The Rivian R1S is basically a giant rolling contradiction. It is a three-row family hauler that can outrun a Ferrari to 60 mph, yet it’s also a rugged box that can wade through three feet of water without short-circuiting. Honestly, it’s a lot to wrap your head around. If you’ve been looking at EVs lately, you’ve probably seen the headlines about the "Gen 2" refresh that hit the streets in late 2024 and early 2025. It looks exactly like the old one. Except, it isn't.
Underneath that familiar "stadium light" face, Rivian swapped out almost everything. They ditched the Bosch motors for their own in-house designs. They ripped out miles of wiring. They even changed how the suspension thinks. But here’s the kicker: despite all the marketing fluff about 1,025 horsepower, most people are actually buying the "slow" ones. And they’re probably right to do so.
The Motor Math: Do You Really Need 1,000 Horsepower?
Rivian offers the R1S in four main flavors now: Dual, Performance Dual, Tri, and Quad. The Quad-Motor is the one that gets the clicks. It delivers a ridiculous 1,025 horsepower and 1,198 lb-ft of torque. It’s the kind of power that makes your vision go a bit blurry when you floor it.
But let's be real for a second.
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The Tri-Motor setup, which arrived as the "sweet spot" for 2025, actually beats the old Quad-Motor in a sprint. It hits 60 mph in about 2.9 seconds. That’s faster than most people will ever need to go to pick up groceries or get to a trailhead. The Tri-Motor uses two motors in the back and one in the front, which gives it incredible "torque vectoring." Basically, the car can push more power to the outside wheel during a turn to help you pivot. It makes a 7,000-pound SUV feel, well, less like a 7,000-pound SUV.
Then there’s the Dual-Motor. It starts at roughly $76,000. It "only" has 533 horsepower. "Only." In the world of internal combustion, 500+ horsepower is supercar territory. In a Rivian, it's the entry-level. You've still got a 0-60 time of 4.5 seconds, which is plenty for merging onto the 405 or passing a slow moving semi on a mountain pass.
The Real-World Range Reality
Range is where things get tricky. Rivian claims the R1S can go up to 410 miles on a charge if you opt for the "Max" battery pack. That sounds amazing, right? It is, until you realize that number is based on the most efficient wheel and tire setup—usually the 22-inch road tires.
If you put the 20-inch all-terrain tires on it—the ones everyone wants because they look cool and actually work in the dirt—your range takes a hit. A big one. Real-world testing from places like Edmunds and Car and Driver shows that while the EPA says 410, you’re more likely to see 350-380 miles in mixed driving. And if it's cold? Expect less. One owner in a winter climate reported averaging about 2.2 miles per kWh, which puts the real-world math closer to 300 miles.
Still, that’s better than almost any other three-row EV on the market. The Volvo EX90 struggles to hit 310 miles even on its best day.
What Nobody Tells You About the Interior
The cabin is gorgeous. It’s all reclaimed wood and "vegan leather" (which is just high-end vinyl, let's be honest). But Rivian has this obsession with putting everything in the screen. Want to move your air vents? You have to drag a little icon on the 15.6-inch display. It’s annoying. It’s the kind of thing that feels futuristic for five minutes and then becomes a chore when you’re just trying to keep your feet warm while driving.
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And then there's the phone situation. There is no Apple CarPlay. There is no Android Auto. Rivian wants you to use their built-in Google Maps-based navigation and their Spotify app. To be fair, the software is slick. It’s fast. It’s better than what you’ll find in a Chevy or a Ford. But if you’re ride-or-die for your Apple Podcasts interface, you’re stuck using Bluetooth.
Space and the "Third Row" Problem
The R1S is a true seven-seater, but that third row is a bit of a squeeze for adults. If you’re six feet tall, you can fit back there for a 20-minute trip to dinner, but you wouldn’t want to be there for a road trip to Moab. The second row, however, is a palace. It slides, it reclines, and in the newer "Ascend" trims, it’s just as plush as the front seats.
Storage is where the R1S wins. You’ve got:
- A massive "frunk" (front trunk) where the engine should be.
- A deep well in the back under the load floor.
- 104 cubic feet of space if you fold all the seats flat.
It’s basically a cavernous tent on wheels.
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Off-Roading: Is it Legit or Just for Show?
Most R1S owners will never take their $90,000 SUV further off-road than a gravel driveway at a vineyard. That’s a shame. This thing has 15 inches of ground clearance thanks to its air suspension. For context, a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon has about 10.8 inches.
The way the electric motors handle traction is almost eerie. There are no locking differentials to mess with. The computer just looks at which wheel is slipping and sends the torque elsewhere in milliseconds. On the new 2025 and 2026 models, the suspension tuning is much improved. The early Gen 1 cars had a bit of a "hobby horse" effect where they would bounce awkwardly over bumps. The new ones feel more "planted."
One thing to watch out for: Towing. The R1S is rated to tow 7,700 pounds. It’ll do it easily—electric motors have all the torque in the world. But towing a heavy trailer will chop your range in half. If you’re planning on pulling a boat to the lake, make sure that lake is less than 100 miles away, or prepare for a lot of charging stops.
The Reliability Elephant in the Room
We have to talk about it. Rivian is a young company. While the Gen 2 models fixed a lot of the early manufacturing "growing pains," issues still pop up. We've seen reports of front motor failures at low mileage and the occasional water leak through the glass roof.
The good news? Rivian's service seems to be "white glove." There are stories of owners getting total battery and drivetrain replacements under warranty without a single argument. The bad news? If you don't live near a Rivian Service Center, you're relying on a mobile tech or a long tow.
The Software Future: Universal Hands-Free
By early 2026, Rivian is pushing an update for "Universal Hands-Free" driving. Currently, their "Highway Assist" only works on specific pre-mapped stretches of freeway. The new system is supposed to work on 3.5 million miles of North American roads—basically anywhere with clear lane lines.
It’s an SAE Level 2 system, so you still have to pay attention. It’s not a "nap while you drive" situation. But for long hauls, it’s a massive stress-reducer. They’re also adding a "Rivian Assistant" powered by AI that can actually understand natural speech. You can say, "Hey Rivian, make everyone's seat warm except mine," and it’ll actually do it.
Actionable Insights for Potential Buyers
If you’re seriously considering an R1S, don't just look at the 0-60 times. Here is how you should actually navigate the configurator:
- Skip the Quad-Motor: Unless you have money to burn and a desperate need to win drag races, the Dual-Motor Performance or the Tri-Motor are the smarter buys. You get more range and plenty of speed.
- The Tire Trap: If you want the best range, stick with the 22-inch wheels. If you actually plan to go off-road or live somewhere with massive potholes, get the 20-inch wheels with All-Terrains, but acknowledge you'll lose 10-15% of your total range.
- Check the Charging: All 2025 and 2026 models are moving toward the NACS (Tesla-style) port. This is a huge deal because it means you can use the Tesla Supercharger network without a clunky adapter in the near future.
- Lease if You're Worried: EV tech is moving fast. Rivian offers competitive leasing, which protects you from the depreciation hit and lets you trade up when the "next big thing" comes out in three years.
The Rivian R1S isn't perfect, but it is probably the most versatile vehicle on sale today. It’s a luxury car, a sports car, and a tractor all smashed into one. Just be prepared to explain to your friends why you’re dragging your finger across a screen just to point the AC at your face.