Rivian Recap: 06/12/2026
Hey there,
Here's your weekly Rivian Recap for June 12th, 2026.
R2 demo drive impressions for hardware and software, lease deal analysis, missing software at launch, first deliveries and insights into invites.
Let's dive in!
Software
Being R2 launch week, the big story this week is around Rivian OS 2.0 that ships on R2 and is coming to the R1 fleet later this year.
The layout is a fairly dramatic departure from the current layout that sports a top layout for things like quick controls, Rivian Assistant, etc.
In 2.0, these controls move to the side to be more accessible by the driver.
While the elements themselves still feel very Rivian, the new "fish stick" menu bar on the left coupled with the iPadOS style floating windows for things like menus and "slide over" inspired media pane are new.
The very first thing you're going to notice about the R2 software though is actually related to hardware. It's FAST.
Like really, really fast.
Swiping from the edge of the screen on either side immediately invokes the media and quick control pane from either side, and taps are reliably immediate.
It will be interesting to see if there are any architectural improvements that help with speed on the existing in-car computer for Gen1 and Gen2.
Missing Features At Launch
After recently delivering Rivian Assistant for the Gen1 and Gen2 fleet, the absence was noteworthy on the launch configuration I drove.
As it turns out, there are a number of missing things right now.
Here's what's coming via OTA updates:
- Rivian Assistant
- Pet Comfort Mode
- Climate Hold
- Native YouTube
- Google Casting support
- Launch Mode
The need to launch R2 is so high that we are seeing it launch without having parity on day one with the rest of the fleet.
While I do expect this to be remedied before most people are taking delivery, it's notable as the R2 page is advertising expected features vs delivered.
A bit more transparency about features that are coming in the near future but are not yet delivered on cars would be appreciated by many.
I realize there is disclaimer text in the fine print at the very bottom of the page, but given how many people were surprised by the move to Autonomy+ and loss of features indicates more clarity is likely needed.
Autonomy+ Features / Performance
Thankfully, the core features of Autonomy+ are present at launch.
Given that Autonomy+ is the biggest benefit on the launch package bullet points, I'm happy to see hands-free ready and active on day one.
Watching many of the general press videos that were at the event in Utah last week they all seemed to think it was "the same Autonomy+" as R1.
I actually disagree with that analysis as someone who uses Universal Hands Free on a regular basis for both of our Gen2 vehicles.
While it was very similar, I found two core differences:
- Lane keeping was not as confident or consistent
- Light curves demanded touching the wheel
During my very limited route in the demo drive, I was able to loop back over some roads I had just driven in my Gen2 R1T with Autonomy+ without issue, and the R2 complained about wanting hands on wheel.
When watching some of the example coverage from Utah where reviewers got more time with the vehicles, I saw many examples of roads I would've expected Autonomy+ to have more confidence than what was on display.
I don't think this is a big deal, as it is very similar to the very first implementations of the in-house models on Gen2, where they seem to be using a confidence interval for curve slow downs and hands-on wheel.
This has improved quite drastically for Gen2, and I suspect the new form factor of R2 is still being dialed in. Getting more customer deliveries is likely to speed up that flywheel significantly.
If you're lucky enough to take delivery soon, expect more curve slow downs and more requests for hands-on wheel, at least for now.
Future Autonomy+ Features
Hands-free lane centering everywhere the vehicle can see a lane line is honestly what 80% of the market is even looking for.
If the only thing Rivian delivered was "perfect" performance here in the future, such as never wandering into lane widening or on/off ramps, I think most drivers would be happy.
The addition of co-steer and the smoothness improvements to traffic aware cruise control are the foundation of what most are looking for.
However, we know that Rivian has ambitions that go far beyond that.
Currently, Autonomy+ offers:
- Universal Hands Free (anywhere with at least 1 lane line)
- Lane Change on Command, where the driver initiates a lane change by hitting the blinker, but only on pre-approved
What's expected in Q3 2026:
Rivian is calling this "phase 2" of Universal Hands Free, where we see the first major improvement in features since December 2025.
