R2 Launch Watch

[R1TVT]

The Rivian’s wheel and mirror adjustment buried in the screen is another example of terrible UX.

To be fair - they aren't buried - you can reach them when on any infotainment screen in the U/I:

1 tap from top Nav bar when you hit it your profile to reach both mirror and steering wheel - then adjust with steering wheel scrolls
1 tap from bottom Nav bar for all HVAC controls.

Maybe you were trying to access them from "settings" or somewhere else?

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

To be fair - they aren't buried - you can reach them when on any infotainment screen in the U/I:

1 tap from top Nav bar when you hit it your profile to reach both mirror and steering wheel - then adjust with steering wheel scrolls
1 tap from bottom Nav bar for all HVAC controls.

Maybe you were trying to access them from "settings" or somewhere else?

I know you’re a big fan of Rivian, and I would love to be too. I am for most of the vehicles.

But this is a failure of considering safety on the part of all the automotive design teams that are moving controls into touch screens. And it’s not just me or even one or two other people saying this. Scientific research into safety and usability show this to be true as well.

In a Rivian, interacting with any of those functions I mentioned requires at least two taps and a third interaction with the adjustment control. One tap to open the correct menu, a second tap to choose the function, and then an interaction with the control itself. Every tap requires looking at the screen to find the right place to tap because there’s no physical indication at your fingertips to indicate that you’re engaging with the correct function and mis-tapping the screen can engage other menus or functions. You can’t even “feel around” for the functions.

For the vents, it’s even worse. You have to look for and tap the menu. Then you have to find the vent you want to adjust (the adjustment “handles” move around based on where they were last set), then you have to keep your eyes on the screen while you drag the vent “handle” on the screen to adjust the pointing of the vents.

On all vehicles I’ve owned to-date—and it’s a lot—I have been able to adjust the seat, mirrors, steering wheel, and vent directions without taking my eyes off the road. That is when the options were available.

I’m not willing to give up the safety physical controls provide for the sake of “advancements” in UI because some programmers think they know better than 100+ years of automobile engineering.

Moving fundamental functions to touchscreens is a failure of understanding the purpose of those functions and the inherent safety failures that are involved when taking eyes off the road.

"Overall, the results support a hybrid interface design that involves assigning safety-critical, high-frequency actions to physical controls, assigning configuration-heavy and integrative tasks to a touchscreen, and using brief vibrotactile confirmations to reduce verification time and glance time."

"Objective and subjective results of the pilot study indicate that the control of touch screen panels causes higher visual, manual, and cognitive distraction than the use of physical buttons."

 

[oldgeeksguide]

I understand there are people that prefer to have buttons still to each their own. However, saying that the UX in the R2 is going backwards compared to the Mustang is like saying you prefer a BlackBerry over an iPhone 17 Pro lol!

R2 has some of the most advanced UX when it comes out. One thing that's always puzzled me is are people just constantly changing the HVAC the entire time while they're driving? I keep mine on auto and every now and then I may adjust the temp, but otherwise "I set it and forget it" little inside joke for those who get it.

I have had screen only controls for 4 going on 5 years and its just become the norm. The controls are extremely intuitive and the UX is expertly designed for all users. Furthermore, with R2 having the scroll wheels full adjustment of the HVAC can be done without ever taking your hands off the steering wheel, making those irresistible HVAC buttons obsolete. Screens are just the way of the future like going from analog to digital speedometers.

Don't believe me, just look at my 2025 Genesis GV70 loaner HVAC controls. Yep, aside from temp knobs, screens again.
View attachment 14516

They are the current fad, and they are a way for manufacturers to save money. Calling it “the wave of the future” doesn’t make it good. It’s bad ergonomics and bad UI design. As long as there are alternatives, I’m not spending money to have a bad UI. We’re already seeing manufacturers walk it back. One of my biggest pet peeves is the way people conflate EVs with stupid door handles, touch screens and capacitive “buttons”. We can have nice things if we stop accepting bad things just because someone claims “it’s the future”.

 

[rehajm]

But then what about those 6 extra miles they get from putting the wiper in its cubby

…the explanation I heard was the area above the glass is the critical aerodynamics feature so a wiper mounted above the glass was out of the question. The ‘wiper cubby’ while making the tailgate neat and tidy isn’t primarily for aero it’s because the blade can’t be surface mounted and still have the lowering glass. Obviously moot with the fixed rear glass, hence the surface mount and some cost savings for the base model…

 

[Scout_Lookout]

They are the current fad, and they are a way for manufacturers to save money. Calling it “the wave of the future” doesn’t make it good. It’s bad ergonomics and bad UI design. As long as there are alternatives, I’m not spending money to have a bad UI. We’re already seeing manufacturers walk it back. One of my biggest pet peeves is the way people conflate EVs with stupid door handles, touch screens and capacitive “buttons”. We can have nice things if we stop accepting bad things just because someone claims “it’s the future”.

The strength of your opinion is very interesting. I would be curious to hear what your use and length of experience of the aforementioned UI's and how do you find the ergonomics and UI to be so bad?

