2027 Rivian R3 Pricing, Specs, and Release Date

by George Kennedy

The upcoming 2027 Rivian R3 is the electric automaker’s smallest SUV to date. It is designed as a tall hatchback with fantastic retro-inspired styling, brisk performance, and robust off-road capabilities.

2027 Rivian R3 Preview - summary

What’s New for the 2027 Rivian R3

The R3 and its performance variant, the R3X, are new additions to Rivian's lineup. Production is expected to start in late 2026 or early 2027.

Design

The R3 features a sporty, compact design with a distinctive high-riding hatchback silhouette. It includes a pop-up glass hatch for easy access to the rear cargo area without completely opening the rear hatch. The R3X has more aggressive styling, unique performance wheels, and additional off-road kit.

Powertrain

The R3 offers Single-Motor rear-wheel drive (RWD), Dual-Motor all-wheel drive (AWD), and Tri-Motor configurations. There have been no stats on the outputs for any of these configurations, but Rivian claims that the largest battery pack is expected to provide over 300 miles of driving range. The Tri-Motor version will allow the R3 to accelerate from zero to 60 mph in under three seconds. 2027 Rivian R3 Preview - Interior

Interior

The R3’s interior is practical and stylish, with easy-to-clean surfaces and sustainable materials. The R3 features fold-flat rear seats, a large glass roof, and unique thatchwork floor mats. In addition to helpful rear storage, the cabin features two gloveboxes. There’s also a front-trunk, aka a “frunk.”

Technology

A large rectangular infotainment display is at the center of the R3's dash. It provides controls for many of the R3’s functions, including drive, modes, steering wheel, adjustments, and entertainment and climate controls. Despite its tech-forward cockpit, the R3 is not set to come with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto at this time. The vehicle does include a standard Wi-Fi hotspot, wireless smartphone charging, and Amazon Alexa voice assistant.

Safety

The R3 should boast a full suite of driver-assistance features. It will also offer enhanced autonomous driving capabilities, with 11 cameras and five radars.

2027 Rivian R3 Preview - conclusion

Pricing and Release Date

As of this writing, the 2026 Rivian R2 is set to start at approximately $45,000. Reservations are available for $100, with deliveries expected to begin in the first half of 2026. The R2 will be produced at Rivian’s Normal, Illinois facility.

Further Research on the Rivian R2 and its Competitors

by George Kennedy

From open-wheel racecars to specialty off-road vehicles, George Kennedy has driven it all. A career automotive journalist, George has been a contributor, editor, and/or producer at some of the most respected publications and outlets, including Consumer Reports, the Boston Globe, Boston Magazine, Autoblog.com, Hemmings Classic Wheels, BoldRide.com, the Providence Journal, and WheelsTV.

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