Rivian R3 and R3X: Price, Specs, Battery, Motors & Release Date

September 6, 2024

By Karan Singh

Rivian

The Rivian R3 and R3X are part of Rivian’s upcoming platform of smaller and more affordable vehicles, which were announced on March 7^th, alongside the Rivian R2.

The R3 is a midsize crossover, designed with tighter dimensions, and an even lower price point than the R2 – which is supposed to start at $45,000 USD. Meanwhile, the R3X is the performance variant of the R3 – it's supposed to be Rivian’s tech demonstrator that is meant for vehicle enthusiasts, capable of working both on- and off-road.

Price and Specs

While pricing information for the Rivian R3 hasn’t been released just yet, industry estimates line up the starting price around $37,000 USD, and it should go up to $45,000 USD after battery and motor options. The R3X will be a bit more expensive, similar to the current R1T or R1S Quad Max Ascend trims, which have everything included. We’re estimating the R3X to be in the $50,000 to $60,000 range, depending on fit and finish. These numbers, for now, are just best guesses.

Battery Specs

We expect Rivian’s offerings to vary widely based on both the battery and motor packages. Today, Rivian offers a Standard Pack, Large Pack, and Max Pack on the R1S and R1T. For the R3, and the R2 platform in general, Rivian will launch two battery packs. The larger pack will be the one that obtains both the 300+ miles (382 km) of range and the 3-second 0-60mph acceleration on its quickest configuration. This could change in the future, but for now, this is Rivian’s plan, as they intend to offer fewer configuration options to reduce manufacturing complexity.

The R3 will also feature a structural battery based on Rivian’s new 4695 cells, which they say will offer significant improvements in both energy density and output. Rivian intends to focus its efforts on this new cell size going forward.

The R3X is only expected to be available in the top-level battery pack trim.

The Rivian R3X prototype

Rivian

Motor Options

On the R1T and the R1S, Rivian offers three motor options — dual-motor AWD, tri-motor and quad-motor. However, for the R3, Rivian will be offering a single-motor (RWD), dual-motor (AWD), and tri-motor (two rear, one front) configurations for the R3. This lets Rivian reduce the R3’s starting price, making it as cost-efficient as possible.

The R3X, meanwhile, will only be offered in a tri-motor option, emphasizing performance and robustness both on and off-road.

EV Rebates and Tax Credits

Rivian

It's still uncertain whether the R3 will qualify for the U.S. Federal EV Tax Credit or Canada's iZEV rebate. While the Canadian rebate is more flexible, it offers a lower value of $5,000 CAD ($3,600 USD). In contrast, the U.S. rebate, a tax credit, depends on battery material sourcing and vehicle production. Right now, we expect the R3 to qualify for the full $7,500 USD ($10,000 CAD) USD tax credit.

Charging Capabilities

One of the most important things for the R2 platform, including the R3 and R3X is the inclusion of Tesla’s NACS port and built-in Supercharger functionality. Additionally, the charge port will be moved to the rear left quarter panel – matching the location of Tesla’s NACS port. This will make it easy to fit the R2 and R3 at Tesla Supercharger stalls without blocking an adjacent spot.

The R3 and R3X will both be CCS compatible but will require a CCS-to-NACS adapter. At this point, Rivian does not intend to provide an adapter with the R2, so a third-party adapter will be required unless Rivian releases an OEM option.

Rivian has said that the R3 will be able to charge – on the right chargers – from 10% to 80% in less than 30 minutes. Overall, it’s a reasonable charge rate, and one that we can expect will get better as Rivian improves both the performance and software behind the new 4695 cells.

Autonomy / Self Driving

Rivian

Rivian built up an entirely new autonomy hardware system with its second-generation R1 platform, including 11 cameras, 5 radars, and an updated compute unit. While they haven’t revealed the autonomy capabilities that will be included in the R2 and R3, we expect them to be on par or the same as the current 2025 R1 vehicles.

This is an upgraded autonomy package from the first-generation R1S and R1T MobilEye EyeQ4 “Mid” system. The new system uses MobilEye’s EyeQ5 High, or “MobilEye SuperVision”.

Rivian’s custom compute package also includes hardware from Nvidia, but supposedly this board will be in training mode and non-functional until Rivian launches its own autonomy solution. The MobilEye hardware will be responsible for Rivian’s autonomy features, including full-surround perception, autonomous lane changes, and highway and traffic jam assist – which is essentially an advanced highway lane-keeping assist. Rivian intends to eventually phase out the MobilEye hardware, but we’re not sure when this will happen.

We’ll be diving deep into Rivian’s Driver+, their autonomy solution, in another article soon.

Release Date

The R3 isn’t expected to begin production until 2027. The R3X is expected to launch first, as early as late 2026, or early 2027. Rivian intends to launch the R2 first, sometime in mid-2026, across North America.

A European launch is expected sometime by the end of 2026 for the R2, with deliveries in 2027. This schedule will likely follow for the R3 and R3X, with European deliveries toward the end of 2027 or early 2028.

Unlike the R2, Rivian isn’t taking reservations for the R3 and R3X yet. However, they have mentioned that current owners will be given priority over others, so if you’re interested in a future R3 or R3X at launch, you could look at Rivian’s R1T or R1S Gen 2 today.

We're incredibly excited to see Rivian's R3 and R3X in the future – they have the potential to become some of the world's best-selling vehicles.

