Rivian R3 and R3X announced - more affordable, sporty electric SUVs

Electric vehicle fans were treated to a double dose of surprises by Rivian. After the somewhat predictable reveal of the practical R2 SUV, the company unveiled the sleek R3 and its performance-oriented sibling, the R3X. Though details remain scarce, here's what we know about these smaller, more thrilling siblings in the Rivian family.

Unlike the R2, which looks like it's ready to do battle with the Tesla Model Y, the R3 and R3X radiate a sportier hatchback vibe. If you remember the good old VW Golf Syncro, then you’ll know where Rivian’s team got their inspiration from. R3’s sloping roofline and smaller dimensions suggest a lower entry price and more agile handling than the R2. This could mean the R3 will be gunning for smaller, stylish EVs like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6.

"More dynamic abilities, both on and off road" tease Rivian about the R3X, without offering real specifics though. This could mean more powerful motors, and perhaps some suspension upgrades. It's probably not going to turn into a rock-crawling rival to the company's own R1S SUV.

While there's no word on pricing for the R3 lineup, it's promised to undercut the $45,000 starting point of the R2. Size-wise, it seems the R3 will slot somewhere between subcompact and compact SUVs. We'll have to wait and see how much the price difference translates to in the real world.

Though slightly smaller, the R3 and R3X won't sacrifice practicality. Rivian highlighted a clever "flipper glass" rear hatch window, allowing for long items to be stored. Combine this with the flat-folding rear seats, and you've seemingly got a cozy EV camper in the making.

The range is expected to exceed 300 miles, with 0-60 mph sprints taking as little as three seconds – though which models get the big battery and the fastest acceleration remains to be seen. Rivian also confirmed that their new battery tech that debuted with the R2 will be in the R3, and they're adopting Tesla's charging port for wider charging compatibility.

We'll have to wait for more specifics about the R3's tech, including how far it'll go in the realm of self-driving tech. Rivian promises big improvements, but it's far too early to tell if that'll be a major differentiator compared to rivals.

Rivian R3X

While the R3 models are set to arrive after the R2 launches. Hopefully, the delayed release will mean fewer hiccups than the initial launch of the R1 models... something EV shoppers may be wary of after Rivian's rocky start.

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