Rivian R1S Gen 2 review: The rugged foundation of Rivian’s electric empire

In other words, an opportunity will not be missed in the building of an electric car from the ground up: think of scaling Mount Everest in flip-flops. The EV graveyard rests on ambitious startups, most fading into obscurity.Voided in its achievement with anyone else joining in, the Tesla stands as the proverbial lone wolf who sings his song to the moon. Nikola will be a “be wary” tale. Canoo? Bankrupt. Fisker? The phoenix that failed to rise, not once but twice. And Aptera? They’ve been “almost there” for what feels like forever-an eternity Zen Mirage Crescent in death throes!

Forget faceless EVs. The second-generation vehicles of the Rivian line are electrifying the automotive world with this bold combination of raw power and style with a high degree of personality. Imagine the R1S SUV (starting at $75,900 and tested at $105,000 for the top-of-the-line specs): It is not your garden-variety electric vehicle; it is an adventurous party-crasher just begging to be noticed, announcing the intoxicatingly bright future of our chosen maker. Rivian really is not letting an opportunity just go away; it is moving along and creating another path.

Design

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The rugged EV SUV choice

Rivian R1S Gen 2

If there is an electric vehicle for you, look no further: Rivian R1S Gen 2 is perceived as a likely winner.

Pros

• Serious top-end range and performance
• Slick interior
• Contemporary rugged design
• Frequent OTA updates
• New hands-free highway assist

Cons

• Expensive, particularly for tri- or upcoming quad-motor models
• Currently no way to mirror texts on infotainment
• Physical key fob costs extra

Starts at $75,900, $105,900 as tested at Rivian

Rivian’s product of the box: an architectural vista that is slightly more boxy and whispers rugged while splintering into the sound of modern cool. No question about blending in-these stadium headlights are a signal to turn away-if such a thing is even possible. Meanwhile, this electric mastiff that is longer than most city blocks somehow manages to go Stripe in the city environment, be it down posh avenues or over ragged trails. Think Bronco EV on steroids, triple-row, with nitrous features through wide fenders, 22-inch whoppers, and recovery hooks that are far from decorative. The R1S doesn’t just whisper adventure; it beckons loud, “Let us go.”

Interior

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Step inside the R1S and be prepared to be wowed. Featuring Rivian’s Black Mountain and Brown Ash Wood trim, the interior has the vibe of an upscale, modern cabin retreat. The dashboard is dominated by a massive 15.6-inch crystal-clear screen that rests atop the console, integrally and stylishly so, while on the left sits the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, elegantly displaying all vital driving information. With an impressive blend of contemporary technology and old-world comforts, there is the traditional stalk-mounted gear shift and wipers-one glorious reminder of the automotive past. Climate and music controls are all-touch, but there is a fixed row of icons to make sure there’s no navigating through a half-baked menu.

Build quality says confidence-the reassuring solidity that will not even permit an annoying rattle or go with an ugly gap. Whereas the seating leans toward firm, heated and ventilated front seats act as welcome perks. Light pours through the panoramic roof, allowing the cabin to feel airy and bright. The Electrochromic glass, part of the optional Sound + Vision package, allows for a fantastic user experience: just a tap turns it from transparent to opaque. Rear-row passengers do enjoy a screen for climate-music control; child lock, thankfully; and air vents for all three rows to keep everyone comfortable and well ventilated.

Sam Rutherford for Engadget

Forget contortionist moves! Climbing into the third row of a Rivian R1S was no yoga move of any kind, even with a six-footer in tow. Want me to describe it? It is tight for a big guy: I pushed the second-row seats forward for some proper legroom. Now, imagine kids stretched out, smaller grown-ups chilling away. Need an electric chariot for the entire gang? Well, the R1S fits the bill. But wait, there’s further! Give up your passengers, and the third row disappears, revealing a 46.7-cubic-foot cavern of cargo space. Need to shift a small apartment? Both rows go flat and voila, 104.6 cubic feet of pure hauling muscle.

