There are plenty of off-road-capable SUVs, three-row SUVs and even electric SUVs, but there's nothing that shines in all three areas like the Rivian R1S. It's quick on the street and capable on a trail. We're also impressed how the R1S beat its EPA electric range estimate in our real-world testing. Comfort and tech refinement are a bit lacking, but there's so much to like that it's easy to look past the faults.
2024 Rivian R1S
Pros
- Solid real-world range, even with all-terrain tires
- Genuine off-road capability
- Lots of space for people and cargo
- Quick acceleration
Cons
- Firm ride compared to other luxury EVs
- In-car tech lacks Apple CarPlay or Android Auto
What's new
- No major changes for 2024
- Part of the first R1S generation introduced for 2022
Overview
The 2024 R1S is an all-electric three-row SUV from Rivian, an American startup EV manufacturer. It's stylish, powerful and spacious, and it offers more off-road capability than most other SUVs, electric or not. The R1S also has respectable range on a full charge. Go easy on the R1S, and we found in our own testing that it can easily travel more than 300 miles on a full charge with the Large battery pack. If you're looking for a do-it-all electric SUV, you might have found it with the Rivian R1S.
Competitors to consider
There are few all-electric three-row SUVs available today, and they all seem wildly different in their approach. Check out the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV if you want a more luxurious SUV than the R1S. It has a smoother ride and the build quality Mercedes is known for. We also highly recommend the new Kia EV9. It's a bargain compared to the R1S yet delivers plenty of refinement and capability. Still, the Rivian R1S is plenty appealing, especially if you want your electric SUV to have solid off-road capability. Check out our test team's Expert Rating to learn more.
Performance
8.5/10
How does the R1S drive? Take one look at the R1S and you'll know it means business, especially with our test vehicle's optional all-terrain tires. Combine those tires with four electric motors (one at each wheel), an adjustable air suspension and short overhangs, and you've got one of the most capable SUVs on the road today, electric or not. Max ground clearance is nearly 15 inches, and Rivian says the R1S has a 3-foot wading depth. It's shorter than the R1T, so it's a little more nimble off-road. The air suspension can be lowered, too, to make getting in and out or loading cargo a bit easier.
But the R1S is likely to spend most of its time on the street, not on off-road trails, so we're happy to say on-road performance is good too. At our test track, our quad-motor R1S test vehicle sprinted from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.4 seconds, making it one of the quickest SUVs we've ever tested, electric or not. Each motor can work independently, so there's no shortage of traction on- or off-road. Nail the throttle and the R1S simply hauls, though the nose lifts and the steering gets a little light as the weight shifts to the rear.
The steering itself is light, which makes it relatively easy to park, though the slow steering ratio means more turning than in some other EVs. The R1S offers excellent one-pedal driving, and the brakes themselves are firm but not touchy.
Comfort
7.5/10
How comfortable is the R1S? The R1S may look all rough-and-tumble, but with a base price that puts in competition with luxury SUVs, we expect it to have a certain level of on-road refinement. The ride quality is OK with a general feel that's closer to a truck than a luxury car. The adjustable air suspension didn't seem to improve the ride either. The BMW iX and Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV deliver a much smoother, luxury-oriented ride, and the R1S feels unrefined in comparison. It's worth noting, though, that neither of those cars has the Rivian's off-road capability.
Better seats would probably help the Rivian's case, though we wouldn't call them uncomfortable. The seats in all three rows are flat and don't offer much support, though we didn't have too many complaints after a long day behind the wheel. The front seats are heated and ventilated, while the second row gets heating too.
As with the ride quality, overall noise levels aren't quite what we expect from a vehicle at this price. Cabin noise isn't overbearing, but there is a moderate amount of wind and road noise. Our test R1S had the all-terrain tires; presumably the regular tires would be a little quieter. We like the standard four-zone automatic climate control, and the system works well to cool the vehicle relatively quickly. We wish, though, that things like vent position adjustment weren't tied to the touchscreen. It's needlessly overcomplicated.
Interior
8.0/10
How’s the interior? From the second row forward, the R1S is largely the same inside as its truck counterpart. The wide dash is dominated by a large touchscreen display that houses nearly all major controls, from changing the temperature to adjusting the mirrors. The systems in prior Rivians we've driven have been laggy to use, but over-the-air updates have improved the infotainment responsiveness. That's good since the menu system is relatively straightforward to use when it works correctly. The driving position is upright and truck-like, and the tall windows and squared-off design make visibility relatively good for an SUV this big. Lots of camera angles on that big screen help too.
