When you want an adventure-oriented vehicle that also delivers the benefits of being a fantastic EV, the right choice could be the 2023 Rivian R1S.
Have you been waiting for the SUV version of the R1T? If so, it’s here. The R1S is mechanically identical to the R1T but gives you the advantages of a three-row SUV. You’ll enjoy impressive on and off-road capability, several unique features, and a competitive advantage that could put this SUV ahead of some of the top luxury electric SUVs in the market today.
How much power and range does the R1S offer?
There are two power variations of the R1S to make it a great choice for your driving pleasure. The dual-motor configuration provides more than 600 horsepower and 600 lb-ft of torque. This model can use either the standard or large battery pack.
There’s also a quad-motor version that returns 835 horsepower and 908 lb-ft of torque. This SUV can hit 60 mph in only 3.1 seconds on all-season tires. The quad-motor R1S is only offered with the larger battery pack.
The driving range varies from 260-321 miles depending on the battery and motor configuration. Either battery can add 140 miles of range in only 20 minutes using the Rivian brand quick chargers.
Special modes offered in this electric SUV
The Rivian R1S includes Camp and Kneel modes which are part of the standard packaging. The Camp mode puts the SUV into a “deep sleep” state which saves as much battery life as possible. This mode shuts off all the displays during nighttime and levels the suspension to make sleeping inside this SUV on uneven ground a bit more comfortable. When you need outside illumination, the Camp mode has mirror-mounted lights that can light up the campsite for you.
Kneel mode makes it feel like this SUV is kneeling down for you. This mode drops the ride height to 10 inches above the ground, which makes it much easier for you to load people, pets, and gear into and out of this impressive SUV.
It’s powerful, but is it capable?
Does the R1S offer the right level of capability to handle the work you need it to accomplish? This SUV can tow up to 7,700 pounds when fully equipped. This is less than the R1T but still much more than you’ll need for pulling a camping trailer or most boats. The rear area measures 11.1 cubic feet behind the rear seats, but there’s an additional storage bin that offers 5.1 cubic feet of added space. When all seats are folded, this SUV has 105 cubic feet of cargo room.
What EV tech is included in this Rivian SUV?
In the same vein as Tesla, Rivian offers proprietary software for the infotainment system to provide a different connection than what you expect. Although you can’t connect to Apple CarPlay or Android Auto in the Rivian R1S, you’ll find a 15.3-inch screen, a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, and the Bluetooth connectivity desired. You’ll also find a removable speaker with a built-in LED lantern when you want to listen to music at your campsite.
What does the Driver+ package include?
This new Rivian SUV comes equipped with the Driver+ package of safety and driver-assistance features. This package includes adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, highway assist, blind-spot monitoring, automatic high beams, rear cross-traffic alerts, parking sensors, forward collision warning, and automatic emergency braking. These features help to keep you safe, secure, and confident on the roads and trails.
Is the Rivian R1S the right electric SUV for you?
If you admire the exterior design of the R1T, you’ll love what the R1S brings to the table. The quad-motor version of this SUV is impressively powerful with amazing acceleration to make it a lot of fun to see how quickly you can reach highway speeds. The R1S is packed in amazing driving dynamics that don’t make this SUV feel as heavy and cumbersome as it should be. The Camp and Kneel modes are extremely useful for your outdoor adventures, making this SUV a great choice when you want to take it to the wilderness.
Unfortunately, the R1S doesn’t have any shades for the sunroof, which makes it easy for heat to penetrate into the cabin. The lack of common connectivity in the infotainment system can also be troublesome.
Despite two drawbacks, the Rivian R1S could be an amazing electric SUV for your future outdoor adventures.
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