Rivian R1S: In a Class of its Own
Rivian R1S side profile
Long gone are the days that electric cars had to be small, quirky looking vehicles. Nowadays electric vehicles come in all shapes and sizes to address the different needs of buyers in the market. With many new models arriving, the large three-row SUV was the one elusive body style that has been lacking in EV form. Well that has changed as Rivian, a startup company, has beaten everyone to the punch again by offering such a product. It’s rare to find a vehicle that has virtually no direct competitors but that seems to be the case with the Rivian R1S. As a newcomer to the market, Rivian is quickly gaining a reputation for making attractive and modern adventure ready vehicles. The award winning R1T pickup truck launched last year and it appears that they have followed that up with the superb R1S. It’s an exciting, distinctive product that is a copy of nothing else. There is a lot of buzz surrounding the Rivian R1S and it has made a strong impression. It has good looks, strong off-road capability, loads of tech, a spacious interior and an insane amount of power. Have we finally found the perfect do it all SUV?
Exterior Design: The SUV of the future
The Rivian R1S looks like a proper SUV and not just another low roofed crossover. It’s extremely handsome and Rivian has found a unique design language that surely stands out. The design of the R1S is visually interesting. The front half of the R1S does share the same design with the R1T. The only difference is that the back half of the R1S has a covered storage area and additional seating. The fact that the two vehicles share a similar design brings us back to the old days when SUVs were nothing more than modified versions of pickup trucks with an enclosed bed. Up front, two pill shaped headlights and a light bar draw immediate attention. The front end is smooth and no grille is present. Straight lines dominate the side profile giving it a square appearance and the wheels are pushed to the corners giving the vehicle an aggressive stance. In the back, another light bar dominates the look and the rear hatch splits, revealing a small tailgate.
Split hatch with small tailgate
Overall, the R1S has a sleek and rugged design that looks very futuristic. Its lines are also rather simple or minimalist, which gives off a high-tech vibe as well. The R1S is also a fairly large sport utility as its longer in length than the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Ford Explorer and Toyota 4Runner. Basically this Rivian straddles the line between full-size and midsize Sport utility vehicles. I’m a fan of SUV designs and I think that the Rivian R1S looks absolutely fantastic. It manages to combine rugged, clean, modern and aggressive looks in a large complete package. I also like how it resembles the R1T, giving the two vehicles an instant family connection. This vehicle is very appealing and might be one of the best designed Sport Utes out there.
Interior: Innovative and high quality
Interior wise, the R1S has a clean, modern cabin with no physical buttons, except for two scroll wheels on the steering wheel. The attractive 15.6-inch touchscreen practically controls all functions, including adjusting the mirrors, air vents and changing the steering wheels’ position. While it may be a tad inconvenient searching through different menus to change something like the position of the side mirrors, give Rivian credit for making it relatively easy. This large touchscreen has amazing graphics and is very responsive. Furthermore, everything is easy to find as Rivian has made sure that all basic functions are laid out in a logical way. For fans of statistics the R1S will display tons of info related to battery range. Also absent is a traditional push start button and a center console gear shifter. Instead there is a steering wheel stalk on the right side that has a small on/off button. This stalk also acts as a column shifter. Again, another untraditional move by Rivian that just works in this product. Front seats are well bolstered and very comfortable. These vegan leather seats also come with traditional seat adjuster buttons, allowing the front passengers to find optimal comfort. Second row seats are roomy and they also fold and slide forward allowing easy access to the third row. The third row isn’t all that bad as headroom is plentiful and legroom is adequate for adults under six feet. The R1S can seat seven and both the second and third rows fold flat to reveal impressive cargo volume. A massive panoramic glass roof is standard, bringing in light to the back seats and making the cabin feel open and airy. Rear storage cubbies have USB ports and out back a charging port and built in air compressor are present. Lift the hood and a large frunk is available, opening up more storage possibilities. You can fill it up with ice to keep food and beverages cold because it’s made from durable plastic and cleanup is a breeze as a drain is included. A flashlight is hidden in the edge of the driver side door and a camp speaker can also be found under the center console.
Built in power outlet and air compressor in rear
The R1S is filled with safety features such as cameras and sensors, as well as an overhead 360-degree camera. A 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster is extremely informative. It delivers a real-time depiction of traffic, streets, hazards and even people around the vehicle. Rivian offers highly customizable features within their digital instrument cluster thanks to over the air updates. I drove my tester around Halloween and the vehicle was set in a special Halloween mode. While in this mode, people near the car were shown as zombies in real-time and I was illustrated as a pumpkin as I entered and exited the vehicle. This was very amusing yet unexpected. It just shows the fun side of Rivian and all of its technological possibilities.
