The Rivian R1S is an all-electric full-size off-road SUV manufactured by Rivian Automotive. Customer deliveries started in 2022. The car took nearly 10 years to develop. Depending on the configuration, it has either two or four electric motors. The R1S launched late in the 2022 model year, so it carries over to 2023 with no changes. The Rivian R1S is the mechanically identical three-row SUV sibling to the R1T pickup, MotorTrend’s 2022 Truck of the Year. Boasting tremendous capability on- and off-road, the Rivian R1S receives Camp and Kneel modes for the 2023 model year. It competes in the rapidly expanding electric SUV segment with rivals that include the Tesla Model X, BMW iX, Audi E-Tron, and Mercedes-Benz EQS.
SPECIFICATIONS OF RIVIAN R1S
The R1S is available with three AWD drive systems: Dual-Motor, Performance Dual-Motor and Quad-Motor. All three deliver exceptional performance, both on-road and off. Based on the drive system and battery pack you choose, you’ll get an estimated 260–400 miles of range.
Wheelbase | 3,076 mm (121.1 in) |
Length | 5,100 mm (200.8 in) |
Width | 2,014 mm (79.3 in) |
Height | 1,816–1,963 mm (71.5–77.3 in) |
Curb weight | 3,206 kg (7,068 lb) |
Power train | |
Transmission | Single-speed |
Hybrid drivetrain | IWD 4×4 |
Battery | 7,776 cells (2170 type) in a nine-module assembly for the 135 kWh liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery pack |
Electric range | 316 mi (509 km) |
Power output | 402–835 hp (300–623 kW) |
Body and chassis | |
Body style | 5-door SUV |
Doors | 4 doors + 1 in rear |
Related | Rivian r1t
Rivian r1x |
FEATURES OF RIVIAN R1S
The key features of 2023 Rivian R1S are;
- Dual-motor AWD with 533 hp, Performance Dual-Motor AWD with 665 hp, or Quad Motor AWD with 835 hp
- Vegan leather upholstery with heated and ventilated front seats
- Rivian Driver+ driver-assistance suite and surround-view camera system
- 15.6-inch infotainment system and 12.3-inch driver-info display
- 20-speaker Meridian audio system
The Rivian R1S makes a great first impression with its striking exterior design. The quad-motor version is monstrously powerful, and acceleration figures are in supercar territory. The R1S boasts great driving dynamics despite its weight, with nimble steering and excellent chassis tuning. New features like Camp and Kneel modes make use of the vehicle’s air suspension system for leveling the vehicle when parked on uneven surfaces or lowering it for easier ingress and egress.
The luxury electric SUV segment has become increasingly crowded, making some of the R1S’ shortcomings somewhat unforgivable. The sunroof doesn’t have any shades, whether physical or electrochromic, which allows a lot of heat to penetrate the cabin. Our other gripe is that the infotainment system—which only runs Rivian’s proprietary software and doesn’t offer Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, or satellite radio—is fussy and unintuitive.
PRICE OF RIVIAN R1S
The 2023 Rivian R1S comes in just one trim level, Adventure, and it’s priced from $78,000.
The new 2023 Rivian R1S Adventure has a price starting at $78,000 with the dual-motor setup and the Standard battery pack. Upgrading to the Large battery pack adds $6,000 to the price, and opting for Performance dual-motor setup adds $5,000, while the quad-motor drivetrain ups the price by another $8,000. The quad-motor AWD cannot be had with the smaller battery, but dual-motor versions have access to the Max pack for 400 miles of range – at a cost of $16,000. The destination charge is $1,500.
The base Rivian R1S MSRP was supposed to drop to $72,500 for the cheapest Explore trim, but that was canceled even before its launch, as Rivian says the majority of buyers order the Adventure. The R1S qualifies for the government’s $7,500 EV tax credit.