The 2025 Rivian R1S Is Better, but So Is Its Competition

Rivian’s R1S is basically all-new for 2025, however you’d be forgiven for not figuring out that by taking a look at it. It’s obtained new batteries, new motors, new software program, and even new wiring, however the sheet steel is nearly untouched—it’s nonetheless the identical pleasant two-box design from 2022. 

What has modified is the R1S’s competitors. When it was new, the R1S was principally the one technique to get an electrified (commonplace) three-row SUV; Now, it competes immediately in opposition to an ever-growing phase of automobiles from EV upstarts and legacy producers, and it makes the R1S a harder promote. For 2025, the R1S now prices $75,900, which suggests a base mannequin is priced roughly the identical as a top-of-the-line Kia EV9 GT-Line, certainly one of its largest rivals.

Patrons of the bottom mannequin get the identical energy as earlier than: boatloads. The usual dual-motor drivetrain pumps out a whopping 533 horsepower and 615 pound-feet of torque, vastly greater than the 379-horsepower EV9. It solely will get sooner from there. Improve to the Efficiency package deal ($5,000, geared up on my take a look at car) and the identical pair of motors produce 665 hp and 829 lb-ft.

Rivian additionally gives a tri-motor with 850 hp and a quad-motor model with 1,025 hp, however the quad-motor R1Ss gained’t hit the streets till subsequent 12 months. These are promised to tug ten-second quarter miles and hit 60 miles per hour in 2.5 seconds. For my functions, 665 horsepower was loads. 

Execs: Finest Vary Of Any Three-Row, Depraved Energy, Wonderful Steering

For supplying juice to these in-house-designed motors, Rivian gives three battery sizes: A 92.0-kilowatt-hour Customary, a 109.0-kilowatt-hour Giant, and a 141.0-kilowatt-hour Max. The battery chemistries and precise capacities are completely different from the earlier R1S, however that’s primarily to assist Rivian flip a revenue, not to transform the driving expertise of the automobile.

So far as issues consumers will discover, the vary varies from a quite-good 258 miles to an excellent 410 miles, relying on the battery and car specification chosen. My take a look at car was a Twin Max, which gives the total 410 miles of vary; This handily bests the Tesla Mannequin X’s 335 miles and the EV9’s 304 miles. Replenishing instances are additionally wonderful, with Giant and Max packs providing a 220-kilowatt most charging price on DC fast-chargers, translating to 140 miles of vary in simply 20 minutes. 

Patrons ought to word that worth climbs rapidly with bigger, sooner batteries, although. The R1S Twin Max begins at $89,900, however as-tested, the R1S I drove value $100,950—greater than a much-faster Mannequin X Plaid and quickly approaching the sticker on a Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV ($105,550). 

That is the place comparability buying the R1S begins to indicate weaknesses. For consumers who worth off-road capability, the R1S is unmatched by any EV wanting the Hummer—36 inches of wade depth, 15 inches of floor clearance, 35.8 levels of strategy angle. However on the street, it isn’t fairly a premium trip. Regardless of up to date and improved suspension, the R1S rides like an old-school SUV than a modern-day luxurious EV. In “regular,” it feels a bit too stiff on less-maintained b-roads. In “delicate”, it rides like its rebound price doesn’t fairly match its compression price. And potholes at pace result in extra cabin vibration than its road-focused electrical competitors. 

The 2025 mannequin is up to date to a hydraulic anti-roll system, which works excellently, as physique lean in cornering is well-managed. The steering is sharp, and the Twin Max stayed well-planted on full-throttle pulls. Nonetheless, due to the suspension tuning, if I have been selecting a car for a protracted street journey I’d be extra prone to eye an EV9 or an EQS for general trip consolation.

Contained in the cabin, I appreciated the brand new software program written for the 15.6-inch infotainment display and 12.3-inch driver gauge cluster. Response instances are wonderful, and graphics for altering drive modes and getting into menus are crisply animated. The electrical-dimming roof-spanning skylight geared up on my Twin Max was beautiful and labored properly, when dimmed, at retaining a lot of the warmth out of the inside regardless of 100+ F temps outdoors. The artificial leather-based upholstery feels good sufficient, the brand new in-house premium audio system blasts tunes with readability, and the woodgrain trim is a considerate contact. It’s nice when parked. 

Cons: Not The Comfiest Cruiser, Irritating Display-Centric Cabin, Costly

Really driving and interacting with the R1S’s cabin, nonetheless, is a special story. Rivian has continued with its nearly button-free philosophy for 2025, and the R1S suffers tremendously for it. This anti-tactile ethos applies to issues reminiscent of mirror and steering column changes, local weather management, and even the purpose of the air vents, that are managed by dragging icons on the 15.6-inch middle display. Even tech-centric Lucid doesn’t relegate local weather management purpose to its touchscreen. 

Whereas minimalism has its place, the R1S’s single-minded insistence on a screen-centric cabin is irritating. It’s additionally at odds with its off-road viewers: I shouldn’t have to take away my gloves after a protracted day snowboarding to re-aim my warmth in direction of my palms. The NFC card “key” additionally gave me troubles, even on my brief take a look at drive, because the car didn’t acknowledge I’d left it within the middle console generally after I’d hop out to take pictures. 

The R1S additionally nonetheless lacks Android Auto and Apple CarPlay performance, though 2025 fashions supply a $149/12 months Join+ subscription, which gives Apple Music and Spotify integration (in addition to 1000’s of different streaming apps).  

This places the R1S in an odd spot. In 2025 fashions, Rivian dropped 40 kilos from the wiring, improved its motor and battery engineering, drastically lower the variety of computer systems required on-board, and added {hardware} that may assist semi-autonomous performance to rival Autopilot and Tremendous Cruise. (The entire semi-autonomous software program  nonetheless isn’t accessible, though Rivian has added an automated lane-change characteristic through an OTA replace this summer time.)

Patrons gained’t discover most of those adjustments, although, and no matter value financial savings the corporate discovered haven’t been handed on. With the $55,000 EV9 available on the market and the launch dates for the Cadillac Vistiq, Lucid Gravity, and Hyundai’s to-be-named three-row EV all looming, the R1S has a a lot harder case to make now than it did two years in the past.

8 Pictures

Victoria Scott / Motor1