Telepeer

Rivian’s more-affordable R2 to debut with $57,990 price tag

March 12, 2026

Electric-vehicle shoppers will have to wait until at least 2027 for Rivian Automotive to sell an SUV for less than $50,000.

The Irvine automaker’s long-promised R2 midsize SUV will start at $57,990 when deliveries begin this spring, the EV maker said Thursday. That’s about $13,000 more than what Rivian eventually aims to charge for entry-level R2s, which arrive late next year.

Also see: Edmunds Top Rated vehicle awards for 2026

The model is critical to Rivian’s bid to move beyond the upper end of the EV market and appeal to a broader swath of car buyers at a time of heightened concerns around affordability. The price of the R2 has been closely watched since the automaker indicated it could eventually sell for around $45,000.

While the initial price is well above that, it’s still far less than the existing R1 models, some variants of which can cost over $100,000.

“A number of factors have moved against Rivian from the initial unveil, with higher tariff costs and the elimination of regulatory credits” putting pressure on profits, Barclays analyst Dan Levy said in a note. That potentially makes a $45,000 starting price less financially viable, he added.

The new model gives Rivian an entry that could draw buyers of luxury crossovers as well as SUVs with rugged, off-road styling such as the Jeep Wrangler and Ford Bronco.

The size of the market the R2 competes in could ultimately determine its success. Vying for buyers of luxury two-row crossovers in the $50,000 to $60,000 range would limit the R2’s potential sales, Levy said, whereas a roughly $45,000 R2 that draws shoppers of mainstream SUVs would be the best-case scenario.

The R2’s roughly $58,000 initial starting price also excludes shipping fees, meaning they’ll likely go for closer to $60,000. That’s about $10,000 more than what the average new vehicle in the US sold for in February.

Chief Executive Officer RJ Scaringe in November said Rivian would first sell the R2 in a “well-appointed,” dual-motor configuration at a price point that would make “the most people the most happy.”

The R2 Performance version sold at launch has 656 horsepower and an estimated driving range as much as 330 miles on a charge, according to the company.

After the launch edition, Rivian plans to release additional premium configurations in late 2026 starting at $53,990, followed by “Standard” configurations starting at less than $49,000 in the first half of next year.

Orange County Register

News Details

Rivian’s more-affordable R2 to debut with $57,990 price tag

News

CONTACT INFO

QUICK LINKS

SERVICES

CURRENT NEWS