- React to stop signs/stoplights
- Lane change on command (user initiated) anywhere with lane lines
- Auto lane change for highways
- Auto Park
What's expected by end of 2026/start of 2027:
The big promise that Rivian continues to make for their autonomy ambitions is that Gen2 vehicles (which launch R2 basically is), will get "eyes on" point-to-point driver assistance.
The language being used for this is that a "limited rollout" will start by the end of the year, which may mean it starts with some constraints or they do some form of batched roll out to be cautious.
This is an incredibly aggressive timeline, which will mean they will have gone from their first hands-free anything product to hands-free point-to-point within the span of approximately 12 months.
Hardware
As soon as you walk up to and jump in an R2 you can't help but be impressed with the overall packaging.
For a vehicle that is actually ever so slightly shorter, and just a touch wider than a Tesla Model Y, the room inside feels HUGE by comparison.
If your primary use case is 4 very tall adults, or perhaps 2 adults and 2 massive car seats, the R2 should actually prove to have more space than an R1S.
The only real downside to comfort for rear passengers comes down to the angle of thigh support leaving knees a bit high, and no independent rear climate zone.
Overall leg and headroom is abundant in all areas. Definitely class leading.
Ride Quality & Tire Selection
We've been fortunate enough to own both a Gen2 R1S and Gen2 R1T, while we also have a Gen1 R1T in the family for reference.
The R1T rides so much better than even the reworked Gen2 R1S suspension, and it has become our favorite "cruiser" of the two.
Given that, I can not overstate enough just how much the ride quality for R2 has improved over any R1S. What they've done here is pretty remarkable.
The noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) is exceptionally well settled.
You don't get the low speed "chatter" from the suspension that you get in R1 vehicles, and the semi-active dampers for the performance R2 indeed help control the ride of the vehicle through turns.
The nose picks up under heavy acceleration, but you could argue that the far less expensive R2 delivers a more "premium" ride than R1 on air suspension.
Note: The power is stronger than most need at take off with the performance, but it really rips once you hit 45+ mph. Passing on the highway is sublime.
My demo drive was on the 20" All-Terrain wheels, but I was able to immediately ride with someone else in the other vehicle with 21" All-Seasons.
First, both wheels look truly great in person, but this re-affirmed my love for the 20" Black-Sand wheel design in particular.
Second, there actually was a noticeable difference in characteristics between the two wheel choices for ride.
The extra inch of sidewall for the 20" wheels did prove to be a more compliant ride across potholes and rough road surfaces.
Meanwhile, the tire tread of the all-terrain tires specifically did add ever so slightly to the road noise, particularly at speed. But it was far more controlled than our experience with the Scorpions on R1.
In particular, our R1 vehicles that both have All-Terrains have presented notable road hum once the tires get to about 15k miles which is quite annoying and wasn't nearly as present earlier in the tread wear.
The comfort, capability, and future compatibility on the 20" wheel size is easily worth the approximately 7% range loss for me.
Should you decide later you want that range back, you can easily swap to 20" All-Seasons and instantly get the same 330 miles of range.
One final note about ride quality is that the rear-wheel bias vs front-wheel like on R1, coupled with the lightning quick clutch dis/reconnect means almost no one is going to notice the electron sipping feature to be bothersome.
These motors are also WAY more efficient, even on all-terrains.
Rear wheel bias and the much faster dis/reconnect system is something I would love to see come to Gen3 versions of R1 in the future.
Fit and Finish
Both of our Gen2 R1 vehicles were early builds and had various amounts of fit and finish issues that once resolved, have been rock solid.
But being in that early batch had us in and out of service more than we would've cared for at the price point of R1 at the start of ownership.
I can say that both R2's that I sat in were exceptionally well put together, with tight panels, zero rattles, and a complete absence of wind noise.
