Rivian is getting plenty of aid in the car outer space these days , thanks for the most part to its innovative - look vehicles with fantabulous software package , as well as the fact that it has announced an exciting route map for the future . Rivian vehicles in general , however , are packed with feature , and not everything about them make headlines . Of course , that prepare mother wit , but after drivinga 2nd - generation Rivian R1Sfor the past week , I ’ve found a variety of feature that do n’t get the attention they deserve .
There are loads of small software features and button that make the experience of driving a Rivian that much better . Here ’s a look at some of my favorite Rivian features that do n’t get enough attention .
Driver presets
One of the vantage ofa machine like a Rivianis the fact that it ’s incredibly reliant on software , and everything inside the cable car is motorized and controlled by computer software . That , of track , has its downside , but there are also plenty of benefits to this .
The most obvious of these benefits is the fact that you’re able to set the car up to be on the dot how you like it , every time you get in it . If you ’re the only person driving the car , that ’s not all that groundbreaking ceremony — your machine is always the way you care it . But if multiple people in your family motor the same car , this can have some serious benefit . Modern Rivian vehiclesuse phone keys to discover who is driving and can adjust things like seats , drive modes , and even the position of the fans based on the somebody in the driver ’s seat .
The downsides are obvious — it can be a pain to constantly have to fag through software program to adjust climate controls or else of turn a knob . But if everything is set the way you want it , you may not have to adjust things much anyway .
Kneel mode
I do n’t think she would mind me say this ( she does n’t interpret my study anyway ) , but my wife is inadequate . Whenever I ’m review an SUV , she unremarkably describe getting in it as climbing . But while the Rivian R1S ca n’t get around physics , it can make the experience of get in and out slightly soft for citizenry like my wife .
That ’s mostly thanks to theRivian’sair hiatus technology , coupled with setting like kneeling mood . With this mode combat-ready , when you put the vehicle in park , it ’ll bring down the suspension to the lowest circumstance , making it easier to get in and out .
Rivian move a step further with this tech too , with features like Camp modal value that will expend aviation suspension to flush the vehicle as much as possible , making encampment inside it more comfortable . Camp mode also optimize your car ’s get-up-and-go while it ’s park and power camping accessories .
The iPhone widget
Modern car package does n’t just relate to the software built into a elevator car ’s infotainment system . It also relates to how a vehicle integrates with your other twist . Riviandoesn’t use CarPlay , but it has made a big campaign to ensure self-coloured integration with your other devices . While using the second - gen Rivian R1S , I specially appreciate the iPhone widget .
This widget appropriate you to quickly assure configurations like shut up and unlocking , and curtain raising and end the tailgate and front torso . To be mediocre , I did encounter that these configurations sometimes did n’t work straight from the widget itself , but I ’m also runningan iOS 18 beta , and it ’s wholly potential that had an impact . And even when that did materialize , tapping on the gizmo apace brought me to the veracious place in the Rivian app to control the setting I was expect for . In general , I found the app to be comparatively well - designed and easy to use , and it offered admittance to all the preferences I needed . Plus , it was nice to not have to acquit around key . Your phone is your key .
Built-in garage door opener
This one perhaps does n’t get much attending because it ’s not really that big of a deal , but Rivian has made an effort to make it that much easier to open up and close your garage room access when you get home . you could program service department doorway remotes straight into your fomite , then tap the button at the top of the interface when you arrive home to activate it . It ’s a small feature to be sure , but it avoids having to use those old - school remote control that clip onto your sunlight eyeshade . I ’ve get wind comment from Rivian users online who particularly sleep together this characteristic , including the fact that it allows for the programming of multiple service department doors . It also works well , rarely , if ever , failing to open or conclude the service department door .
Charging status light bar
This one is specific to the second - genesis model ofthe R1S and R1T. For these model , Rivian has added a segmental head light cake at the front of the vehicles that can be used to argue the status of the vehicle . The most helpful function case for this is when charging , as it essentially highlights how file up your vehicle is without you having to check out manually . Sure , it ’s not hard to watch in the app , specially if you have the iPhone widget on your dwelling screen , which will say you how charged your car is , but it can do in handy to be capable to check your car ’s charge at a glance .
After driving the R1S for a week , I feel like I only scratched the surface of all the features and on/off switch available for the vehicle . If you terminate up buy one , I recommend spending the hour necessary to dive through each and every carte , both in the app and in the car itself . keep open your presets to your profile and help anyone else ride the vehicle to bring through presets to their profile . This will allow you to take full advantage of the powerful computer software on go by Rivian railcar .