Rivian R2 Easter Eggs: Gear Guard Gary and Rock Climber on Windows

March 25, 2026

By Nehal Malik

Doug DeMuro

Rivian is making sure that owning its upcoming R2 SUV feels like a constant scavenger hunt. While most car companies focus on panel gaps and seat stitching, Rivian’s design team has gone above and beyond, spending a surprising amount of time hiding "surprise and delight" features all over the vehicle to keep owners entertained during charging stops.

In a recent video interview, Rivian chief designer Jeff Hammoud walked through several hidden gems baked into the R2’s glass and bodywork. Among the most charming discoveries are a tiny Gear Guard Gary face on the windshield and a miniature rock climber ascending one of the rear windows.

Subtle Details for the Observant Owner

The "Gear Guard" character is Rivian’s quirky security mascot, and on the R2, he makes a very subtle appearance in the frit — the black dotted pattern along the edge of the windshield. Hammoud noted that this is one of his favorite additions because it is so easy to miss. "That one's one of my favorite ones ‘cause it's so subtle. That’s Gear Guard making a little appearance there. So, that's his smiley face, his eyes, and his mouth," Hammoud said.

If you look toward the rear of the vehicle, you might also spot a tiny decal of a mountain climber scaling the side window. Hammoud pointed this out as another nod to the brand's outdoorsy "adventure" identity.

Kim Java

These touches follow a long tradition of Rivian easter eggs, such as the Car Wash Mode and hidden Morse code messages in the infotainment system. Even the charge port door on the R2 has a maze molded into it to give you something to do while waiting for a top-up.

R2 Lineup and Launch Timeline

While the easter eggs are fun, the R2 itself is a serious path to profitability for Rivian. The company is currently finalizing the rollout for the different trims of the midsize SUV:

R2 Performance ($57,990): This is the first model off the line, slated for delivery later this spring. It features a 3.6-second 0–60 mph time, and the first orders will ship with an exclusive Launch Package.
R2 Premium ($53,990): Expected to follow in late 2026.
R2 Standard Long Range ($48,490): Coming in early 2027 as the range leader of the pack.
R2 Standard ($45,000): The much-anticipated, high-volume base model that’s expected in late 2027.

For a deep dive into how these versions stack up, you can check out our full R2 trim comparison.

Hammoud emphasized that he didn't want to "give them all away," suggesting that there are still plenty of hidden easter eggs waiting to be discovered under the hood of the R2 and throughout the cabin. As the first Launch Edition units start reaching customers in just a few months, we’ll likely see even more of these tiny details surface on social media. It is clear that Rivian wants the R2 to be a vehicle you keep exploring long after the new-car smell has faded.

Rivian R2 Charge Port Maze Easter Egg and Solution

March 24, 2026

By Nehal Malik

Doug DeMuro

Rivian has long been known for tucking playful surprises into its vehicles, and the upcoming R2 is no exception. While most manufacturers treat the interior of a charge port door as an afterthought, Rivian’s design team decided to turn it into a literal game.

A new easter egg discovered on the R2 reveals a complex, solvable maze molded directly into the texture of the charge port door’s inner lining. The detail was highlighted in Kim Java’s recent video interview with Rivian’s chief designer, Jeff Hammoud, who explained that the feature was born from a desire to do "something fun" with a part that normally requires a standard grain texture.

A Designer's Labor of Love

The maze isn't just a random pattern; it is a fully functional puzzle designed to give owners something to do while waiting for their vehicle to juice up. Hammoud shared that one of their designers personally hand-crafted the layout. "The crazy part about this was he had done the maze, but then we kept changing the requirements for the size of this [port door], and each time he had to redo the maze. So he's sick of looking at this maze," Hammoud said.

Interestingly, the team actually started with AI to help generate the path, but eventually had to move to manual design to ensure the maze fit the specific proportions of the R2's port door. This level of granular detail shows just how much personality Rivian is trying to bake into its mass-market SUV. It follows a tradition of quirky additions from the brand, such as the Car Wash Mode easter egg in the mobile app and the Morse code message hidden in their radio app.

If you’re having trouble solving Rivian’s charge port door maze, you can find the solution on the r/Rivian subreddit here, courtesy of user prefim.

Solution

Although the maze isn’t easy, Rivian fans were quick to solve this one.

Prefim/Reddit

Rivian’s R2 Launch and Deliveries

The R2 is critical for Rivian’s future as the company pushes toward profitability by the end of this year. While the maze is a fun distraction, the vehicle’s specs are what will really drive sales. Rivian has announced a multi-trim lineup for the SUV, starting with the $57,990 R2 Performance.

This flagship model is slated for delivery later this spring and features 656 hp with a 3.6-second 0–60 mph time. Following the initial launch, Rivian will release the $53,990 Premium variant in late 2026 and the $48,490 Standard Long Range in early 2027. The most anticipated version is the $45,000 base Standard model, which is expected to hit the market in late 2027.

Rivian is also leaning into digital culture to find its audience, with leaked plans to bring the R2 to Fortnite and Rocket League. While the R2 is in a tight race with Tesla’s Model Y, small touches like the charge port maze demonstrate a brand identity that prioritizes "playful" adventure over cold minimalism.

As the first lucky customers prepare to take delivery in just a few months, they’ll have at least one puzzle to solve before they even pull out of the charging station.