Skip to main content

The R3 is Rivian’s surprise electric crossover

Rivian R3
Rivian

Rivian didn’t just announce the R2 platform at its latest launch event — in a surprise twist, it also announced the R3 crossover. The R3 is Rivian’s smallest car yet, offering a size much closer to the likes of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 than the SUVs that came before it.

Of course, not only is the Rivian R3 smaller, but presumably, it’s also cheaper. Rivian didn’t reveal actual pricing for the car, but it did say that it would be less than the R2’s $45,000 price. Also, it may be some time before we start seeing the R3 on the road — the car will follow the R2, which isn’t set to be available until the first half of 2026.

Recommended Videos

The Rivian R3’s styling is similar to that of other Rivian cars, but in a hatchback shape. At the front, the car still has oval headlights, while at the back, unlike most hatchbacks, there’s lift-up rear glass.

Rivian R3 Interior
Rivian

The R3 is also available in a series of configurations, including single-motor, dual-motor, and tri-motor drivetrains. Rivian even announced a performance variant of the car, called the R3X, which has a slightly wider stance and a tri-motor setup. It looks to be Rivian’s take on a rally car, though the exact performance of the car has yet to be revealed.

Depending on the price of the car and the timing, Rivian could become one of the major EV players. The EV world has been dominated by the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, and Ford Mustang Mach-E, at least in the U.S. If the Rivian R3 can hit a similar price point while delivering Rivian’s trademark sportiness and utility, it could seriously raise the level of competition in the EV space.

Of course, given the pace of EV development, it’s hard to imagine what the landscape will look like by the time the R3 is released — which is unlikely to be before the second half of 2026, at the very earliest, and more likely in 2027 or beyond. The R3 isn’t yet up for reservations, unlike the Rivian R2, which can be reserved right now.

Christian de Looper
Christian de Looper is a long-time freelance writer who has covered every facet of the consumer tech and electric vehicle…
Rivian R1S vs. Kia EV9: Is the more expensive electric SUV really better?
The front three-quarter view of a 2022 Rivian against a rocky backdrop.

While electric crossovers have become extremely popular, SUV-sized vehicles haven't been quite as common. Sure, Tesla calls the Model X an SUV, but many customers think of a specific shape and size of car when they think of an SUV -- and the Tesla Model X doesn't really fit that. Now, however, actual electric SUVs are finally coming out -- like the Rivian R1S and the Kia EV9.

The Rivian R1S may come from a lesser-known and smaller brand, but that certainly doesn't make it worse. In fact, it could make the company more nimble, and more innovative. But, there's still something to be said for the reliability of a well-known brand.

Read more
2022 Rivian R1S first drive review: An EV SUV fit for an expedition or a drag race
The front three-quarter view of a 2022 Rivian against a rocky backdrop.

Rivian beat the likes of Ford, General Motors, and Tesla to market with an electric pickup truck, but now it’s time for act two.

The 2022 Rivian R1S shares most of its DNA with the Rivian R1T pickup released late last year, but in place of a bed, it has a three-row cabin with seating for seven. It retains the R1T’s distinctive styling, impressive off-road capability, and improbable acceleration, but in a package for drivers who need to carry people instead of stuff.

Read more
Rivian reportedly delays R1T deliveries amid supply chain and quality issues
People and a dog standing in front of a Rivian R1T electric pickup truck.

Rivian successfully launched production of the R1T, its first model, in a former Mitsubishi factory located in Normal, Illinois. Digital Trends drove the electric truck in September 2021 and loved it, but a new report suggests it will take some time before many buyers can do the same.

Several members of the Rivian Forums wrote that a representative for the young company had reached out to inform them of delivery delays. One said that his estimated delivery date was pushed back from October 2021 to February 2022; he added that the Guide the company assigned him blamed the setback on supply chain-related issues. Another user who claims to have placed a reservation for the R1T in February 2019 also wrote that Rivian moved the estimated delivery date from October 2021 to February 2022. Interestingly, that customer added that the Guide blamed the delay on quality control-related issues, though problems with the supply chain were also partly to blame.

Read more