 

[Scout_Lookout]

I know you’re a big fan of Rivian, and I would love to be too. I am for most of the vehicles.

But this is a failure of considering safety on the part of all the automotive design teams that are moving controls into touch screens. And it’s not just me or even one or two other people saying this. Scientific research into safety and usability show this to be true as well.

In a Rivian, interacting with any of those functions I mentioned requires at least two taps and a third interaction with the adjustment control. One tap to open the correct menu, a second tap to choose the function, and then an interaction with the control itself. Every tap requires looking at the screen to find the right place to tap because there’s no physical indication at your fingertips to indicate that you’re engaging with the correct function and mis-tapping the screen can engage other menus or functions. You can’t even “feel around” for the functions.

For the vents, it’s even worse. You have to look for and tap the menu. Then you have to find the vent you want to adjust (the adjustment “handles” move around based on where they were last set), then you have to keep your eyes on the screen while you drag the vent “handle” on the screen to adjust the pointing of the vents.

On all vehicles I’ve owned to-date—and it’s a lot—I have been able to adjust the seat, mirrors, steering wheel, and vent directions without taking my eyes off the road. That is when the options were available.

I’m not willing to give up the safety physical controls provide for the sake of “advancements” in UI because some programmers think they know better than 100+ years of automobile engineering.

Moving fundamental functions to touchscreens is a failure of understanding the purpose of those functions and the inherent safety failures that are involved when taking eyes off the road.

I guess for me I am part of the abnorm. I rarely ever go into my UI for any of those adjustments and if I do I just double pull on the gear selector, go into self drive and then its twice as safe because now you have 3 pairs of eyes on the road instead of just one. I pretty much never use the mirrors because the cameras are crystal clear, I set my HVAC on auto but I can easily change the temp at the bottom left of the screen if need be, I dont ever adjust my seat, but as for the Rivian there are still physical controls to adjust the seat on the side side of it.

However, I will absolutely agree that adjusting the vents is the absolute worst on the Rivian, but again once they're adjusted I dont move them again, and when the wife or kids are riding they have their preset saved so as soon as they hope in they push the temp on the screen, and select the profile.

Now where I do spend the majority of the time in the UI is in spotify lol! But then again I just put in self drive and dont worry about it. And if it wont go into self drive for whatever reason I use voice commands and it works just fine. But like I said I may be the abnorm and if those of you who need frequent access to things I'm sure its nice to be able to feel for what you want. I've just become accustomed to not using or needing them so thats probably why my adoption of screens has been instantaneous.

 

[cyure]

R2 schedule of appearances.

https://riviantrackr.com/news/rivian-r2-is-coming-to-a-city-near-you-heres-the-full-tour-schedule/

 

[R1TVT]

I guess for me I am part of the abnorm. I rarely ever go into my UI for any of those adjustments and if I do I just double pull on the gear selector, go into self drive and then its twice as safe because now you have 3 pairs of eyes on the road instead of just one.

Ditto - I do the same thing if I need to fiddle around with anything in the truck, and typically I'm not fiddling around with anything super distracting while driving, so its a non-issue. My eyes spend way more time wandering around outside the truck, than they do on the U/I screen!

I know you’re a big fan of Rivian, and I would love to be too.

I'm a fan of many things about the R1T, but I am also not a fan of everything - which is why I am here. I wasn't arguing against manual vents for the record - I would actually prefer them. I was pointing out that 1 click to a control is not "buried" in the U/I.

My biggest gripe with the vents isn't the UI or a single tap to get to them... Its that they depend on electronics and motors to move. I would much prefer fully manual vents. That equates to easier and less expensive repairs if or when something breaks. All of that said, vents are interesting because they usually involve moving or pushing a vent fin or tab. If they aren't designed intentionally, they too can break pretty easily too (ask my how I know). One of the thing that attracts me to Scout is that it does appear to be more "ruggedized" (if that is a word) than my R1T.

At the end of the day, I'm guessing Scout will adopt more physical, tactile and manual operations wherever it can. I'm all for it. But I'm also super excited about the partnership with Rivian and the fact that Scout will use Zonal Architecture as they develop their own U/I, b/c it has become that good in the R1T.

 

[J Alynn]

Ditto - I do the same thing if I need to fiddle around with anything in the truck, and typically I'm not fiddling around with anything super distracting while driving, so its a non-issue. My eyes spend way more time wandering around outside the truck, than they do on the U/I screen!


I'm a fan of many things about the R1T, but I am also not a fan of everything - which is why I am here. I wasn't arguing against manual vents for the record - I would actually prefer them. I was pointing out that 1 click to a control is not "buried" in the U/I.

My biggest gripe with the vents isn't the UI or a single tap to get to them... Its that they depend on electronics and motors to move. I would much prefer fully manual vents. That equates to easier and less expensive repairs if or when something breaks. All of that said, vents are interesting because they usually involve moving or pushing a vent fin or tab. If they aren't designed intentionally, they too can break pretty easily too (ask my how I know). One of the thing that attracts me to Scout is that it does appear to be more "ruggedized" (if that is a word) than my R1T.

