Rivian R2 Interior: Every Storage Space Explained

One of the most underreported stories about the Rivian R2 is just how cleverly Rivian uses every cubic inch of its interior. Despite being roughly the size of a Honda CR-V on the outside, the R2 offers cargo versatility that most larger vehicles can’t match. Here’s a complete walkthrough of the cabin, storage, and practical utility of the R2’s interior.

Exterior Size Context

Before going inside, it helps to understand the R2’s footprint:

• Length: 185.6 inches (similar to a Honda CR-V, BMW X3, Porsche Macan)
• Width: 75 inches
• Height: 66.9 inches
• Wheelbase: 115.6 inches (nearly 10 inches longer than a CR-V)

The key number is the wheelbase. A long wheelbase relative to overall length means the wheels are pushed toward the corners, maximizing interior room. Rivian used every inch of that wheelbase for cabin space rather than front and rear overhangs.

Front Row: Seats, Storage, and Controls

Seating: The Performance and Premium trims come with 12-way power-adjustable front seats with lumbar support. Both are heated and ventilated standard on Performance (heated only on Premium). The Standard trim offers 12-way power driver seat with lumbar and 8-way power passenger seat, heated but not ventilated.

Headroom: 40.9 inches of front headroom is generous — taller drivers will feel comfortable.

The steering wheel: Rivian introduced its “Haptic Halo” steering wheel for the R2 — physical dials that tilt and scroll, replacing touch-sensitive controls. This is a response to criticism of the R1’s fully touch-based wheel interface. In practice, the dials allow volume, autonomy, and other frequently used controls to be adjusted without looking at a screen.

Storage in the front:

• Dual glove boxes — a feature the R1S conspicuously lacked and one of the R2’s interior upgrades. Larger items in one, documents and smaller items in the other.
• Hidden dash drawer — a pull-out storage compartment below the main dashboard area, useful for items you want accessible but out of sight.
• Center console with armrest and storage compartment
• Two cupholders in the console
• Door pockets on both front doors

The dual glove boxes and hidden dash drawer reflect Rivian listening to R1 owner feedback about interior storage. The R2 is meaningfully better organized than its bigger sibling.

The Infotainment System

The R2 centers on a large touchscreen running Rivian’s latest software. Climate control, navigation, vehicle settings, and media all run through the screen.

• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard across all trims
• Over-the-air update capability — Rivian has a strong track record of meaningful OTA improvements on R1 vehicles
• Rivian Assistant voice control — AI-driven, works offline on R2 thanks to a more powerful infotainment computer
• Navigation with EV-specific routing that accounts for charging stops

Second Row: The Legroom Surprise

The R2’s rear legroom is one of its most surprising specifications.

Second-row legroom: 40.4 inches

That number beats the R1S (approximately 38.3 inches) and is competitive with much larger SUVs. The long wheelbase is doing the work here — there’s genuine space for adults on long trips without the knees-to-seatback experience of many compact crossovers.

Second-row features:

• 40/20/40 split-folding rear seat — the center section folds independently, allowing long items like skis to pass through while still seating two rear passengers
• Heated rear outboard seats standard on Performance and Premium
• Rear passengers get their own USB-C charging ports
• Rear HVAC vents for independent temperature comfort

The 40/20/40 split is particularly useful for adventure use: skis, paddleboards, or long lumber can slide through the center section while still carrying four people.

The Cargo Area: More Than the Numbers Suggest

Cargo behind second row: 28.5 cubic feet Cargo with second row folded: approximately 62 additional cubic feet Total storage (all seats folded + front trunk): 90.1 cubic feet

For comparison, the Tesla Model Y offers approximately 76.2 cubic feet total. The R2 beats it by nearly 14 cubic feet despite being a comparable-sized vehicle.

The secret is the fold-flat configuration. Unlike many SUVs where the rear seats fold but leave an angle or lip, the R2’s rear seats fold completely flat — creating a genuinely level loading surface. Combined with the front seats that also fold flat, you get a sleeping platform that extends the full length of the vehicle: enough for two adults to sleep inside without a tent.

The Roll-Down Rear Glass: The Feature That Changes Everything

Available on Performance and Premium trims (not Standard), the roll-down rear glass is one of the R2’s most distinctive and practically useful features.

Instead of a conventional rear hatch that swings up, the R2’s rear glass retracts down into the liftgate, leaving the hatch area open like a pickup truck bed. The liftgate itself still opens fully for normal loading. But with the glass retracted:

• Skis, lumber, kayaks, ladders, surfboards, and other long items slide in without height restriction
• The vehicle can be used like a light-duty truck bed for oversized cargo
• No need for a roof rack or trailer for items up to approximately 6 feet long

This was a common feature on American SUVs in the 1990s and early 2000s before automakers eliminated it to cut costs. Rivian brought it back specifically because the R2’s outdoor-adventure customer base asked for it. It’s not available on the Standard trim — a meaningful reason to consider the Premium over the Standard if you regularly haul gear.

The Front Trunk (Frunk)

Like all Rivians, the R2 has a front trunk under the hood where an engine would be on a gas vehicle.

• Capacity: approximately 4.5 cubic feet
• Weather-sealed and easy to clean
• Drain hole for ice/wet gear
• Large enough for a day pack, shoes, wet gear, cables, or your charging adapter kit
• Clamshell opening with a wide aperture for easy loading

The frunk is one of the small EV ownership joys that grows on you quickly. Keeping daily-use items there — chargers, umbrella, reusable bags — means the main cargo area stays available without digging through your car’s contents.

Sleeping in the R2

Rivian specifically engineered the R2 for car camping, and the flat-fold capability is central to that.

With both front and rear seats folded flat, the R2 creates a sleeping platform of approximately 6.5 feet in length and over 4 feet in width at the widest point. Two adults can sleep inside with sleeping pads — a genuine improvement over the R1S where the front seats don’t fold flat.

The combination of the flat floor, roll-down rear glass for ventilation (on Performance and Premium), and the spacious dimensions makes the R2 one of the most practical car-camping vehicles available in its price range.

Interior Materials and Quality

Performance and Premium: Birch wood accents in either Black Crater Signature (dark tones) or Coastal Cloud Signature (lighter tones). Heated and ventilated front seats in premium synthetic leather. Overall material quality has been consistently praised in first-drive reviews — Top Gear described the cabin as “premium without being delicate.”

Standard: Black Crater interior without the Signature wood accents. Heated front seats but no ventilation. Still well-appointed by mid-size segment standards — the simplification is relative to the upper trims, not absolute.

Noise levels: Reviewers have noted the R2’s cabin is noticeably quieter than competitors, with good acoustic insulation reducing wind and road noise. The 20-inch all-terrain tires introduce some additional road noise, but the cabin remains quieter than most gas SUVs at highway speeds.

Practical Storage Summary

The R2’s interior story is one of disciplined engineering — every available space used thoughtfully, with specific attention to the kind of gear-hauling, camping, and adventure use that defines Rivian’s customer base.