In a presentation by Founder and CEO RJ Scaringe live-streamed from Laguna Beach, CA, and broadcast to its Spaces showrooms/stores, Rivian today unveiled its long-awaited R2 mid-sized SUV but also surprised the audience with a smaller R3 mid-sized crossover—both based on the company’s new midsize platform.

The R2 features a five-seat package with first and second-row seating that folds completely flat for gear, cargo, and a car camping experience fit for two people. The R3 is smaller than the R2, about 5 in (135 mm) shorter, but designed to punch above its size in terms of performance, off-road capability, passenger comfort, and storage. An R3X performance variant offers even more dynamic abilities, both on and off road.

The R2 and R3 deliver similar performance, utility, and range at a significantly lower price point than the company’s flagship R1 line. Pricing for R2 is expected to start around $45,000, and R3 will be priced below R2, making the new vehicles more accessible to more people.

“I have never been more excited to launch new products,” said Scaringe. “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. R2 provides buyers starting in the $45,000 price range with a much-needed choice with a thoroughly developed technology platform that is bursting with personality.”

 

Mid-sized design

The R2 and R3 designs follow Rivian’s language closely but are adapted to the different vehicle sizes and form factors. The R3’s hatchback-style design is meant to maximize space while keeping a sporty, athletic silhouette.

“Our R1 flagship vehicles served as our handshake with the world,” said Rivian Chief Design Officer Jeff Hammoud. “With R2 and R3, our obsessive goal is to stay true to Rivian’s product attributes while making our products accessible to a lot more people. Through a tight integration of hardware, software, and human-centered design, we designed R2 by balancing form with function, while building on our inviting and iconic design language.”

Comparing dimensions, the R2 vs. R1S is 185.6 vs. 200.8 in (4715 vs. 5100 mm) long, 84.4 vs. 87.1 in (2145 vs. 2212 mm) wide with mirrors, 66.9 vs. 77.3 in (1700 vs. 1963 mm) tall, and it has a 115.6- vs 121.1-in (2935- vs. 3075-mm) wheelbase. Ground clearance with 20-in wheels and a maximum 32-in outer diameter tire is 9.8 vs. 14.9 in (250 vs. 378 mm).

The R2’s design is said to prioritize “adventure.” One example is that its four passenger windows and rear powered liftgate glass drop fully, and the powered rear quarter windows vent to let a lot of the outside air in.

“We leverage the negative pressure off the back of the vehicle to pull natural air through, and it creates this beautiful open-air feeling experience,” said Scaringe.

The interior is designed for ease of use while being uniquely Rivian through a combination of “inviting design” and premium, sustainable materials that are easy to clean.

Inside, Rivian says it had an extreme focus on rear passenger legroom. Space and flexibility are maximized by the fold-completely-flat seats, amply sized front and rear trunks, and additional interior storage including two gloveboxes. R1 customers have been clamoring for just one.

The R2 mid-sized SUV is designed to comfortably seat five passengers including those over 6 ft tall, with 40.3 in (1023 mm) of rear legroom and headroom. The front trunk will fit a carry-on suitcase plus a backpack or up to 6 “reusable” grocery bags. The rear cargo compartment will fit two checked suitcases, two carry-on suitcases, plus a stroller, and several backpacks above the cargo load floor, with additional rear storage below the load floor.

R2 features Rivian’s next-generation steering wheel with dynamic, integrated control dials that adjust based on what function is being controlled, making it easier to use and focus while driving.

A lot of work went into the doors, according to Scaringe. That includes moving the speaker out of the door to give more storage space for a large water bottle and including the now Rivian signature flashlight in the door side.

Materials balance durability and sustainability with easy-to-clean textiles and finishes.

New platform and three powertrains

R2 and R3 are built on an all-new midsize vehicle platform developed focused on performance, range, and cost efficiency. Regarding that last point, Rivian says its development teams have been intensely focused on cost through manufacturing, design innovation, and robust supply chain development.

The platform consolidates and eliminates parts and includes the use of high-pressure die castings, the top of the structural battery pack also serves as the floor, and closure systems are engineered to dramatically reduce complexity. It uses Rivian’s internally developed drive unit platform, network architecture, computer topology, and software stack. Designed to facilitate frequent software updates, the company says that the headroom for feature growth over time “is extremely exciting.”

Dramatically enhanced autonomous capabilities are promised by a new perception stack featuring 11 cameras, five radars, and a more powerful compute platform.

Leveraging Rivian’s in-house drive unit platform and technology, there are three propulsion configurations: single-motor rear-wheel drive, dual-motor all-wheel drive, and tri-motor (two motors in rear and one in front). The quickest delivers 0-60 mph (0-97 km/h) in under 3 s.

The R2 and R3 will come in two battery sizes. The larger pack will get over 300 mi (480 km) of range on a charge. The structural battery pack uses an all-new 4695 cells (46 mm in diameter and 95 mm tall) said to offer significant improvements in energy density and output.

“It’s a much larger cell than the 21-mm-diameter cell that we have in R1 today,” said Scaringe. “And that cells are integrated into a highly structural battery pack, so the battery pack in the floor makes up a big part of the vehicle structure.”

DC fast charging is compatible with NACS (North American Charging Standard) and CCS with an adapter, charging from 10% to 80% in less than 30 min.

 

Production and marketing

The R2 is available to reserve today in the U.S. at rivian.com/R2 with a refundable deposit of $100 ($150 in Canada), with deliveries expected to begin in the first half of 2026.

R3/R3X deliveries will start after the R2 to ensure the latter’s smooth launch and rapid ramp—this is a learning experience from Rivian’s simultaneous launch of R1T, R1S, and EDV. R2, R3, and R3X will be available internationally following their North American launch.

Rivian plans to start production of R2 in its existing Normal, IL, manufacturing facility. Beyond significantly reducing the amount of capital needed to bring the model to market, the company believes the approach considerably reduces risk to the launch and associated ramp; efficiently leverages its existing manufacturing and operations teams; and expands the total capacity for the site to 215,000 units per year.

However, the company’s stalled Georgia plant is said to remain an extremely important part of the long-term strategy to scale production of R2—and R3. The timing for resuming construction is expected to be later to focus its teams on the capital-efficient launch of R2 in Normal.