U.S. electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian has given the spotlight to its next production EV – the R2, a five-seater advertised as a more affordable alternative to the R1S/R1T and a worthy rival of the Tesla Model Y. It will go on sale with one, two and three motors priced from roughly $45,000 for the one-motor version, but it won’t be anytime soon.

Both on the outside and from the inside, the R2 resembles its larger cousin, the R1S. It is sized 4,714 mm (184.2 inches) long, 2,144 mm (83.8 in) wide and 1,699 mm (66.4 in) tall with 2,936 mm (114.7 in) between the axles. Its approach and departure angles amount to 25 and 27 degrees respectively, and the ground clearance maxes out at 249 mm (9.73 in).

Like its flagship relative, the R2 sports a rather boxy exterior with the company’s signature lighting all around. It has a fairly spacious luggage compartment in the frunk that easily fits a suitcase and a couple of bags, and comes with not one, but two glove compartments. All seat backs can be folded down to create a sleeping area. Like other Rivian vehicles, the R2 is actively marketed towards nature lovers, so this is not surprising.

Regardless of your chosen motor count, your mileage on a single charge will exceed 483 km (300 miles), Rivian claims. The top spec will also accelerate 0-96.6 km/h (0-60 mph) in under three seconds. Compatibility with the NACS charging standard means owners will be able to top up the battery at any Tesla Supercharger station.

In its simplest version, the R2 is just $640 more expensive than the cheapest Tesla Model Y. Both EVs are eligible for a $7,500 state incentive in the USA. However, as appealing as it may look, the R2 will not go into production until Rivian finishes the construction of its new factory. You can already make a preorder, but the actual deliveries will not be made until at least early 2026.