Rivian is making good on its promise to deliver more affordable SUVs after its "handshake to the world" in the handsome but expensive R1T pickup and R1S SUV. In March the electric vehicle company revealed its new midsize platform that will underpin both the new R2 and R3 SUVs. The R2 SUV is about 15 inches shorter than the R1 and will start around $45,000.
"R2 and R3 are distinctly Rivian in terms of performance, capability and usability yet with pricing that makes them accessible to a lot of people. Our design and engineering teams are extremely focused on driving innovation into not only the product features but also our approach to manufacturing to achieve dramatically lower costs," said Rivian founder and CEO RJ Scaringe in a statement.
R2 and R3 will feature two battery sizes, says Rivian. The larger pack has more than 300 miles of range and will get the vehicle to 60 mph in less than 3 seconds, when it has three motors. Rivian will also offer less-expensive one- and two-motor options like the R1. It will have DC fast charging ports for both the Tesla-style North American Charging Standard (NACS) and Combined Charging System (CCS) with an adapter. On one of those fast chargers both the R2 and smaller R3 will recharge from 10 to 80 percent in 30 minutes under ideal conditions.
The new platform consolidates and eliminates parts through clever design using a structural battery unit where the top of the pack also serves as the floor, closure systems that reduce complexity and high pressure die castings. The new vehicles use the same network architecture, computer topology and software stack as the R1.
The R3 is even smaller than the R2, though Rivian didn't give official dimensions. However, the company says it will cost less than the R2. It also introduced the R3X, a performance variant of the R3, that works both on and off road, according to Rivian.
The cabin will feature more Rivian-like touches with the R2's four passenger windows and rear powered glass that can all drop fully. Also like the R1, there was a focus on rear passenger legroom for road-trip comfort. For more cargo instead, the seats fold flat, adding to the space in the bed, and front and rear trunk.
Rivian says the rear cargo compartment will fit two checked suitcases, two carry-on suitcases, plus a stroller and several backpacks above the cargo load floor, noting that additional rear storage can be found below it.
The SUVs feature a new steering wheel with integrated haptic control dials while the rest of the cabin is swathed in sustainable materials that are easy to clean, according to Rivian. It also updated its autonomous driving software stack that now includes 11 cameras, five radars and a more powerful processing platform.
Reservations for R2 start today with a refundable deposit of $100 for U.S. residents and $150 for Canadian residents. Reservations for R3, R3X will follow at a later date. Both will be sold in North America first and then to international residents. Deliveries are expected to begin in the first half of 2026. Rivian gave no timeline on the R3.
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