of "give me CarPlay or give me death" that seems prevalent on these forums, but that's because I felt like the native UI, with Apple Music and Dolby Atmos in my Gen1 R1T was actually pretty good, just not great. I did not get a chance to fiddle with the equalizer too much, but the sound quality was lacking. Even with the correct source and a song I knew should put spatial audio to the test, it sounds pretty flat and hollow.

The ride is ok. You will definitely know you aren't on an air suspension, for better or worse. My R1T has had some air suspension issues, so I was optimistic the more traditional setup on the R2 would be a welcome change. Over rougher Dallas city streets, it felt a little unsettled. The reviews seem to indicate the suspension in the R2 over performs when pushed, so I didn't get a chance to experience that.

I don't hate the color palate, but it seems like a miss that Rivian isn't offering a darkout package on the R2. I get that not everyone wants the black trim, black wheels look, but I think that may tone down the cartoonish look that some people dislike about Rivian.

Some good things - I actually thought the halo rings were easy and intuitive. The roll down back glass is one of my favorite features (although I feel like the rocker switches to control them operate the opposite of what you would expect). The frunk has a lot of good usable space, something a lot of competitors don't necessarily lean into.

I think it's a good start for the entry into Rivian ownership for most people. The problem is, I entered Rivian ownership with what I feel like was a better product. For someone who was comfortable paying $80-100k for a vehicle, I think you'll absolutely feel like you're downgrading to the R2.

Maybe future variants will bridge the gap between the current upper end of the R2 trims and where R1 begins. I think a tri-motor possibly with an upgraded Ascend interior once LiDAR models roll out would feel more palatable. Either that, or maybe another refresh of the R1 into gen 3 where they incorporate things like the roll down window or the halo buttons and improved UI into the range would keep the R1 fresh and keep people paying a premium for it.

I went in expecting to love it, so maybe those expectations were too high. I think it's a great vehicle for many, most maybe, but too much of a downgrade for some. Where the R1S really did compete with the luxury brands in the same space, the R2 competes with Tesla, and while that's a good space for the company to be, I would never consider a Model Y and even if the R2 bests it in every measure, that's not really an accomplishment I care about.

 

[supervlover]

Did a test drive in SD downtown as hotel was only a few blocks away (no demo slots in Houston). Drive was okay, lag on acceleration vs a quad (probably expected with the dual motor) and bumpy. Sharp screen and cameras were wow. Materials felt a bit on the cheap side, but given the $50K+ price point, probably was expecting too much. My order invite is in 4-8 weeks and likely to will delay or cancel reservation.

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