Here’s The Rivian R3 Driving Around Laguna Beach

It has been years since any new automobile debut has taken the world by storm the best way the Rivian R3 and R3X did this previous week. Certain, Rivian’s huge occasion was ostensibly to point out off the Rivian R2, which is ready to be coming sooner. However its two smaller siblings, whose unveilings got here as a complete shock, really stole the present. 

The issue is that it should be years earlier than each hit the streets for actual. The R2 is alleged to debut within the first half of 2026, and Rivian has a fantastic many hurdles to beat earlier than it does, so the R3 and R3X could not even go on sale till nearer to the top of the last decade.

For now, we are able to dream, and a Utah Rivian Club member who was in the best place on the proper time helps us do this. This brief clip posted to the club’s Instagram yesterday exhibits an R3X getting loaded right into a trailer, so that you get a imprecise concept of its measurement.

The true gem comes within the second video, which exhibits the silver R3 idea driving round Laguna Seashore roads exterior the Rivian South Coast Theater the place the occasion was held. CEO RJ Scaringe seems to be driving the R3, and we see it close to a Tesla Mannequin Y—the Rivian seems to be a bit smaller total—earlier than it makes a proper flip at a gasoline station. (Which begins at $5.07 a gallon, as a result of California.) 

It is exhausting to gauge the scale of the R3 from this video alone, however we get a greater sense of its dimensions and presence by seeing it on an precise highway. I would say it appears barely extra compact than that white first-generation Mazda CX-5 it passes just a little later. 

General, each the R3 and R3X look nice “in individual”—not too small, or Subaru Crosstrek-sized (as many have guessed), however way more compact than the Rivian R1S, R1T and even R2, the latter of whom it shares a platform with. It is also positively extra crossover than scorching hatchback, probably to the frustration of some, but it surely looks like it will likely be in a fantastic measurement class for small households and individuals who must parallel park recurrently.

Past the appears and a declare of “over 300 miles of vary” on the bigger battery pack, we all know little or no concerning the R3 and R3X. The R2 is expected to start around $45,000, so the R3 is certain to fit in earlier than that. However once more, Rivian has loads of challenges to beat earlier than it will get there; it is not unusual for brand spanking new EV fashions from startups and established carmakers alike to come back with delays and bigger-than-expected value tags at first.

Nonetheless, the extra reasonably priced, extra compact class is the following nice frontier for EVs. Tesla is alleged to be engaged on a $25,000-ish mannequin, and Kia, Ford and Volkswagen are all engaged on smaller vehicles with decrease prices too as they put together to inevitably struggle the Chinese language automakers. If Rivian can actually get the R3 and R3X out in a well timed trend and with affordable value tags, it is positive to have successful on its palms. 

Contact the writer: patrick.george@insideevs.com