It’s a big day for Rivian. During the debut of the Tesla Model Y-fighting R2 crossover, the electric vehicle startup surprised everyone with something even smaller — the Rivian R3. Not only would this be a huge step to scaling the automaker, it’s also a compelling piece of design that’s attractive in its own right. Cooler still, it doesn’t appear to be some cost-cut special — it shares a whole lot with its incoming big brother.
Sure, it might not be a flagship R1T truck or R1S SUV, but few companies are built on flagships alone. Selling in volume is critical to the survival of just about any EV startup, as it’s a way to amortize business costs and build success. Judging by what we’re seeing here, Rivian has drive to it, even if we’ll all have to wait a few years.
Basically, the Rivian R3 is a shrunk-down R2 — same architecture, just with more compact dimensions, including a shorter 2,800 mm wheelbase. That means a choice of single-motor, dual-motor, and tri-motor layouts.
However, the R3 looks less like a traditional crossover and more like a hatchback. There’s a bit of Giugiaro to the C-pillars, greenhouse, and rear glass that’s far more subtle than the Hyundai Ioniq 5’s homage to the 1980s. Interestingly, that rear glass can be opened separately from the hatch, which may mitigate the bite the rear window rake takes out of cargo space.
On the inside of the Rivian R3, there’s a lot to talk about. Not only is a frunk on tap, the rear seats appear to fold in a 40/20/40 split for flexibility between long items and passengers. In addition, all seats fold down to facilitate car camping, the dashboard features two glove boxes, and the floor in the back looks pretty flat. Despite compact dimensions, there’s a chance the Rivian R3 could seat four adults in comfort, which is really what people are looking for in this segment.
Oh, and if you want to get a little bit rowdy, Rivian is lining something up for you. Called the R3X, it’s a tri-motor all-wheel-drive lifted hot hatch on all-terrain tires that gives off Volkswagen Golf Country vibes in the best way possible. If you want a relatively compact electric vehicle cosplaying as a rally car, the R3X holds a lot of promise.
Pricing and timing hasn’t been announced yet, but with the R2 going on sale in the first half of 2026, expect the R3 to follow along later. Is that too far out? At this point, it’s hard to say. A two-year wait for a car from a new production facility isn’t the end of the world, but it could give manufacturers a time to better position themselves to claw interest back.
Still, if Rivian plays its cards right, this could be its Tesla Model 3 moment. The Rivian R3 doesn’t have to be the greatest thing since sliced bread, it just has to have appeal. From what we’re seeing, so long as pricing and range are right, the Rivian R3 is a great-looking car that could be a winner.
(Photo credits: Rivian)
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If anyone from Honda is reading this, here is the next gen Element that every current and former Element owner has been waiting for.
I love that the Rivian design language isn’t angry or aggressive. I love that it isn’t trying too hard to be slick and super sporty. I love that it looks like a clean, honest vehicle with solid utilitarian chops without leaning so hard on utility that it ends up being brutalist and ugly. It’s cute but not cutesy. In a word, I think this is brilliantly done.
That’s a terrific looking little truck. Those proportions work well with Rivian’s design language. I’ve been wondering what the Rivian face would look like on a sedan which is probably something that will never exist, but I bet would be awesome.
https://imgur.com/2SL2KNE
Not a sedan really but you get the idea…
See this is genuinely something I would buy. If it’s reasonably priced (ie inline with model 3/ioniq 5 etc) then it could very well replace my cupra if it’s available in Australia by about 2027!
Love the way this looks. Hopefully by 2026-2027 Rivian will figure out how put actual buttons in there, instead of farting capacitive touchscreen trash all over the interior…
I love it outside of the hilariously huge wheels.
All you need to lower it is new wheels and brakes that fit the new small wheels. Instantly a street racer with no suspension change!
Very odd proportions, especially with those huge wheels. Isn’t that inefficient on an EV?
It’s as though they took a normally-proportioned hatchback and magnified it by 30%. I guess I’m not the target market.
Ooooohhh these are compelling. If they can match the R1’s interior quality and fit & finish and launch projections, my next vehicle may well be a Rivian instead of a Mazda or Volvo.
It looks sweet, but I can’t go back to not having an open bed. R3T must be coming sooner or later, right!?
I wouldn’t rule out an R2T, but I doubt an R3T would be in the cards. 110″ is a pretty short wheelbase for a truck, especially with a crew cab.
R3T single cab would be fine with me. I love the old-school little ’80s trucks – my only issue is a lack of place to charge, when it comes to EVs.
R3T with a bed cap ≈ an electric replacement for the Transit Connect?
Cute! This is a great looking little car that should be far more useful than its exterior dimensions suggest.
More looking forward to the R2. A dual motor R2 would be a fairly direct replacement for my RAV4.
Wow, that looks really great. They can’t put this out soon enough.
This is an EV dripping with character that might just pry me away from my ICE cars. Love it!
Holy hell if I hadn’t bought an EV6 last July, I’d be throwing money at this car immediately.
I absolutely love it.
Reminds me of both a Lada Niva, and the first gen GTI.
How are you liking the EV6?
Have to post comment here as I’m not verified on Twitter. @Thomas Hundal, can I get a copy of that header image minus the text or where I can find it? I want to play with the colorways on it. Hint: all frogs all the time ; )
That black rocker panel / cladding makes this look like one of those old Camaro bodies on top of a blazer that one sees parked next to independent gas station/bait shop/liquor stores. Looks tall and clumsy and the big wheels don’t help at all.
Edit: the actual design perched atop the black band of mystery and silly tires is actually very nice, the headlights in particular are a vast improvement on the squinty eyes headlights on most cars
As an R1S owner I’m clearly biased, but I love the R3. This would make such a great replacement for my Bolt EV, and I’d be willing to pay much more than a Bolt for it based on my experience with the higher quality materials and technology that I’d get from the Rivian over a Chevy. Hopefully Rivian survives to build it.
I see major Euro 80s hot hatch vibes from the a pillar back. Some elements of the front don’t vibe as well with that though. there is a disconnect between the in front of the a pillar and behind the a pillar, perhaps related to trying to stick TOO devotedly to the existing front design language. A riff on it, tied to these new shapes, would, I think, be better.
I can’t wait to see the color choices 🙂
Hope they keep the green interior option from the R1. They need to keep up with fun exterior colors, too. Their green, blue, orange, and yellow (retired) qualify.
Should’ve been called the R16, as a modern day Renault 16
If the R2 goes on sale in 2026 and the R3 follows after, then wouldn’t it be a 3+ year wait? I seriously doubt they would release the R2 and R3 in the same year.
“There’s a bit of Giugiaro to the C-pillars, greenhouse, and rear glass”
Is see more than a little first gen Fiat Panda in this design. The Rivian headlights are polarizing (I don’t mind them) but the design is otherwise incredibly sharp.
Love it, plus opening hatch glass like a 3-ser wagon! SOLD
Like a Gremlin had a baby with an Eagle.
Is this AMC’s re-birth?
Glad tonsee i’m not the only one having mjor AMC vibes from that.
I kind of like it, but want to know what’s under the hood up front. Is it all mechanicals? or is there a frunk?
Frunk! Same as other Rivians.
If the R3X is less than 50k it will be my next vehicle.