Rivian R2 SUV goes after the Model Y with 4695 battery that beats Tesla's 4680 cell specs

Rivian has pulled the wraps off what some deem its most consequential vehicle yet. The R2 SUV officially broke cover at the SXSW expo, and the specs it launches with put Tesla's Model Y on notice.

The R2 Performance version will launch first, priced at $57,990, or close to the Tesla Model Y Performance, followed by a $53,990 Premium trim and a budget $45,000 R2 Standard. 

Rivian R2 range and specs

The top R2 trim is packing dual electric motors, a 656-horsepower output, and an estimated 330-mile range. It charges from 10 to 80 percent in less than 30 minutes, rolls on 21-inch wheels, and gets semi-active suspension with a full suite of drive modes. The Premium trim that will go on sale later in 2026 has the same range and AWD system but a 450-horsepower powertrain.

On the silicon side, the R2 delivers 200 TOPS of edge AI compute, powering an onboard Rivian Assistant and the Autonomy+ hands-free driving system that covers 3.5 million miles of US and Canadian roads and is meant to become a Tesla FSD competitor.

Under the floor sit LG Energy Solution's 4695 cylindrical cells, the first time that a US vehicle has used the larger format. Unlike Tesla's 4680 cells in the Cybertruck that have issues with thermal management, hence charging curve, Rivian says that LG's 4695 cells offer greater energy density and improved thermals compared to the 2170 cells in Rivian's R1 lineup.

That seems correct, as it takes more time to charge a Cybertruck to 80% than an R2, despite the 800V architecture. That is the kind of powertrain innovation that signals Rivian isn't just chasing the Model Y on price but is also intent on beating its specs.

Rivian R2 price

Speaking of pricing, the entry-level R2 Standard, arriving in 2027, will start at $45,000 with a single motor outputting 350 hp and 355 lb-ft of torque. Its range estimate of over 275 miles, however, trails smaller rivals like the Ioniq 5 RWD, which also charges faster thanks to the 800V architecture.

That gap matters because Rivian's survival arguably depends on volume, not just specs. The company is projecting adjusted pretax losses of between $1.8 and $2.1 billion for 2026, even as CEO RJ Scaringe calls the R2 "an inflection point" for the business. Wall Street is estimating around 65,000 vehicle sales for 2026, with one bullish analyst projecting annual R2 demand could eventually reach 200,000 units.

Rivian has somewhat of a cult following, and its boxy but modern design as well as the well-appointed interiors have earned it many customer praises. Whether its street cred will be enough to face the growing competition in the mid-size SUV segment, including the upcoming Lucid Cosmos that is cheaper and offers faster charging, remains to be seen once the R2 sales start later in the spring.

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