It really feels like the combination of simplification and experience has led to an R2 that can be well put together, rivaling modern Tesla's (which have come a LONG way and are quite good now).
Mistakes can still happen, and day one alignment is likely still a concern to validate upon delivery, but things look good here.
Cameras
The jump from Gen1 cameras to Gen2 was dramatic, thanks to a big increase in resolution, improved placement, and better dynamic range.
R2 takes another notable step up from even Gen2 with visibly improved resolution (from great to spectacular), further enhanced dynamic range, and a big improvement for warping on the repeater cameras.
Audio Quality
This one is going to be extremely subjective.
A quick scroll through Reddit or social media will show everything from "It's great!" to "It's a mess" or "a dumpster fire".
I had an extremely limited time with the vehicle so I wasn't able to do my normal EQ adjustments or put it through a huge array of tracks, but I was able to get some quick impressions on the current build.
At normal volumes, I think most are going to find the system enjoyable, and it is an improvement over R1 vehicles while still not being exceptional.
The sound stage could benefit from being wider even though it presents as sound simply coming "from everywhere". There's a lack of punch in the mids, but low end response (at low volume) feels balanced.
Things really fall apart though once you push the volume up above 18 or so.
If you're the kind of person who really wants to rock out to your favorite song and feel the music, the dynamics in my limited test really felt like they lost the plot at higher volumes.
I sincerely hope we see this system continue to improve through software updates the same way Gen2 R1 went from being the worst sound system I had heard to "fine" as it stands today.
The good news is that R2 has a starting line that is better than R1 for the song types I tested, and in theory likely has a higher ceiling for performance.
Tesla owners, or those coming from proper luxury brands with impressive sound systems will very likely be letdown with the sound as it stands today.
However, any other "normal" brand will find the sound to be quite enjoyable. This is especially true if you listen at a volumes below 18.
One quirk about the audio solution for R2 is that is does not ship with an FM radio antenna like R1, instead relying solely on iHeartReadio to stream radio stations. This eliminates the "shark fin" but we will see how important this ends up being in practice.
Audio side note: Some sound effects have changed, most noticeable is the loud blinker noise that differs from R1. Wassym has confirmed a change to this noise is coming in a future OTA.
Halo Haptic Wheels
The hardware feature I was most excited to try out were the "Halo Haptic Wheels" that bring a new user control paradigm to R2.
Everyone has been raving about these in the lead up to launch, so the bar was set to a probably unfair level.
While the idea here is genuinely clever, and the haptic feedback with "dead stops" that are software controlled are impressive... they leave a bit to be desired in real world use.
I'm sure I can get used to the control and improve over time, but with the tuning they have at launch I found them to be a bit fiddly and were prone to input error, especially while driving.
There are many axis they are capable of, including push/pull, scroll, and left/right tilt.
In practice, this variability coupled with what seemed to be some input lag leads to overshooting targets or accidental axis input.
Thankfully, much of this should be able to be tuned via software as these have haptic motors that are software controlled, so the precision and reliability of input can be improved over time.
In R1 for example, I feel like Rivian nailed the "flick" for 5 mph jumps on speed control. I'd love to see continued polish as we move forward.
One thing about the wheels that can NOT be changed over time is how they feel from a materials standpoint. The wheels are made of a high quality, but light feeling plastic material.
The look of them and the way others had talked about them could easily lead you to believe they are a "substantial" metal feeling. They are most certainly not that, but they are still high quality.
I would've preferred a weighty metal feeling to add a premium experience to what is likely to be the highest touch point in the car, but it will be interesting to see if other people have a different opinion after extended use.
Community
This week, I was able to help walk my father-in-law through his first time charging anywhere but his home.
He took delivery of a Gen1 Quad R1T back in September 2023, and has found it to be an enjoyable commuter with range that has lasted him for full work weeks away from home or any charging access.
As he approaches retirement and is hesitant about technology, he's been enjoying the R1T even though he acknowledges he doesn't utilize a significant portion of it's capabilities.
