This is The Rivian R3 Driving Round Laguna Seaside

It has been years since any new automotive debut has taken the world by storm the best way the Rivian R3 and R3X did this previous week. Certain, Rivian’s massive occasion was ostensibly to indicate 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’ll 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 Membership member who was in the best place on the proper time helps us do this. This brief clip posted to the membership’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 Seaside 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 general—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 dimensions 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 might say it seems to be barely extra compact than that white first-generation Mazda CX-5 it passes somewhat later. 

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

Past the seems to be and a declare of “over 300 miles of vary” on the bigger battery pack, we all know little or no in regards to the R3 and R3X. The R2 is anticipated to start out round $45,000, so the R3 is bound 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 new EV fashions from startups and established carmakers alike to return with delays and bigger-than-expected value tags at first.

Nonetheless, the extra reasonably priced, extra compact class is the subsequent 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 automobiles with decrease prices too as they put together to inevitably combat the Chinese language automakers. If Rivian can actually get the R3 and R3X out in a well timed vogue and with cheap value tags, it is certain to have a success on its palms. 

Contact the writer: patrick.george@insideevs.com