Rivian R2 Rear Door Release Sparks Debate

Daily Car

·

12/02/2026

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Why are people talking about the door handles on the new Rivian R2?

Electric cars often hide the latch and open the door with a button so the body side stays flush. If the 12 V battery dies during a crash, the button stops working and the door stays shut. Law therefore demands a second way out that needs no electricity. The argument about the Rivian R2 is that the manual release for the back doors is awkward to reach and to use.

How did older Rivian models solve the same problem?

The first R1T and R1S kept a normal pull handle - one tug triggered the electric latch and, if power was lost also pulled a steel cable to free the latch. When Rivian updated the R1 line it moved the rear door cable behind a snap off trim piece on the door card. Critics say that hiding the cable made the escape path slower and less obvious.

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What does the R2 show today?

The prototype R2 keeps a full mechanical grip for the front doors. In back, a short cord sits behind a plastic plug. A rider must pry the plug away then yank the cord. The setup is better than the hidden cable in the refreshed R1 but it still takes two separate motions instead of one pull on a handle.

How have viewers reacted?

Posts, videos and comment threads show wide disapproval - drivers fear that a panicked child, an elder or an injured person will waste seconds hunting for a plug and a cord. Many ask why the rear doors cannot use the same proven handle that the front doors already have.

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Will the production R2 keep this layout?

The cars on display are test units - parts often change before the assembly line starts. Rivian has heard the complaints and still has time to swap the rear door release for a simpler lever or handle.

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