Rivian R1S (US) review

One of the first things that passengers familiar with the first-gen R1S will notice is a substantial improvement in ride quality. Based on customer feedback, the suspension system has been reengineered to make commuting more tolerable without any dings to its off-road abilities. There’s also less wind noise permeating throughout the cabin.

There are a number of ways drivers can customize their experience, either through drive modes or by way of individual settings. For instance, ride height can automatically adjust based on speeds for extra stability or it can be manually adjusted, and it can also change depending on drive mode, like Sport. Speaking of, in this mode, the Rivian’s suspension tightens up and the pedal response is heightened, letting drivers put that 550-1,025hp to work. Though the R1S tops out at 130mph, you’ll get there quick.

How quick?

We’re glad you asked. The dual motor R1S models can sprint from 0 to 60 in either 4.5 or 3.4 seconds, though the fun doesn’t start until we get to the high-powered stuff. Rivian states the new tri-motor can hit it in 2.9 seconds while the monster quad-motored R1S can manage it in a staggering 2.5 seconds. We weren’t simply going to take its word on it, though.

During our drive, Rivian gave us access to a local drag strip for 0 to 60 and quarter-mile runs in the mighty R1S. It also did everything to favor the car, treating the course in that sticky drag strip substance it uses to adhere the speed demons to the tarmac, and even heating the wheels in F1-style blankets between runs. There’s also one more trick the R1S had up its sleeve: a brand-new launch mode.

As with similar systems in other cars, the launch mode calculates the ideal way to deliver power to the ground with minimal tire slip, providing clean, quick getaways with zero drama. It’s super easy to use, too, just mash the brake, mash the throttle, then let go of the brake, and you’re off. In this mode, you’re essentially middle-management; the car does all the work, you just take the credit for initiating things.

Once you do, the Rivian sends you rocketing down the straightaway while the Gs attempt to shove your eyebrows into the back of your head. We managed to hit 60mph in 2.85 seconds and did the quarter mile in 10.85. Not the peak that Rivian claims it can achieve but respectable for a sports car let alone a three-row family SUV.

How about off the road?

When in the muck, the R1S is again doing all of the heavy lifting. There are different modes for different terrains but either way, it’s the Rivian software sorting things out. Apart from the quiet ride, the benefit of taking an EV off road is using the regen at its fullest for easy one-pedal traversal over tricky terrain. Also, for a big battery with wheels, the Rivian is quite water resistant, able to wade through a full meter of river water. At the end of the day, the R1S is going to tackle the majority of off-road trials that customers will throw at it. If that’s not specific enough, know that Rivian engineers Lilly Macaruso and Alex Anderson won last year’s Rebelle Rally, the longest off-road challenge in the US, in a stock R1T, the pickup sibling vehicle to the R1S.

If that’s not your cup of tea, the R1S has some other ways to play in the dirt. Provided you’re in a tri-motor or above, drivers have access to a rally and drift mode for next-level off-road horsing around. According to Macaruso, both systems were engineered with the feedback from pros, and the Rivian team dialled in the settings to their satisfaction. The result is a rally mode that sends the R1S flying sideways to the driver’s aplomb. Its still a hefty car, but the software is both flattering and forgiving, making drivers feel like pros without too hard of a limit. If this is what we can expect from the recently-announced R3X, we’ll be over the moon.

Same goes for the drift mode. Where the Rally mode is a gentle guide, drift is as close to switching all traction and stability controls off without doing so. They’ll kick in, but they’ll give the driver enough rope to hang themselves first. It also delivers gobs of power instantly to the rear wheels, requiring a supremely practiced and light foot to control it all. If you don’t you at least have a wild time.

What can we expect for range?

Depending on configuration, the R1S can net drivers between 258 to 420 road miles to blaze. The new lithium iron phosphate standard pack gives the dual motor setup 270 miles of estimated range while the “Large” and “Max” batteries increase this exponentially. For the power hungry setups, expect less, though still a substantial amount. The new tri-motor, for example, can provide 380 miles of range ostensibly without stretching things. Set in conserve mode, it can probably get 400 miles. 

Filling these batteries back up from 10 per cent to 80 per cent can take between 30 to 40 minutes on a DC fast charger, depending on the battery. The Rivian is also NACS compatible now, though with a provided adaptor.