Top Gear Names the Rivian R2 Its US SUV of the Year
Top Gear Magazine named the Rivian R2 its US SUV of the Year. See the price, range and horsepower by trim, plus the EV sales backdrop.
British publication Top Gear Magazine has named the Rivian R2 the United States’ “SUV of the Year.” The magazine wrote that among 2026’s crop of SUVs, it fell hardest for the “refreshing, relaxed Rivian,” and said that, unlike some failed EV startups, the company does not look like one close to collapse.
The award arrives while the market for electric vehicles is shifting, according to USA TODAY, which compiled details on the 2027 R2.
The R2 by the numbers
- A little under $45,000: the starting price of the 2027 R2. The top trim sells for nearly $58,000.
- 275 miles: estimated electric range of the Standard trim, which has 350 horsepower, according to Rivian.
- 330 miles: estimated range of the Performance trim, which has 656 horsepower, the company said.
- 19 to 21 inches: wheel sizes, depending on trim. The R2 comes in three trims and has a touchscreen of nearly 16 inches.
Rivian said the motor system is similar to the ones in its R1T electric pickup and R1S SUV. Driver-assistance features include blind-spot warnings, forward collision avoidance assistance, lane departure warnings and lane keep assistance.
Why it matters for Rivian
The R2 is the company’s first attempt at a more affordable electric vehicle. Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe said on the “On with Kara Swisher” podcast on Jan. 29 that the R2 has to succeed to support the pace of construction and the technology and infrastructure spending. He said a company making only 15,000 cars a year would look very different as a business.
EV demand after the tax credit ended
Demand for plug-in cars fell early in 2026 after President Donald Trump signed legislation ending the $7,500 federal tax credit for electric vehicles. Gas prices then averaged over $4 a gallon for most of the year, according to AAA, and that pushed some drivers to look at EVs again.
Cox Automotive reported that electric cars made up 6.4% of new-vehicle sales in the third quarter of 2026, up from 5.8% in the second quarter. In the third quarter of 2025, the last quarter with federal credits, the share was over 10%.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuel Data Center counted 5.6 million fully electric cars nationwide in 2025. The agency said more than 240 million gasoline-powered cars were registered in the country last year.
What a reviewer liked and did not
Charles Singh of The Tennessean and the USA TODAY Cars team reviewed the 2027 R2. He praised its distinctive front end and headlights, and said it accelerates quickly and has precise steering. He wrote that its range is practical for drivers with access to home charging or direct current fast chargers.
He also cautioned that the average EV shopper may not find the R2 the best pick. In his view, its high ground clearance and power make it a capable adventure vehicle that can also serve as a daily driver, but more affordable EVs on the market are less specialized. For buyers who want an EV for trails, he wrote, “there are few better options than the R2.”
Source: YAHOO!
