Surprise! Alongside the new Rivian R2 SUV, Rivian also announced an all-new car — one that’s set to be its cheapest and smallest vehicle. The Rivian R3 won’t be released for some time, but it could be Rivian’s most exciting EV and a competitor of the likes of the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, and Tesla Model 3.
Related The R3, for example, is still quite boxy, but much less so than the R2. It has a hatchback design, with a sloping rear and a small spoiler that follows along from the roofline of the car. Unlike many other cars, the R3 has a rear gate window that can lift up, allowing drivers to load items into the car through the window and store extra-long items.
Rivian R3 interior and tech There are some interesting interior design choices, too. For example, unlike the R1S or R1T, the R3 has two glove boxes for front storage and a large display toward the front for infotainment. There’s also a large glass roof that helps make the car feel bigger on the inside. The car door has room for a large water bottle, and it is also where Rivian’s signature flashlight can be found.
It’s unclear what kind of driver-assist tech the R3 will offer. In announcing the R2, Rivian touted the new car’s ability to drive itself on the highway — without the driver even having to watch the road. It’s unclear if the R3 will offer similar features. Rivian R3 range and charging Range is another thing we don’t yet know about the Rivian R3. The car is built on the same platform as the R2, but it will have a smaller battery. Rivian has a track record of ensuring its cars offer a decent range, so we expect that even the base models will have a range of around 300 miles.
The R3 is slated for release “soon after” the R2, which will ship to customers in the first half of 2026, according to Rivian. We’re not expecting the car to launch in 2026 at all — so expect it in 2027 at the very earliest. The R3X could take longer to launch than the R3