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Volvo: Safety Beyond the Star RatingsRivian Reveals Trio of New Electric Crossovers
The R2, R3, and R3X represent EV start-up Rivian’s chance to pivot to profitability with new, smaller, and more affordable electric SUVs.
Three’s Company
EV startup Rivian is at something of a crossroads. Their R1T electric pickup and R1S electric SUV have been critically acclaimed as an alluring, outdoorsy alternative to Tesla, et al. And yet, the new company has struggled to turn the corner toward profitability. Today’s debut of the Rivian R2, a smaller electric crossover, is meant to change that with a broader, mass-market appeal and a smaller price tag to match.
Rivian not only unveiled their make-or-break R2 they also surprised us with glimpses of the R2’s upcoming platform mates the subcompact R3 and sporty R3X. The trio gives a clearer picture of Rivian’s expanding product line and, therefore, its prospects for the future. There’s a lot of details to get to, so let’s dig into it.
Rivian R2
The Rivian R2, a two-row five-seat crossover, will slot below the larger R1T pickup and R1S SUV and ride on a distinct and smaller EV platform. Critically, the R2 will start at $45,000, a big step down from the $70,000-plus price tags on the R1T and R1S. The R2’s 185.6-inch length will put it in direct competition with the Tesla Model Y in terms of both size and price range.
Rivian says the R2 will offer over 300 miles of range and come in multiple configurations. The R2 will be offered with either a single rear motor (RWD), dual motors with one front and one rear (AWD), or a trimotor set up with one electric motor on the front axle and two motors on the rear axle (also, AWD). We expect this last iteration to be the one Rivian proports to scoot from zero to sixty in “under three seconds.”
The Rivian R2 offers more than just a size reduction, however. New features will include a powered rear glass in the liftgate and pop-out rear quarter-panel windows for an “open air experience” much like that of the Fisker Ocean EV. The R2 learns from the mistake of the R1T and R1S, which skipped out on a glovebox, by adding back not one but two drop-down gloveboxes. The steering wheel of the R2 also gets a set of new scroll wheels with haptic feedback for greater accuracy when navigating the infotainment system.
The R2’s most novel party trick is its seats. Not only do the R2’s rear seats fold down flat, but so do the front seats, providing a major addition to cargo capacity and unprecedentedly easy in-car camping. Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe hinted at a new level of autonomous driving capability, noting the use of 11 cameras and five radar units on the R2.
Rivian R3 and RX3
In addition to the expected debut of the R2, Rivian added a pair of yet smaller electric crossovers to their unveiling, the R3 and R3X. Both will be underpinned by the same new platform as the R2. The R3 will slot directly below the R2 as the company’s subcompact offering. It too will come in one, two, or three motor varieties and have the R2’s fold flat seats. The R3’s unique feature will be its multi-height adjustable “flipper glass” in the rear liftgate.
The R3X was the day’s biggest surprise. It will offer “more dynamic capabilities, both on-road and off” and looked for all the world like an alt-universe Mini Cooper. It too will come in one, two, or three motor versions, the last of those sure to make the R3X likely the hottest of hot hatches on the market when it finally hits production. We expect Rivian to target the R3 and R3X between $35,000 at the low end and $55,000 at the high end and arrive in 2027, though the company has yet to finalize details on either vehicle.
When the Rivian R2 is Arriving
Rivian’s timeline for the release of the R2 is critical. As such, the planned release of 2026 feels like a long way off, but work on Rivian’s new Georgia assembly plant, where these three electric crossovers will be built, is still under construction.
The question is: with a $45,000 price tag and more modest dimensions, can the R2 successfully expand Rivian’s outdoorsy approach to EVs beyond the REI/Patagonia set to a wider, less rarified, and more lucrative audience? Given today’s surprises, we can’t wait to find out.
