The Rivian R3 — the first EV I’m really excited for
A few weeks ago, Rivian announced a surprise third addition to their future vehicle lineup: the R3 and the R3X.
So far, we know little about these models apart from their appearance and theoretical performance estimates. However, I’m extremely excited about the R3 and the new pathways it might open up.
Many others share my enthusiasm for this car. I wanted to write about it to show that I’m all for EVs — especially this one!
EV hatchbacks
The idea of creating small electric vehicles isn’t particularly new. Still, I’ve yet to see it done to any realistic level of success.
For example, Honda released a little EV a few years ago that quickly faded into the annals of history, although I believe it’s seen more success in eastern markets. The Honda e looked quite niche — somewhat Mini- or Fiat 500-esque.
It never caught on, but I thought it was a fun concept. The Rivian R3 makes me think of a much cooler version of that Honda.
Of course, there are other hatchback EVs like the Renault Zoe or the Fiat 500e. However, these are very much limited to short trips around the city. They aren’t useful across a wide range of driving conditions, and that makes me shrug my shoulders in apathy.
In my experience of North America, hatchbacks, and small cars in general, never seem to have caught on. In Europe, there’s nothing better — from a driver’s point of view — than a Fiesta, a Corsa or a Golf. Along with Yarises, Polos, Focuses, A1s, A3s, Clios, Minis, and the supermini class, they rule the roads.
And with good reason. By their very nature, they’re also more fuel efficient, easier to handle, and more applicable across a wide range of driving scenarios (cities, highways, shopping, camping, etc.).
They might not be the most comfortable option for passengers, but they’re a million times more fun and intuitive than a family- or business-focused ugly and boring SUV. (Sorry for offending almost everyone reading this page!)
(Yes, some EV SUVs can accelerate to 60 faster than gravity — that feature aside, they’re still designed for practicality rather than a fun drive).
We’ve yet to see a really fun, practical EV hatchback.
The R3 — and the R3X, specifically — promises to change that, unlocking an entirely new and virtually unexplored market. Hatchback EVs. They’re new to the entire world, never mind this continent. How long before we have electric hot hatches racing through the twisting hills?
Hopefully not too long at all!
What is the Rivian R3?
Rivian is one of the world’s foremost EV startups. With the oblong-shaped headlights and smooth, minimalistic design, the already existing R1T truck and R1S SUV are things of beauty.
Rivian announced a new model, the R2, in March 2024. It’s a smaller SUV and certainly a promising addition to the company’s lineup.
However, the R2’s launch seems to have been entirely overshadowed by Rivian’s surprise extra announcement: the R3.
Although it’s based on the same mid-size platform as the R2, the R3 is more of a crossover SUV — closer to a large hatchback than a massive family car — and I love that.
It maintains the signature Rivian clean aesthetic, which looks so good on a small car. I’m sure I’m far from the only person to say it reminds me of the original Golf GTI (Mark I). In fact, it’s the most Golf-y not-Golf I’ve seen in ages.
(See a photo of the Golf at the end of the article, with my thanks to Unsplash.)
Design philosophies: what makes the R3 special?
Much ado has been made over the completely opposite design approaches between it and the Tesla Cybertruck, with the techniques labelled ‘solarpunk’ and ‘cyberpunk’, respectively.
It would seem that we’re very much heading in the direction of sleek-looking vehicles without needing to create something outrageous in aesthetics (‘solarpunk’).
Finally!
I’m sure not everyone agrees with me, but I’m far more attracted to the happy-dog-like R3 design reminiscent of Wall-E or R2-D2 than the rocket ship, tech nerd approaches of others. Sure, there’s a market for all sorts of creations, but I like a car to be plucky rather than outrageous.
My favourite thing about the Rivian R3 — and, in fairness, we hardly know anything yet — is that simplicity.
Yes, you can see that in the design and the interior and the marketing, and so on.
But more than that, the R3 is just a car. It’s not a fancy-schmancy interpretive dance or an in-your-face explosion of surrealism and modern art.
It’s a car. It looks like a car. It does car things.
It looks like a whole heap of fun.
And that is precisely what I feel the EV industry has been missing.
Of all these new cars, there have been all sorts of potential battery setups, powertrain applications, and so on. But something almost all EVs have shared, so far, is some kind of distinctive appearance that makes them look… different. Unusual. Designers have usually opted for a space-age approach, and the Cybertruck is perhaps the pinnacle of this theory.
The Rivian R1T looked incredible, but it was just too big and too expensive for me to ever consider justifying. Besides, hatchbacks are the only things worth buying if you want to have fun on real-life roads with corners and bends, twists and turns. Now that there’s a Rivian hatchback that looks as fantastic as it does, there’s something that looks like it might match my lifestyle. Therefore, I have something to be really personally excited about.
Sure, there are all sorts of extra things to know. Range, 0–60, price. We haven’t been told any figures yet, and I believe the release date isn’t until at least 2027.
But if there’s an affordable option, I might just consider one.
Post-script: If you’re reading this, Rivian, a three-door option please! And more buttons; less dependency on the touchscreen! That would be the crème-de-la-crème and undoubtedly the best car on the road. Just saying.
