The Rivian of today experience likethe Tesla of six or seven old age ago . For many reasons that we ’re not going to get into here , Tesla is protrude to finger go out and like it ’s overstaying its welcome a little . Rivian , however , is bringing fresh ideas to the table with excellent vehicles that deliver great software and cool new design .
But Rivian is no spring chicken either . The company has actually been around for 15 old age now , though most of us were n’t mindful of it until four or five years ago , when it launch the R1 liothyronine truck and the R1S SUV . Since then , the R1S has been considered among the good galvanic sport utility , but for the 2025 version , Rivian has given it a 2d - multiplication refresh .
I ’ve been a huge fan of Rivian for some clip now . And latterly , I spent a week test out the 2nd - gen Dual Max Rivian R1S with the optional Performance Upgrade . Ultimately , I recover that the new R1S takes what was loved about the original and build on it in some meaningful ways . Here ’s a deeper look .
Design and interior
The exterior design ofthe Rivian R1Sstays largely the same for the second - generation framework , but that ’s , in my view , a good thing . The Rivian headlights are somewhat controversial . It seems like mass either love them or hate them . My married woman , for example , hate them . I , on the other deal , roll in the hay them . I think the general conception of the R1S looking at and feels comparatively premium while avoiding taking itself too seriously , like many New S.U.V. seem to do .
There are some changes to the exterior design , though , even if they ’re relatively minor . For example , our revue model had the 22 - inch mutant docking facility , which is new for this multiplication Rivian R1S. It ’s a great look , particularly when coupled with the Dark Out package that our loaner vehicle had , which replaces the silver logos and accents with black . On the Rivian downhearted pigment , it looks splendid .
Perhaps more crucial than those things , however , is the new lead light prevention at the front . At first glimpse , it looks the same as the former generation ’s , and most of the clip , it acts the same too . But the segmented light barroom can actually be used to indicate status . For example , it can show the battery storey when the car is plug in and charging . Sure , it ’s very easygoing to see how charged upyour Rivianis , both in the gondola and in the app on your phone . But this alteration is still welcome and reach it easier to see information about your vehicle at a glance .
The interior has gotten many more updates and tweaks compared to the outside , though . For starters , there ’s a newfangled dynamic glass roof that can be electronically tinted , and an interior lighting system that is customizable . That ’s on top of the improver of extra inner storage .
Generally , I loved the inside of the vehicle . It feel like it was built with premium materials throughout , and I never felt disquieted about break or damaging anything . And there was plenitude of storage for both the driver and the rider — including elbow room for two phones in the form of wireless agitate pads . It was also soft to shut down down the third - rowing and second - quarrel seats , though it perhaps might have been nice if this was motorized . Still , the release for the second - row seats are easy accessible from the torso , which is ready to hand , considering you ’d otherwise have to walk around to the doors .
TheRivian R1S is a large SUVand it has three wrangle of seats for up to seven citizenry . It palpate wide even with the third row of seat up . However , give the fact that I have a baby and regularly stretch a stroller into the railcar , I did have the third row down most of the time . Technically , the front bole of the vehicle is little than onthe first - genesis example , but I still had no problem charge in a full week ’s Charles Frederick Worth of groceries ( around four or five bag ) with room to spare .
Tech, infotainment, and driver assist
Of naturally , Rivian is a technical school startup just as much as it is a gondola company , and the R1S is packed with tech to make the experience of driving it modern and convenient . You ’ll interact with technical school from the very first time you seat inside the vehicle , when you align the motorize seats and mirrors into a location that can be keep as a preset .
Presets are , in fact , a bragging part of R1S use , especially for families with multiple driver . The R1S automatically detects who ’s drive the railway car based on the phone paint , and if you have presets hold open for different drivers , it ’ll adjust automatically . This let in much more than just hind end position , too . The fans in the vehicle are also motorized , and they ’ll adjust to a preferred place , along with things like the drive modality and regenerative braking mise en scene . It really helps make the auto much more commodious for family with multiple machine driver who will use the vehicle . A favorite peeve of mine is when vehicles revert regenerative braking preferences when you twist the car off , but the R1S forefend this and go the extra statute mile .
Rivian also redesigned the infotainment organization for the second - generation R1S. Rivian notoriously does not include CarPlay in its vehicles , but I do n’t think it really needs it . The infotainment organization in the second - generation R1S is responsive , well - project , andpacked with feature . I ’ve covered this in more detail in a separate composition , but the fact is that the software program on the R1S is very well-to-do to navigate . It puts metier mastery in helpful place ( front and heart even when you ’re using the map ) , and the mapping system work well , allowing users to easily summate halt or make changes . Seriously , Rivian is one of only a tiny handful of companionship that ’s actually building good car software . And I hope others take placard .
I was a little unbelieving about the want of physical climate restraint in the R1S , and while I still do n’t love the fact that you ca n’t easily tweak clime with physical controls , over the week that I drive the vehicle , I found it to be a minuscule less of a problem than I expected . Much of this has to do with the preset vent positioning , which allows you to dress your orientation and always have the venthole positioned the way of life you want them . The software has quick controls for temperature , though I would have liked easy access to fan speed ensure too . As it stands , you ’ll beg the temperature buttons to get at fan stop number controller and other mood controls , but you may change temperature with simple pointer buttons from anywhere in the interface .
Rivian has announced dedicated Apple Music support for the R1S , however , that ’s not available just yet , and as such , I was n’t able to prove it . Other smart feature article include reenforcement for Alexa , which you may log into , and dedicated apps for Tidal and Spotify .
