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After giving the press a look at its long-awaited R2 crossover, Rivian shocked the crowd by revealing that there was more in store from the EV startup. Behold the R3, along with its extra rugged sibling, the R3X. Both ride on a 110.2-inch wheelbase, which is 5.3 inches shorter than the R2 and way smaller than the R1-based models. While met with much fanfare, the R3 and R3X unfortunately won't be making it to customers until late 2026, though Rivian promises they will eventually be available globally.
Short overhangs, a hatchback roofline with a stubby rear spoiler, and a boxy hood make for some sort of new-age, high-riding Lada Niva wearing Rivian's distinctive front end. The look is further rounded out by flush door handles, plastic cladding, and a sleek light bar at the rear. Rivian says the power-operated rear windshield can be propped open to fit longer items such as surfboards. This is similar in a way to the R2, which features a rear windshield that rolls down into the tailgate.
The R3X in particular takes the R3's stylish build a bit further, making for a distinct "rally car" look. It adds smaller wheels with a dark finish, which are wrapped around chunky tires, along with unique bumpers and orange accents. The interior is set apart by R3X-specific seats, an orange center stripe for the steering wheel, and contrast stitching and metallic trim pieces finished in that same shade of orange.
While the exterior of the R3 may represent a huge departure from Rivian's other models, the interior is much more familiar. In the center of the dashboard lies a wide touchscreen housing the main infotainment, while a smaller digital gauge cluster sits behind the steering wheel. The steering wheel itself is the same new design found on the R2, which features a pair of scroll wheels with haptic feedback for easier menu surfing. There's also a panoramic sunroof above the flat-folding seats, and there are two glove boxes up front. You heard that right, two glove boxes––this feature is based on customer feedback, and can also be found in the R2.
Just like the larger R2, the R3 and R3X will be available in single-, dual- and tri-motor powertrains. The latter will obviously be the punchiest, with one front-mounted motor and two rear-mounted motors enabling a brisk 0-60 time of under three seconds. There will also be a choice of two different battery packs to juice up the motors, with the larger of the pair providing over 300 miles of range. Charging either model from 10 to 80 percent using a DC fast charger will take less than 30 minutes, and both of them will feature Tesla's NACS port. There will also be a CCS adapter on board.
Rivian hasn't released pricing for the R3 or R3X, as unfortunately these vehicles are still a long way off. The larger R2 isn't slated to arrive until the first half of 2026, which means these two should follow either in late 2026 or early 2027. Since the R3-based models are considerably smaller than the R2, they will likely be even more wallet-friendly––pricing could begin at or under $40,000.
Image Credits: Rivian
Revealed
Mar 18, 2024
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Rivian R3 And R3X Make Surprise Debut With Charming Hatchback Looks
We were only expecting the R2, but Rivian surprised us with a pair of even smaller SUVs.
After giving the press a look at its long-awaited R2 crossover, Rivian shocked the crowd by revealing that there was more in store from the EV startup. Behold the R3, along with its extra rugged sibling, the R3X. Both ride on a 110.2-inch wheelbase, which is 5.3 inches shorter than the R2 and way smaller than the R1-based models. While met with much fanfare, the R3 and R3X unfortunately won't be making it to customers until late 2026, though Rivian promises they will eventually be available globally.
Short overhangs, a hatchback roofline with a stubby rear spoiler, and a boxy hood make for some sort of new-age, high-riding Lada Niva wearing Rivian's distinctive front end. The look is further rounded out by flush door handles, plastic cladding, and a sleek light bar at the rear. Rivian says the power-operated rear windshield can be propped open to fit longer items such as surfboards. This is similar in a way to the R2, which features a rear windshield that rolls down into the tailgate.
The R3X in particular takes the R3's stylish build a bit further, making for a distinct "rally car" look. It adds smaller wheels with a dark finish, which are wrapped around chunky tires, along with unique bumpers and orange accents. The interior is set apart by R3X-specific seats, an orange center stripe for the steering wheel, and contrast stitching and metallic trim pieces finished in that same shade of orange.
While the exterior of the R3 may represent a huge departure from Rivian's other models, the interior is much more familiar. In the center of the dashboard lies a wide touchscreen housing the main infotainment, while a smaller digital gauge cluster sits behind the steering wheel. The steering wheel itself is the same new design found on the R2, which features a pair of scroll wheels with haptic feedback for easier menu surfing. There's also a panoramic sunroof above the flat-folding seats, and there are two glove boxes up front. You heard that right, two glove boxes––this feature is based on customer feedback, and can also be found in the R2.
Just like the larger R2, the R3 and R3X will be available in single-, dual- and tri-motor powertrains. The latter will obviously be the punchiest, with one front-mounted motor and two rear-mounted motors enabling a brisk 0-60 time of under three seconds. There will also be a choice of two different battery packs to juice up the motors, with the larger of the pair providing over 300 miles of range. Charging either model from 10 to 80 percent using a DC fast charger will take less than 30 minutes, and both of them will feature Tesla's NACS port. There will also be a CCS adapter on board.
Rivian hasn't released pricing for the R3 or R3X, as unfortunately these vehicles are still a long way off. The larger R2 isn't slated to arrive until the first half of 2026, which means these two should follow either in late 2026 or early 2027. Since the R3-based models are considerably smaller than the R2, they will likely be even more wallet-friendly––pricing could begin at or under $40,000.
Image Credits: Rivian
