Rivian R3 and tri-motor R3X price and specs tipped alongside release date for US and Europe

The Rivian electric cars that stole the hearts of the audience at the R2 unveiling were actually its more compact siblings - the R3 and R3X - which will arrive after it.

People seem to be very accepting of the "crossover meets an SUV, meets a hatch, meets a wagon, meets a bunch of things" as Rivian's CEO RJ Scaringe explains the design.

He also disclosed some more info about the R3 and R3X price range, specs, and release date after the 2026 launch of the R2.

Rivian R3 and R3X price and specs

• $35,000-$40,000
• Tri-motor R3X with torque vectoring

With the announcement of the R2, Rivian entered the midrange phase of its EV portfolio strategy. After releasing the R1T pickup truck and the big R1S family SUV starting in the $70,000-$75,000 range, the R2 will widen Rivian's potential target market with a vehicle in the $45,000-$50,000 range, depending on the trim.

The R3 and R3X price tags will be even lower, though, and they should turn Rivian from a premium EV maker into a more mainstream brand, just like Tesla did with its Model 3 sedan and then the Model Y crossover that is now the world's top-selling vehicle.

The R3 will likely start from $35,000 and the Rivian R3X price will be set in the $5,000 range above it, according to an interview with CEO Scaringe. That $35,000-$40,000 price range for the Rivian R3 line will entice many who loved the design and functionality except for the NACS port location.

The higher Rivian R3X price is due to the fact that it will be the crossover with "insane performance" in the bunch, with a powerful tri-motor configuration, and even torque vectoring.

According to Rivian's CEO, the R3X will offer "the soul of a rally car," but at the same time coming in a practical adventure package that frees Rivian "to take the performance element of the brand and apply it in a meaningful way."

The Rivian R3X looks compact from the outside, with a nostalgic whiff of a VW Golf Country, but looks can be deceiving as it is fairly roomy on the inside. The R3 and R3X crossovers are having three adult-sized seats on the back with knee space to spare.

The fact that Rivian went for the retro, somewhat boxy shape, also brings a comparatively big trunk with additional split-seat surface adjustments. In addition, both the R3 and R3X will carry Rear Accessory Ports to snap accessories like Rivian's Bike Mount without having to use tools.

Rivian R3X release date in US and Europe

• Early 2027

The Rivian R2 will be released in 2026 and start shipping to its first reservation holders early that year. The Rivian R3 and R3X release date is scheduled for a year after, in 2027, at least in the US.

At a $35,000 starting price and with the street cred that its design already attracted, the Rivian R3 line could very well turn a hit and attract new fans to the brand. It will be especially attractive in Europe whose more narrow and winding streets, as well as higher fuel prices, have historically forced it to drive smaller vehicles. 

The good news for Europeans is that Rivian will definitely sell the R3 and R3X there as well. "Both models are designed at their core for both the US and Europe," tipped RJ Scaringe.

The bad news is that even Scaringe doesn't know exactly when, or if it will be in 2027 like the R3X release date in the US. "We haven't said specifically when they come to Europe, we should, and we need to, but we recognize how appealing they are in the European market and especially R3 really fits," he added, speaking of what will be built on Rivian's next-gen R2 platform.

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