After a recent trip, he found himself having a bit of range anxiety for the first time and wanted to top up before heading home for the weekend.
Thankfully, since his card was on file with Rivian, helping him experience just how easy and seamless plug-and-charge was at the local Rivian Adventure Network immediately eliminated charging anxiety.
It's impressive that he was able to go more than 2.5 years of full time EV use without ever needing to charge anywhere but his home, and highlights how fast charging is a rarity for many drivers with level 2 home charging.
This reinforces why I think the cost savings and solid 400v charging performance of R2 is sufficient for the needs of today, even though higher speed 800v+ charging is clearly where things are headed.
The first R2 deliveries have officially begun!
There are also countless "order is in!" posts from those who have been invited to place their orders, with most seeing 4-8 weeks as the estimate for delivery.
Everyone seems to be able to expect a production timeline update by the end of June, with select few being in the order queue before the end of the month.
As of now, Rivian does appear to be following the mix they promised. A portion are based on reservation date, R1 ownership status, and proximity to service centers.
However, there are some that are winning the "selection lottery" and being invited to place their order even though they reserved in the past few weeks.
May the odds be forever in your favor.
Worth Checking Out - VION
The weather is starting to heat up around the country, leading to warmer cabins and notably louder heat pumps for R1S and R1T.
To help combat interior cabin temperatures, VION sunshades have been a terrific (affordable) addition to keep in the frunk.
VION just launched an update to their popular R1S kit that can perfectly fit the 3rd row as well now, and a white version is coming shortly for light interiors.
As a subscriber to the Rivian Recap, you can get 10% off anything site wide with code "TRAVIS", on what is already a stellar product for the price.
Check out their sunshades, carbon activated air filters, and more:
VION Sunshade // VION Air Filters
My thanks to VION for helping make this newsletter possible.
Latest Deals
This is the first week we finally say... R2 has lease and finance offers!
Unfortunately, the lease offer in particular is extremely poor.
I'm doing a full breakdown video here soon on the lease and finance situation for R2, but go in eyes wide open about what the lease entails.
Make sure you check out the dedicated offers page where you can review current Rivian offers. This should be easier to scan which models quality for what offers in one place.
Here's what's sticking out for deals this week:
Dual Large w/Performance [Lease vs Buy Example]
2026 R1S Dual-Large w/Performance (Premium Audio)
2026 R1T Dual-Large w/Performance (Premium Audio, Utility V2 Tonneau)
Dual Max w/Performance [Lease vs Buy Example]
2026 R1S Dual-Max w/Performance (Premium Audio)
2026 R1T Dual-Max w/Performance (Premium Audio, Utility, V2 Tonneau)
**An interesting note about the Forest Edge configurations, is that they show up as a "cheaper lease" when sorting by lowest lease. However, they don't qualify for the current lease cash or finance incentives.
That makes this misleading as Rivian assumes $3k more cash up front to get that lease number down. Leasing an equivalent Dual Max Performance is $1,300 less over 36 months, and financing is $9,202 less with the 0.99% promotional rate.
As a reminder you always want to do $0 down when leasing to minimize losses in the event your vehicle is totaled or stolen during your lease.
Forest Edge is thousands less if you're paying cash, but all other purchase options are notably better with the current promotions on normal trims.**
Tri Max ($3k Lease or 1.99% for 60 months) [Lease vs Buy Example]
All referrals also get 3 months of free charging on the Rivian Adventure Network.
I hope enjoyed this weeks edition of the Rivian Recap. Let me know what you'd like to see more of in future editions!
Even if you just want to say hi, hit reply – I'd love to get to know you 👋
Stay curious ✌️,
Travis Ketchum
P.S. Thinking about buying a new Rivian?
Make sure you use a referral code. A friend, a neighbor, or someone who has helped you along the way.
Here's mine: TRAVIS4699411
P.P.S. Here are some tools and resources you may find useful: