The Rivian R1S is an all-electric premium SUV that offers comfort whether you’re driving between the lines or heading out on an off-road adventure.
Rivian doesn’t seem to be a flash-in-the-pan company and should be taken seriously in the EV world. This R1S is their second offering, and it’s ready to be the SUV you love to drive. You’ll never need a drop of gasoline and will have the benefits of a long driving range and upscale styling. If you’re thinking about the target, yes, the R1S has the Tesla Model X square in it’s sights and is coming after it.
This SUV Will Give Tesla Fits
There aren’t many electric SUVs in the market yet, which would mean we can’t call the R1S disruptive without being a little cheeky. That said, this impressive SUV does everything well. That’s not something we can say about the rivals. The overall performance of this EV SUV makes it easy for you to smile and nod that it happens to be the vehicle that can handle the drive. If you’ve got your mind set on crossing the country and then heading up the side of a mountain, this Rivian SUV could be the right vehicle for your upcoming trek.
What Makes the R1S a Pleasure to Drive?
The Rivian R1S has an air suspension with adaptive shocks and an electro-hydraulic roll control system. This package of items means you don’t need traditional anti-roll bars. You can raise and lower the vehicle by 5.5 inches to ensure you have the smoothest ride on the road or the height you need when riding on the trails. The braking system of the R1S feels normal, which isn’t something we say about all EVs, and it makes stopping predictable and easy for you.
What Will You See Inside this Rivian SUV?
The cabin area of the R1S offers a contemporary design befitting this high-tech luxury SUV. A pair of large digital screens sit in the dashboard. One screen is for your gauges, while the other offers the infotainment controls for your drive. The seats of this Rivian SUV are covered in vegan leather, and you’ll see recycled floor mats offering you the feeling of a vehicle that benefits from a sustainability program. The base Explore trim offers a matte black finish, but the higher trims look amazing with their natural-grained ash wood finishes.
The first two rows of seats are comfortable, while the third row is a little tight. This is pretty much expected in the midsize three-row SUV category. This SUV delivers lots of cargo room, with the rear area expanding as each row is folded. There’s also a frunk for you to use, which measures 11 cubic feet. If this isn’t enough, there’s also a 5-cubic foot rear storage bin. When you have both rear rows of seats folded flat, the cargo room measures 108 cubic feet.
A Unique Design that Feels Familiar
The Rivian R1S is a boxy SUV that looks a lot like some of the other models we’ve seen. Rivian took time to ensure this vehicle stands tall and has the off-road qualities adventurers seek. The adjustable suspension allows this SUV to have 14.9 inches of ground clearance, which is absolutely incredible. If you need to go through some water, the R1S Can handle up to 36 inches without any trouble at all. Outside, this SUV looks stylish, futuristic, and high-tech. The rectangular headlights offer a look into the future while the body appears to be smooth and perfectly crafted for your drive.
What Features and Trims are Offered for the Rivian R1S?
Explore Trim (base model)
- Choice of five or seven seats
- Vegan leather upholstery
- Heated front seats
- Driver’s seat lumbar adjustment
- Textile headliner
- Recycled textile floor mats
- Power rear liftgate
- Driver+ safety tech suite
- Adaptive cruise control
- Lane-keep assist
- Driver alertness monitoring
Adventure Trim
- Off-Road Upgrade package
- Rivian Elevation audio by Meridian
- Ash wood interior trim
- Perforated vegan leather seats
- Heated and ventilated front seats
- Passenger lumbar adjustment
- Compass Yellow interior accents
- Recycled microfiber headliner
- Chilewich floor mats
What Options Can You Enjoy in this SUV?
The Rivian R1S doesn’t offer a lot of options, but there are a few that could make things a little more enjoyable for you when you’re out on the trails. Add a reinforced underbody shield for $2,00 and a set of tow hooks for $300 more. You can also add all-weather floormats, and a 3-person Yakima tent that mounts to the roof crossbars, which also have to be added as an option.
What is the Driver+ System?
We know this system uses some of the safety features, but what does it do? The Driver+ system is a hands-free semi-autonomous driving system that comes on every R1S model. You can take your hands off the wheel for a little while and let this SUV do the driving. This system is made to never be outdated because it receives free over-the-air updates regularly.
What Drivers this Rivian SUV?
The Rivian R1S uses a set of four electric motors to give you the drive you desire. Each wheel has its own motor, which ensures you always have AWD, no matter where you go. These four motors combine to give you 800 horsepower and 900 lb-ft of torque. The driving range on a full charge is 316 miles, and you can purchase the Rivian Wall Charger for overnight charging for $750. This SUV can tow up to 7,700 pounds and hits 60 mph in only three seconds.
Could the R1S be Right for You?
If you’re searching for a vehicle that does something a bit better, why not go with one that does everything better? The Rivian R1S is fantastic on the trails, great on the road, futuristic, comfortable, and versatile. This SUV offers a complete package of driving qualities and brings you to the next level of off-road driving pleasure. This could be the SUV you start driving very soon, and now you know a little more about it.
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