Rivian is one of the most dynamic electric vehicle companies in the last five years. The electric vehicle brand has had business dealings with Ford and Amazon. It gained plenty of attention by producing the first electric pickup truck in North America, the Rivian R1T Launch Edition. The Rivian R1S full-size luxury electric SUV is just as impressive. The R1S hints at what’s to come in the future, and auto enthusiasts have plenty to be excited about.

The Rivian R1S is a hint of what’s to come from Rivian

It’s no secret that Rivian has experienced growing pains in recent months following the release of its two electric vehicles. However, Tesla and several legacy automakers have been struggling as well due to supply chain issues and economic turmoil. Rivian’s stock has taken a beating since the company first went public, but there are still plenty of investors with high hopes for what the brand can accomplish.

Rivian produces quality electric vehicles, they just aren’t affordable enough for the average consumer…yet. The R1S may not be the electric SUV you’re looking for because of its high price, but there are several other Rivian EVs in the works. The performance and capabilities of the R1S are positive indicators that new Rivian electric vehicles will be impressive.

The 2023 Rivian R1S starts at $78,000 with the Adventure configuration. The Launch Edition starts at a whopping $90,000. Rivian’s Explore base configuration was axed. The R1S makes 600 horsepower (835 horses for the Launch Edition). It has an incredible 14.9 inches of ground clearance, which is more ground clearance than the majority of off-road vehicles.

The Rivian R1S has amazing off-roading capabilities. In fact, its ability to overcome difficult trails and obstacles is arguably its greatest asset. The R1S is great for the adventurous family that can afford it, but what about the folks that can’t spend $78K on a luxury off-road SUV?

The Rivian R1S is far from the last new Rivian electric vehicle

Car and Driver claims that R.J. Scaringe, Rivian’s CEO, is teasing smaller more affordable Rivian models. There’s certainly room in the brand’s lineup for a small electric SUV. Several automakers competing in the electric vehicle space produce small electric SUVs including Tesla, Ford, Hyundai, Volkswagen, Kia, and many more.

A small electric SUV would be a great next move for the company, as many consumers would prefer something smaller and more affordable than the capable (yet expensive) R1S. A more affordable Rivian SUV will likely sacrifice some cool features to achieve pricing that consumers are more comfortable with.

That being said, consumers aren’t necessarily holding the limbo stick to force the company into seeing just how low it can go. In other words, don’t get your hopes up too high for an electric Rivian SUV with a starting price under $50K.

How much would drivers pay for a small Rivian electric SUV?

Tesla recently slashed prices to dominate market share and fend off competitors. If Rivian wants a small electric SUV model to be competitive, pricing will have to be much lower than the R1S’ near $80K starting price. Of course, the company still needs to maintain healthy profit margins to survive, and it has strict quality standards to attain the level of performance and capability that its vehicles achieve.

So, a conservative estimate for a small Rivian electric SUV’s starting price is in the ballpark of $50,000 to start. If the EV’s pricing is any lower, it could be a steal in terms of value proposition. Rivian has weathered several storms thus far in a rapidly changing industry. Is a small electric SUV exactly what it needs, or will more vehicle production be the straw that breaks the camel’s back?