Infotainment and tech

Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are nothing compared to what the R1S infotainment offers and is so intuitive and extensive that you won’t miss them for a single moment. An absolute masterclass for home-developed interfaces. Tap on the drivetrain icon and you will get lost in a rabbit hole of blissful data-the system will allow you to adjust ride height and regenerative braking and then give you data on elevation, motor temperature, and even steering angle. Climate, music, charging, and navigation controls have never been so simple. If you’ve used a smartphone or a laptop, you’ll become a virtuoso navigating this system within minutes. Rivian reminds us that sometimes the best solutions are the ones conceived from scratch.

Sam Rutherford for Engadget

Rivian’s Gear Guard is pure genius. The camera system on the R1S watches silently for any bumps, scratches, or undue attention. Why then would we want other manufacturers to not tap the sensors’ potential with their onboard sensors? It’s one of those features you never want to have to use until the day you really need it. Oh, almost forgot: 120V AC outlets and USB-C ports, a bonanza of utility.

Forget fumbling with keys. Available on iOS and Android platforms, the Rivian app and your digital co-pilot handle the mundane stuff with such ease. The in-and-out-of-my-Fiesta-Fiendish phone-as-key fiasco remains quite literally a problem for my Mach-E; Rivian got it right. Picture James Bond-style entry: walk up, door handles pop right out; step away, and it locks itself quietly. Now, testing proved adroit; it never once, I repeat never, failed me for that reassuring digital handshake.

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The bird-like chirp for the Rivian instead of the jarring horn beep while locking sounds simply worthy of an applause. The right touch to soothe one amidst nature’s serenity. This subtle little gesture speaks volumes and opens the door to an entire symphony. Imagine a world where cars chirp bird melodies to identify themselves, turning the harsh honks of urban sounds into sweet chirps. What a sweet symphony!

Rivian’s sleek interface has one annoying blind spot: phone mirroring. At a time when the automotive world is frantic about distracted driving, the lack of text and notification integration seems almost an insult. Rivian admits that, unexpectedly, the feature became too complicated and promised to fix it in a subsequent update. It is a surprisingly calming thought, actually: a digital detox for one hour behind the wheel. For those helplessly chained to their phone’s every ping, though, it can really be a deal breaker.

Sam Rutherford for Engadget

An extra $250 will have to go clutching to the till if you want key fobs that have buttons for your R1S. At the very least, Rivian forgoes the hallowed keys and remotes for an in-your-face smartphone app and a svelte key card equipped with NFC. Button delight, on the other hand, requires an extra pay.

Driving

Stomp on the accelerator in that Rivian R1S mold, and an electric kick for good driving joy comes into existence. All the talk about it having three rows and weighing 7,000 pounds? That should be dismissed. This SUV is something like a scalded cat when it comes to movement. The tri-motor R1S does far more than just accelerate; itlaunches. Think about an absurdly fast 0-60 in 2.9 seconds! Apart from the air resistance beginning to make things difficult beyond 80 mph or so, the R1S feels like it is drawing limitless power from some unseen source. This talking about a clique, it disbelieves physics and turns corners with the flair of a petite firm.

Sam Rutherford for Engadget

Imagine melting into the driver’s seat with the infinite highway unfolding in front of you, and the Rivian R1S doing the driving. Earlier this year, Rigian announced its Enhanced Highway Assist, a hands-free driving engagement on over 135,000 miles of North American Freeways. While not exactly offering that hyper-glass finish of Tesla’s FSD or Ford’s BlueCruise, roughly, the R1S does offer an unsuspecting smooth and predictable autonomous ride. Gone are the nail-biting days of lane-keeping. The system sounds heart-thumpingly confident while self-centering and responds to lane changes with just a tap of the stalk. When you’re looking for some antidote for driving stress, this hands-free tech from Rivian softly says, “Relax, I’ve got this,” and you suddenly feel confident behind the wheel on some of the most excruciatingly dull stretches of road.

Wave goodbye to the dreaded blind spots, and say hello to driving confidence. The R1S doesn’t just alert the driver to something beside him or her; itshowsit to him or her. Generating the signal for a lane change engages cameras sitting inside the mirror housings and projecting live video feeds onto the driver’s display. It’s safety plus aesthetics: goodbye skies and hello real meaning for the future of driving.