The respectable software experience extends beyond the software actually build into the gondola . There ’s an app that you may utilize with your Rivian vehicle , and it ’s also relatively well - plan . On an iPhone , the app offer easy access to controls that you might need , like the ability to lift the tailgate or front torso . It also offers an excellent widget that also has control for the front trunk and tailgate , along with selective information like battery level . I did incur that the widget sometimes was n’t very responsive , however , I ’m also run an iOS 18 genus Beta , so it ’s gruelling to know precisely why that was .
On top of large software , Rivian has also built helpful driver help feature into its car . Some of those you would wait . There ’s an excellent and absolved backup camera , along with a bird ’s eye position that makes it much easier to park . And there ’s an self-directed drive feature that can be activated on the highway , and that work quite well in my experience . you may aerate this very easily too , by tap the right stalk behind the cycle twice . The vehicle will make you keep your hands on the steering wheel , but you do n’t postulate to be gripping the steerage wheel very tightly . And I found that the scheme run relatively well . Rivian has tell that more modern autonomous lineament will be coming afterward this twelvemonth , though , again , I was ineffectual to test these .
Driving experience
I loved drivingthe Rivian R1S. Rivian pop the question a number of dissimilar configurations for the second - generation R1S. There are three barrage sizes to pick out from , and if you go for a dual - motor variant , you’re able to pick out between the standard motors or the Performance Upgrade . On top of that , there ’s a tri - motor model , and next year there will be a quad - motor interpretation too . Our recap mannequin was the R1S Dual Max , with the Performance Upgrade that increases the horsepower from 533 H.P. to 665 horsepower .
With the Performance Upgrade , despite being such a orotund and heavy vehicle , the R1S felt zippy and reactive . Seriously , it ’s kind of shocking how flying a railroad car this heavy can get . The Performance Upgrade allows the fomite to accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in only 3.4 seconds . That ’s very , very quick — and it was pair with reactive guidance and an air suspension system that you’re able to customise to your preferences , assure that you’re able to get a very tranquil ride or a slightly more tactile one .
I found that the regenerative braking on the vehicle was quite upright too . you’re able to tailor-make regenerative braking style to be more or less fast-growing . I care exclusive - treadle driving , so I had it dress to the most belligerent way .
The 2025 R1S features new air springs and retool suspension tuning , all in an endeavor to avail make steering a little more responsive and thin out cabin movement under difficult acceleration and braking . And while I have n’t had a net ton of experience in the original R1S ( though I have driven it a few times ) , I did feel as though this framework was able-bodied to take corner tighter than I would have await given its sizing and weight . There was very trivial consistency roll on even taut corners , and I felt like I was able to maneuver the vehicle easily , even in a smaller driveway .
Range and charging
One of the best things about the Rivian R1S compared toother raw electric SUVs like the Kia EV9is the fact that it has an excellent compass , though that does look a little on which cut down you go for . The base R1S is the Dual Standard variant , which declare oneself 270 Admiralty mile of range . Step up from there and you ’ll get the Dual Large manakin with a larger battery that birth 330 knot . The third battery sizing is available in the Dual Max R1S , and it deliver 410 miles of range . That was the model that we tested .
Overall , I felt that the kitchen range was splendid . I am able-bodied to send at dwelling , though I do n’t own an galvanic vehicle , so I only do so using the level 1 chargers that come with vehicle like the R1S. While this is very slow , even owners who charge via this method acting will be able to get by without using fast lodge station in the majority of twenty-four hour period - to - daylight driving . Of of course , it does help that I run from home , but if your commute is relatively short , you should find that your vehicle is always charged up when you involve it .
I did have some trouble with truehearted charging , though that has nothing to do with the R1S and more to do with terrible shoot base . The problem I experienced were at an EVgo firm charging station , which offered two chargers and only one that worked . When I pull out up , the R1S had about 100 land mile of range left . So I plugged it in and go to lunch . About halfway through lunch , I realized that the vehicle had stopped commove , and upon returning to the fomite , it became absolved that someone had unplugged the gondola while I was gone . Again , this is n’t a Rivian job by any substance , but it does exemplify that most EV buyers should be ready to manage with issue like this or agitate exclusively at home .
Eventuallyswitching to the Tesla NACS charge connectorwill help too . other buyer of the second - generation model wo n’t get this , and the model I test still had a CCS porthole . However , Rivian has announce that it will contain NACS into the R1 T and R1S in 2025 .
If you may charge at home , you ’ll have no issues . It helps , of course , that the R1S has a big range , and I hump have access to a mountain range of 400 - plus miles .
How DT would configure this car
For most buyers , I recollect the most important consideration to make relates to browse . The Dual Standard R1S has a range of 270 miles , which is fine , but not excellent . I opine most buyers should consider upgrading to the large or max battery size , which fork out 330 miles or 410 miles , respectively . If you could swing the upgrade to the Max battery , you may find out that it comes in ready to hand for things like route trips .
I do n’t think most masses want to elevate to the tri - motive or quadriceps femoris - motor models . Performance raise are down to personal penchant , of course . However , if you do want that extra nix , then the operation upgrade is likely more than enough . Also , it costs $ 5,000 , which is much more palatable than the $ 15,000 - plus upgrade to a tri - motor form .
It helps that all modeling of the R1S are all - wheel effort too . That means you do n’t have to yield additional for a operation package just to get all - roulette wheel ride if you plan on driving in blow or off - roading . And it ultimately imply that , really , any performance upgrades are down to mostly just want to go fast on the main road . I get that . My perfect manikin would be an R1S Dual Max with the Performance Upgrade . But that double-dyed exemplar still number at $ 94,900 , which is n’t crummy .
If you are in the market for a premium electric SUV and want something with a picayune more personality than some of the contest , then the R1S is the way to go . It ’s the best galvanising SUV out there right now , both in terms of technical school features and car features . It drive extremely well , has an excellent range , and looks cool too .