At the end of the day, I'm guessing Scout will adopt more physical, tactile and manual operations wherever it can. I'm all for it. But I'm also super excited about the partnership with Rivian and the fact that Scout will use Zonal Architecture as they develop their own U/I, b/c it has become that good in the R1T.

Well I do need to ask. I realize they are plastic but what did you do to break one? That’s something I’ve never done or seen happen-even in work trucks that are used hard. I hope it’s a good story

 

[RodorW]

Some of them are just that cheap, we broke 1 in our Nitro not sure how we did it but we couldn’t close the vent anymore just up and down
And in a Taurus the the entire control bit broke off, no unwarranted pressure, just casual use, vents can be way too cheap, especially when they’re big

 

[R1TVT]

Well I do need to ask. I realize they are plastic but what did you do to break one? That’s something I’ve never done or seen happen-even in work trucks that are used hard. I hope it’s a good story

Didn't happen in my truck. Kids broke one (likely kicked the vent putting their feet up on the dash if I know them) in another car! They are well-protected in the R1T actually.

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

My preference would also be to do away with the motors in the vents. They're unnecessary.

 

[maynard]

My preference would also be to do away with the motors in the vents. They're unnecessary.

Just one more thing to break...

 

[J Alynn]

My preference would also be to do away with the motors in the vents. They're unnecessary.

Yes-absolutely no need for this. Just cost and over complicated

 

[Scout_Lookout]

Great news I RSVP'd to my local Rivian event and this is the email response I got! It looks like at the R2 viewing events people WILL be able to get inside and tinker, and not only that but they're going to have several at the locations in different colors. Looking forward to this!

 

[SaraLiz]

Great news I RSVP'd to my local Rivian event and this is the email response I got! It looks like at the R2 viewing events people WILL be able to get inside and tinker, and not only that but they're going to have several at the locations in different colors. Looking forward to this!

View attachment 14578

I RSVP'd to Denver! Looking forward to checking out the interior space of the R2. The small cargo volume numbers behind the rear seats worry me for my needs, so it'll be great to get eyes on it to either definitely rule it out or confirm I want to continue the wait and see approach in the pre-Scout days.

 

[Scout_Lookout]

I RSVP'd to Denver! Looking forward to checking out the interior space of the R2. The small cargo volume numbers behind the rear seats worry me for my needs, so it'll be great to get eyes on it to either definitely rule it out or confirm I want to continue the wait and see approach in the pre-Scout days.

I'm really excited to see R2 again I saw it two years ago in Atlanta and it was roped off. But even more excited I'm going to go see the Scouts first in a couple of weeks in SC and then R2 in May, so I hopefully that will give me all the information I need to decide what my next step will be. I really want to get my R1T next to the Terra for a photo and size comparison. I think that would be awesome to see. Maybe @CP1@scoutmotors can help make that happen?

 

[LastDayScout]

I like the R2 overall, the only things that are an issue for me is the 400v charging, it just seems a little slow compared to other competitors these days. The other thing for me, is I would probably look at the Premium trim if I were to ever consider getting one, and the paint options just seem all dark, there's not one bright color option (other than white and I don't like white paint), would have been nice to have at least one bright color, whether it's a lighter shade of blue, or a red/orange etc.

I agree about the colors. But, 400v is not all that bad. You are correct that much of the industry is moving to 800v. However, it can only be used at DCFCs that support and provide over 350kw. There are many but not all. Furthermore, that really only matters if you plan to use high power public charging frequently. If you charge at home 400v is generally more than enough.

 

[Scout_Lookout]

I agree about the colors. But, 400v is not all that bad. You are correct that much of the industry is moving to 800v. However, it can only be used at DCFCs that support and provide over 350kw. There are many but not all. Furthermore, that really only matters if you plan to use high power public charging frequently. If you charge at home 400v is generally more than enough.

OOO did an interview with RJ regarding this, and judging from the data Rivian collected the vast majority of owners (I'm one of them) home charge.

 

[MaddMatt]

Well I do need to ask. I realize they are plastic but what did you do to break one? That’s something I’ve never done or seen happen-even in work trucks that are used hard. I hope it’s a good story

Thats interesting to me - I put vent breakage into the not-if-but-when category, my personal list of cars with broken vent fans is probably much higher than those without - and while I like the cool factor, I'm not a fan of the added complexity. On the first generation Titans the "blend door" inside the system is a known failure point, mine sure made a lot of noise while it was trying to move, but at 167k miles already I just lived with it, wasn't worth the labor to fix.

But not a deal breaker for me, if the vent doors are electric or work by magic, whatever, I'll take the risk. Way back in the '80s my mom bought a Mazda 626 GT, I was in high school and that was the nicest, and probably only new, car she ever bought. It had a vent in the center of the dash that would move back and forth electrically, made it feel like a rotating bed room fan. Was a very "cool" feature.