Just a sacrosanct moment, magic happens. Rivian adaptive headlights are majestic; the workaround to outdated US regulations. While other automakers are locked within antiquated lighting systems, Rivian’s headlights dance away. They forecast curves, sculpting light around corners. They dim and brighten in order to protect oncoming drivers from glare even while they illuminate the road for the car ahead. After basking in such cerebral levels of illumination, I high beam glare would seem like lighting up a candle inside a stadium.

Rivian R1S Gen 2

The front of the Rivian R1S Gen 2.

Suspension, ostensibly adjusted by me, was unforgivingly stiff. Larger road imperfections were all but translated into jolts. Since, Rivian has issued an update for improvements on low-speed ride comfort–which is said to make all the difference: day versus night. That said, the feel is personal. So if you are considering a purchase without going for a spin, seriously, what are you waiting for?

Maybe I know more about pavement than dirt, but I feel like the Rivian R1S is ready to traverse any surface. It has adjustable ride height, providing that massive 15-inch clearance for off-road prowess. Imagine that with torque vectoring and a host of related features; it’s like the car was molded for adventure. But the real joy? An integrated air pump-the savior should a stray rock decide to ruin your backwoods adventure.

Range, charging and configurations

The R1S gives you four configurations to choose as per your adventure: Dual Standard for nimble performance, Dual Motor for versatility (with an option for a giant battery), Tri-Motor for incredible performance, and Quad-Motor (launching later in the year) for no-compromise performance. The Dual Standard is a well-equipped entry-level option, the Dual Motor offers long range with an optional Large or Max battery pack, and the Tri and Quad-Motor giants come equipped with Rivian’s largest battery for terrain munching.

Depending on the model, Rivian’s range stretches from a practical 270 miles to a much more impressive 371. Real magic? The accuracy. Never fear range anxiety because the so-called “guess-o-meter” is scarily precise. I have seen for myself that the battery life predicted upon arrival deviated a few percentage points away from reality, practically making trip planning a walk in the park.

Sam Rutherford for Engadget

Unleash the R1S’s hidden efficiencies by putting away that dual-motor drag in “Chill” mode. The moment the full triple electricity cells were at work, the R1S was frankly greedy in draining electrons at a meager 2.6 mi/kWh. Putting the AWD into FWD mode makes the beast thirst even less, letting it easily cross the 3 mi/kWh threshold. Just a mere flick of transformation, and the range wonders unfold!

Battery low? Not a big deal. It’s just that Rivian R1S will gobble electrons at 300 kW max, but it will only do this when it’s practically running on fumes (less than 20%). From 20% to 80% charge at an insanely fast 350-kW station, I got 35 minutes with a peak charging power of 168 kW. Lightning-fast? I have my doubts. What I can tell you is that with a large battery and the best charging efficiency, the R1S offers energy management. Say goodbye to range anxiety. My only gripe? I am more eager for the new, slick NACS ports than the old CCS connector.

Wrap-up

Sam Rutherford for Engadget

Three-row EVs are still unicorns, but the Rivian R1S? It is truly a majestic beast. Stay away from slim pickings; the electric SUV is a full-course feast. Of course, a good price is a given, but this EV surely holds its own in looks, performance, and practicality. It is not just good; it is the good from Rivian.

Operating more by gravity and less by horsepower, the R1S, billed as an SUV capable of wooing road lovers, offers an unheard-of 400 miles of range with room for kids and luggage. While Rivian has perfected every detail and finish with the utmost attention to detail, the interior of the R1S displays the beauty of artisan production. Your battery size, motor configuration, and options can all be configured in countless ways to ensure you have the perfect traveling companion for wherever your wanderlust takes you.

The value-minded set might glance at the Kia EV9 for passenger space, whereas the style-conscious might tip their cap toward a Volvo EX90 or a Lucid Gravity. The Rivian R1S goes galloping off in its own direction; this bad boy isn’t for manicured lawns, it’s for getting muddy. An SUV it may be, but one that gives you backcountry rendezvous and skidmarks that the pristine shine can only dream of. Second-gen R1S, for those who measure life by how many landscapes they’ve trotted across rather than how utterly wasted they’ve been on lattes, can be rosy-eyed not just as a choice, but as an Invitation.

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