- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Rivian R2 Early Reviews Praise New EV as Potential 'Model Y' Competitor
Tech reviewer Marques Brownlee and car critic Doug DeMuro give positive takes on Rivian's more affordable electric SUV.
Published on Feb. 11, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
Early reviews of Rivian's new R2 electric SUV from influential tech and auto reviewers Marques Brownlee and Doug DeMuro have been very positive, with both praising the vehicle's capabilities and potential to compete with Tesla's Model Y in the mass market EV segment. The R2 is seen as a more affordable and scaled-down version of Rivian's larger R1S SUV, with an estimated starting price around $45,000.
Why it matters
The R2 is a crucial model for Rivian as the company looks to expand beyond its initial high-end R1 lineup and reach a broader consumer base. With its more accessible price point, the R2 could help Rivian gain significant market share and establish itself as a major player in the growing electric vehicle space.
The details
Brownlee highlighted the R2's key features, noting it carries over much of what makes the R1S appealing in a smaller, more affordable package. He said the vehicle is likely to surprise people with its speed and capability, and if Rivian can deliver the base $45,000 version with 300+ miles of range, "this can be their Model Y." DeMuro also praised the R2, calling it an "exceptional vehicle" that may be the "best all-around electric vehicle" he's driven.
- Rivian unveiled the R2 in March 2024.
- Rivian is targeting first deliveries of the R2 in the first half of 2026.
- Rivian reported 42,247 vehicle deliveries in 2025, down 18% year-over-year.
The players
Marques Brownlee
A popular tech reviewer also known as MKBHD, who was one of the first non-Rivian employees to test drive the R2.
Doug DeMuro
A prominent car reviewer who test drove the R2 and praised it as an "exceptional vehicle" that may be the "best all-around electric vehicle" he's driven.
Rivian Automotive
An American electric vehicle manufacturer that is developing the R2 as a more affordable and scaled-down version of its larger R1S SUV.
What they’re saying
“Rivian R2 kind of represents the same opportunity for Rivian to scale up as a company.”
— Marques Brownlee
“If they can actually deliver something at that price, if the base $45,000 version of the R2, I think this can be their Model Y.”
— Marques Brownlee
“The Rivian R2 takes everything we love about the R1S SUV and scales it down to a smaller size with a more affordable price.”
— Doug DeMuro, Car Reviewer
“The R2 is an exceptional vehicle. Quite possibly the best all-around electric vehicle I've ever driven in terms of overall ability to do it all.”
— Doug DeMuro, Car Reviewer
What’s next
Rivian is pausing plans for a new Georgia vehicle factory to update its existing Normal, Illinois factory to meet its goal of R2 deliveries in 2026. The Georgia plant could begin construction this year and start production in 2028 with capacity for hundreds of thousands more vehicles.
The takeaway
The positive early reviews of the Rivian R2 suggest the more affordable electric SUV could be a game-changer for the company, potentially giving it a viable competitor to the popular Tesla Model Y and helping Rivian expand its reach into the mass market EV segment.
