A Rivian R2 Owner Shares the Good and Bad After 2 Months

Two months into ownership, YouTuber Gjeebs has posted a detailed look at living with the Rivian R2 Performance, equipped with the Launch Package, as a daily driver. The verdict is largely positive: the SUV rides comfortably, is simple to drive, and charges faster than its 400-volt architecture would suggest, with a 10-to-80% session taking less than 30 minutes. The Launch Package includes lifetime access to Rivian’s Universal Hands-Free driver assistance system, which handles lane changes well when the driver initiates them with a turn signal. Interior ergonomics score highly, with generous cupholders, numerous storage cubbies, an integrated blind-spot camera view that pops up in the digital instrument cluster, and a one-touch button that lowers all five windows at once. The rear glass can also drop into the tailgate.

There are annoyances, though. The rear wiper button on the left stalk is overly sensitive, activating the wiper at the slightest touch, and there is no built-in sunshade for the large panoramic glass roof, mirroring the situation in the Tesla Model Y and Model 3. Minor issues present on delivery day were resolved through software updates.

The biggest caveat is highway efficiency. Gjeebs found the range estimates overly optimistic: the vehicle displayed a 334-mile range on a full charge but delivered just 248 miles with 2% remaining. Most of the trip was driven above 70 miles per hour, and the boxy shape resulted in an average efficiency of 2.93 miles per kilowatt-hour. The R2 Performance carries an EPA-estimated range of 330 miles, but the boxy SUV is known to consume significant electricity on the highway. The R2 remains Rivian’s most important vehicle, with the potential to elevate the California automaker from startup to a serious industry player.