In some way, Rivian's more affordable R2 is its most polished vehicle.

      Joel Feder

      The latest in car news and reviews, no nonsense.

      Rivian's R2 showcases refined simplicity. This model improves upon the R1 by prioritizing cost-effective design while maintaining quality.

      Innovative design modifications. Features such as integrated turn signals and optimized rear doors boost functionality and lower costs.

      Efficient engineering. The R2’s simplified wiring and integrated electronics make it more cost-effective to manufacture and maintain.

      Customer-centered enhancements. Design focuses on user experience, including a unique rear seat layout and thoughtfully relocated charge port.

      Bottom line: Rivian's R2 embodies how intentional simplification can create a more sophisticated, affordable, and user-friendly vehicle.

      AI assisted, editor reviewed.

      Rivian's Chief Design Officer Jeff Hammoud explained to The Drive that the R1 was created by adding features, whereas the R2 was shaped by subtracting elements.

      The R2 essentially emerged from shrinking the R1, but the team’s experience and extensive feedback over the years have resulted in the R2 becoming an even more polished product than its larger and pricier predecessor.

      What’s essentially absent in the R2 when compared to the R1? The intricate hydraulically-controlled active roll control system and the costly, heavy air suspension system. However, a detailed examination reveals numerous enhancements and optimizations.

      Hammoud mentioned that the team concentrated on “finding ways to engineer and design the vehicle to lower costs without negatively impacting the customer experience.”

      For example, Hammoud cited the rear door: “In most cars of this type, the rear door glass doesn’t fully drop. They either cut it midway, which is crucial for us as an adventure vehicle, or include a dividing bar, which the R1 has due to its size. However, having that dividing bar introduces another metal piece and a second glass component, requiring additional belt molding. We engineered the vehicle to optimally position the wheelbase, the B-pillar, and the C-pillar to ensure proper visibility while allowing for a full glass drop without the belt molding, thereby simplifying manufacturing and reducing costs,” said Hammoud.

      Hammoud noted that while the R1 has turn signal indicators on the sideview mirrors, a Rivian badge on the front doors, and front turn indicators by the wheel wells, the team combined these into a single integrated turn signal indicator on the fender above the air vent, retaining the design aspect from the R1.

      The trend of simplification continues throughout the vehicle. The window molding present on the R1 is eliminated on the R2, resulting in a cleaner aesthetic, improved aerodynamics with less drag, and significantly reduced costs for Rivian in terms of materials and production.

      Significant investments were made in aerodynamics. The team insisted that all but the Standard trim feature a drop-down window for the tailgate, similar to the Toyota 4Runner. This posed challenges with the rear roofline, spoiler, and rear wiper integration, resulting in a complex engineering task to embed the rear wiper into the tailgate.

      The theme of simplification without compromising quality extends within the R2’s interior. “For instance, regarding the seat design, the R1 had a full metal band and small headrest bezels, which we omitted in the R2 but kept a smaller badge. If you examine the interior, the instrument panel in the R1 has dual layers: one PU wrapped and an additional metal part. We streamlined this to simplify the interior. The harder-to-manufacture wood seen in the R1 is also reduced in the R2, creating a simpler appearance without looking like we've removed features,” Hammoud explained.

      However, cost reductions were not made at the expense of customer satisfaction. For example, Hammoud mentioned that the rear seat still features a split-folding design in a 40:20:40 arrangement, a rarity in this compact segment. “We could have opted for a 60:40 split, but we chose not to. It was about finding the right balance,” he stated.

      “One notable change is the hood mechanism. The R1 features both power opening and closing, while the R2 has a power pop with a manual close. We prioritized the ability to open it automatically,” Hammoud remarked.

      The relocation of the charge port from the driver-side front bumper on the R1 to the driver-side rear quarter panel on the R2 was motivated by several factors that benefit customers and reduce costs for Rivian. “One reason was for damageability. Additionally, it provides access to Tesla chargers that customers frequently use, and the positioning provides the shortest wiring path from our power electronics systems, reducing weight and costs significantly,” Hammoud explained.

      Design adjustments not immediately visible include moving the primary front speakers from the doors to a central panel under the dashboard, which minimizes wiring and is expected to decrease door rattles, according to Hammoud.

      Rivian’s Senior Vice President of Electronic Hardware, Vidya Rajagopalan, shared with The Drive that the