Me appearing as an orange pumpkin as I enter/exit the vehicle
The Rivian R1S has great outward visibility and is well built. For a startup, fit and finish is phenomenal almost as if they’ve been building cars for years. Without mentioning names, a very popular and prominent startup still struggles to get this right. The only minor nitpick would be that the turn signal stalk is over sensitive and hard to hear even though the R1S is very quiet. Overall, the Rivian R1S has an attractive interior that’s comfortable and innovative. The R1S pushes the needle forward as a benchmark for others to improve upon.
How it drives: Silently flying by
The Rivian R1S is fast and while I didn’t get a chance to unleash all its power, I can confirm that a few short acceleration runs provided a glimpse of its potential. I drove the quad-motor AWD version with a separate motor at each wheel. This variant of the Rivian R1S has 415 HP powering the front wheels and 420 HP moves the rear, giving the R1S an astounding 835 HP and 908 lb-ft of torque. It is estimated that 0-60 mph is 3.0 seconds. Those are numbers that are equivalent to super cars, packed into a family SUV. All quad-motor R1S’ are completed with yellow brake calipers. A base dual motor will be available producing 533 HP and 610 lb-ft of torque and a performance dual motor will make 665 HP and 829 lb-ft of torque. All-Wheel drive is standard across the range.
Rivian R1S is a head-turner, standing out in traffic
Like I’ve said the R1S feels very quick and offers nimble driving dynamics. Steering is precise and the vehicle is very comfortable to drive with an adjustable air suspension. Despite that, it still feels very truck-like with its high up seating position and longer dimensions. Several drive mode options are available including All-Purpose, Sport, Off-Road, Conserve and a Towing mode. I hear that Rivians are quite capable off-road and while I didn’t test it in rough terrain, I believe those claims are accurate as there are sub modes for all conditions beneath the Off-Road mode. In All-Purpose, the R1S has a soft suspension setup and basically glides effortlessly over the road. Some body roll can be felt in turns but then again this is a truck based SUV. Once I put the vehicle in Sport mode, input from the motors are quickened and the Rivian becomes even more responsive when pushed hard. Handling improves with the R1S staying tight around turns but the suspension becomes firm. The sporty stiff suspension allows the driver to feel ever bump in the road, especially at low speeds. In all modes I sampled, the R1S is silent with minimal road or wind noise. It is amazing how different the two modes can alter the feel of a vehicle, but the Rivian offers drivers a choice. Having these choices is why the Rivian R1S is so special.
Yellow brake calipers let us know this R1S has 4 motors
Rivian provides all the features that we have become accustomed to in EVs. So it’s no surprise that regenerative braking is offered. With the Rivian R1S, complete one pedal driving at all times is possible. You can have it with standard regen braking or with a high level of it and that’s it. The regen braking offered in the R1S is quite intense and when I took my foot off the gas, the vehicle slows down fast creating a jarring motion. Of course you will get used to it and driving EVs require a new skill set. It still would be nice if Rivian offered a less aggressive regen braking option that would allow for a more natural feel. Jerky drivers will have their passengers rolling down the windows if they don’t tailor their driving style to the vehicle.
R1S in All-Purpose drive mode; great graphics
Range: Will travel further than many others
On all quad-motor R1S’ a large battery pack comes standard which is good for 321 miles or 516 km of range. A standard pack that can go 260 miles (418 km) and a very good max pack rated at 400 miles (643 km) are also available on the other two trim levels. The Rivian R1S offers impressive range and can go further on a charge than many vehicles that are much smaller in size.
R1S charging port location
Final Thoughts: Rivian reaches for greatness and succeeds
The Rivian R1S is truly an engineering marvel. Rivian managed to nail it on all key areas as it’s got style, practicality, performance, comfort and technology. Range is outstanding as only a small handful of vehicles can do better. It also doesn’t have any real competition until 2026 when VW plans on relaunching the historic Scout name as a standalone off-road brand to compete directly with Rivian. Until then, this seven passenger SUV stands on its own, competing with luxury crossovers and GM’s revival of the electric Hummer SUV (only seats 5). After driving the R1S I can say that it’s an absolute game changer, altering the vehicle landscape for the better. While it is pricy, the R1S does it all. I believe we have finally found the perfectly well-rounded, do it all SUV for the modern day family.
Pricing and Specifications:
AWD - Quad-Motor (one at each wheel) - 835 HP
AWD - Performance Dual-Motor - 665 HP
AWD - Dual Motor - 533 HP
Canada: *Base price listed, prices vary depending on battery pack
Dual Motor AWD - $116,500
Performance Dual Motor AWD- $133,000
Quad-Motor - $137,500
US: *Base price listed, prices vary depending on battery pack
Dual Motor AWD- $78,000
Performance Dual Motor AWD - $89,000
Quad-Motor - $92,000
Main Competitors:
Direct: Scout SUV (2026), Hummer EV SUV (very limited availability, seats 5)
Indirect: Audi Q8 e-tron, BMW iX, Cadillac Escalade IQ (2025), Lucid Gravity (late 2024), Mercedes-Benz EQS, Tesla Model X, Volvo EX90
Rivian’s logo is inspired by a compass