The R1S is fairly spacious inside, even in the third row. It wouldn't be the most comfortable spot over a longer trip, but passengers 6 feet tall should be comfortable in the third row over short drives. The first and second rows offer plenty of space, with the glass roof allowing for lots of headroom. Getting in and out is relatively easy, especially with the adjustable air suspension that can lower when parked. The doors open wide, and the second row slides forward for third-row access.
Technology
7.0/10
How’s the tech? The big center screen looks impressive, but overall the Rivian's in-car tech could use some improvement. The navigation system has a large map, but it's not as easy to use as what you'll find in other EVs. There's no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto smartphone integration, so it's Rivian's navigation or nothing. That's a miss when nearly every other EV offers one or both. You can sign into apps like Spotify rather than relying on Bluetooth too. There are plenty of USB-C ports in all three rows as well as a wireless charging pad up front. Rivian features Amazon Alexa voice assistant integration, so voice commands work fairly well.
Storage
9.0/10
How’s the storage? The R1S may not be the largest SUV on the road, but it sure makes great use of the available space. The rear cargo area ranges from 17.6 cubic feet with the third row up to 88.2 cubic feet with both the second and third rows down. The seats fold nearly flat, and the folding split tailgate and adjustable air suspension make loading cargo a breeze.
Then there's the big front trunk. It's wide and deep and has an adjustable load floor. The Mercedes EQS SUV and BMW iX don't have frunks at all. In-cabin storage is decent, with nice door pockets and a sizable bin in the center console. The lack of a glovebox is a bit puzzling, however.
Child safety seats shouldn't be too much of an issue given the anchor locations and rear seat room. There's room to maneuver to install and plenty of space for larger seats. And if you have a need to tow something, anything, the R1S reigns supreme with a max capacity of 7,700 pounds.
Range and Efficiency
7.5/10
How are the range and efficiency? The Rivian R1S has an EPA-estimated range of up to 321 miles, though Rivian says models with all-terrain tires (like our test vehicle) will have a little less in the real world. Despite that warning, our test vehicle managed to travel 330 miles on a single charge, beating its EPA estimate even with all-terrain tires. We measured consumption at 47.4 kWh of electricity used for every 100 miles driven. That's slightly better than the EPA's estimate of 49 kWh/100 miles but still less efficient than the BMW iX and Tesla Model X. Remember that unlike mpg, lower figures are better here.
While the Rivian's EPA estimate is nearly identical to the BMW iX (rated at 315 miles), the BMW far outpaced that figure, traveling 377 miles on a single charge. The Tesla Model X also has an even higher EPA estimate than the Rivian, though we've yet to drive a Tesla that met its figures in our testing. As for recharging, expect it to take about 45 minutes to charge the battery from 10% to 80% capacity when using a high-powered DC fast-charging station.
Value
8.0/10
Is the R1S a good value? Rivian, like Tesla, features direct sales and no-haggle pricing. It's priced a bit lower than rivals like the BMW iX, Tesla Model X and Mercedes EQS SUV. It includes a decent list of standard features and, for the moment, all R1S models come with four motors and seating for seven. Build quality is pretty good and improved from some earlier Rivians we've tested. There's a definite premium feel inside, though it's not quite as nice as the Mercedes or BMW.
Rivian offers one of the industry's best warranties with the R1S. There's a five-year/60,000-mile basic warranty; the powertrain and battery are each covered for eight years/175,000 miles. There's also eight years of rust protection and five years/60,000 miles of roadside assistance, all pretty generous.
Wildcard
9.0/10
There's nothing else on the road quite like the R1S. It's not the sportiest SUV on the road, though it is one of the quickest and you're unlikely to be bored behind the wheel. It's plenty capable off-road thanks to the standard four-motor setup and air suspension. And as with the truck, we think Rivian nailed the styling. It looks tough but futuristic, and it doesn't look soft like an EQS or odd like an iX. Few vehicles ooze personality like the R1S.
Rivian R1S models
The 2024 Rivian R1S is available in a single trim level: Adventure. The standard powertrain has a motor powering each axle, giving it standard all-wheel drive. Output for this dual-motor setup is 533 horsepower or 665 hp with the upgraded Performance version. If that's not quite enough, Rivian offers a quad-motor setup, with an electric motor powering each wheel. Output increases to 835 horsepower. There are also three battery packs currently available to order: Standard, Large and Max. Each pack provides a progressive increase in range, though there are a few restrictions to the combinations of motors and battery you can order. Keep reading for our rundown of the R1S' most significant features and options.