2024 Rivian R1S: A Comprehensive Guide On Features, Specs, And Pricing

Rivian may be a relative newcomer to the EV scene, but they hit the ground running with the release of the Rivian R1T all-electric pickup truck. Considered by many to be one of the best electric trucks on the market, it propelled Rivian to become a household name among EV enthusiasts. But that’s not the only vehicle the company released that year, with the Rivian R1S hitting the streets as arguably the most capable all-electric SUV that money can buy.

The Rivian R1S has taken the EV world by storm as one of the first luxury third-row all-electric SUVs, something that very few other manufacturers have been able to release to this day. Imagine being able to load up the whole family for a road trip across the country in an EV, while also sitting behind the wheel of perhaps the fastest SUV ever made besides the Tesla Model X Plaid. That’s what you get with the Rivian R1S, and this guide will teach you everything you need to know about the 2024 model.

What’s New For 2024

With how successful the previous iterations of the R1S have been, Rivian has not made any significant changes to the 2024 model year. That said, Rivian has a habit of making updates mid-year via over-the-air software upgrades, so you can expect to see a few small changes pop up throughout the year.

2024 Highlights

• Max battery pack provides 400 miles of range
• Quad-motor powertrain delivers neck-breaking acceleration
• Customizable powertrain-battery configurations
• Expect to see in-year software updates

Exterior Dimensions

(Data sourced from Rivian)

Specifications And Performance

The 2024 Rivian R1S is available with the same powertrain and battery options as previous years. The base model is the standard Dual-Motor all-wheel drive (AWD) setup, which produces 533 horsepower and 610 pound-feet of torque. Coupled with any of the four battery options, this trim can reach 60 miles per hour (MPH) in 4.5 seconds. Upgrading the battery pack simply increases the maximum range, and you can choose from the Standard 106.0 kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery, Standard+ (121.0 kWh), Large (131.0 kWh), and Max (147.0 kWh).

If you want a bit more out of the SUV, you can go with the Performance Dual-Motor trim, which increases the output to 665 horsepower and 829 pound-feet of torque, reducing the time it takes to hit 60 MPH by a full second. This trim is only available with the Standard+, Large, and Max battery packs, and opting for the top-end battery leads to the most expensive R1S configuration possible.

For all-out performance enthusiasts, going with the Quad-Motor setup is a no-brainer, as it pumps out 835 horsepower and 908 pound-feet of torque, enough to go from 0 to 60 MPH in just 3.0 seconds flat, making the R1S one of the fastest SUVs on the road. This powertrain is only available with the Large battery pack, but it’s actually more affordable than the Performance Dual-Motor with the Max battery. It does sacrifice a bit of range for the extra power, but the neck-breaking acceleration may just be worth it.

Performance Specifications

(Data sourced from Rivian)

Note that these powertrains and batteries are the exact same units from the Rivian R1T pickup truck, which is one of the fastest electric trucks in the world. In fact, the straight-line acceleration and performance of the R1S are identical to that of the R1T, which speaks to just how well the SUV performs.

Towing and Payload Capacities

The Rivian R1S offers a best-in-class towing capacity of 7,700 pounds, outperforming any other electric SUV in the segment. This nearly 8,000-pound towing capacity is up there with what some full-size pickup trucks can handle and only falls short of its brother, the Rivian R1T’s class-leading 11,000-pound towing capacity by a little over 3,000 pounds. Long story short, the R1S is more than capable of loading up a trailer and hauling most things as needed, but keep an eye on how quickly the battery drains when hauling heavy loads.

(Data sourced from Rivian)

Off-Road Capability

Rivian wanted the R1S to truly be a do-it-all SUV, and the company did not cut any corners with its off-roading prowess. Touted as TopSpeed’s best electric SUV for off-roading, the R1S has 14.9 inches of ground clearance on all trims, allowing it to take on the roughest terrain. With its aggressive approach, departure, and breakover angles, the R1S is adept at rock crawling, hill climbing, and even wading through water up to three feet deep.

(Data sourced from Rivian)

Rivian R1S Charging Time And Range

The range of the Rivian R1S is determined almost exclusively by the battery pack you go with, although the Quad-Motor setup does lose a bit of range compared to the less powerful trims. The Standard battery maxes out at 260 miles while upgrading to the Standard+ increases this to 315 miles. The Large battery pack provides up to 352 miles of range in the Dual-Motor trims, but this goes down to 321 miles with the Quad-Motor setup. Topping the list is the Max battery, which offers up to 400 miles on a single charge, giving the R1S a spot on a list of the electric cars with the best range.

Rather than provide set charging times for the different batteries, Rivian only shows the rate at which they can charge, and these rates are equal for all four units. With a 120-volt charger, you can get just a few miles of charge per hour. Upgrading to a Level 2 charger and 240-volt will increase this to about 16-25 miles of range per hour. When you’re on the go and come across a public DC Fast Charging station, you’ll be able to add up to 140 miles in just 20 minutes.

(Data sourced from Rivian)

Interior Technology, Luxury, And Comfort

Best Interior Features Of The 2024 Rivian R1S

• Multiple digital displays on the dashboard
• Luxury feel with leather, wood, and other accents
• Third-row seating
• Wireless charging pad
• Alexa voice recognition

The interior of the Rivian R1S immediately gives off that luxury feel you’d expect from an EV in this price range, with its use of leather, wood, and other quality materials throughout. The seats are comfortable and supportive, and with third-row seating, the R1S can handle up to seven adults. The second and third rows of seats can also be folded flat to take advantage of as much cargo space as possible, although some other SUVs do offer a bit more room.

Glance upwards in the R1S, and you’ll come to a massive panoramic sunroof that offers unencumbered views of the world around you. Take in the clear blue sky, study the stars, or get a better look at nature as you go through the woods. The R1S’s comfortable interior may be a bit smaller than some other third-row SUVs out there, but its versatility makes up for it, and it currently sits as one of the best EV interiors in its class.

Technology

The focal point of the Rivian R1S’s technology is the 15.6-inch infotainment center touchscreen mounted horizontally to the dashboard. This screen is angled slightly towards the driver and works with the all-digital gauge cluster behind the steering wheel to provide the driver with all the vehicle status and touchscreen controls they need. Using Bluetooth connectivity, you can connect to your smartphone for navigation and music, but Rivian does not offer Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, which is a knock at this price point.

Interior Dimensions

(Data sourced from Rivian)

Safety And Reliability

Even though the R1S is new to the EV scene, the SUV is already making a name for itself as being incredibly safe, having recently been named a 2024 Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). This is the second-highest safety award possible, indicating that the R1S is among the safest SUVs in the segment.

Additionally, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has given the R1S a 4-star rollover safety rating, while the rest of the ratings have not been revealed. The NHTSA also has zero recalls, complaints, or ongoing investigations looking into the Rivian SUV.

Driver Assistance Features

The Rivian R1S, along with other Rivian vehicles, comes standard with Driver+, the brand’s version of a suite of driver-assistance features designed to enhance the safety and overall driving experience of the R1S. While many of these features come on every Rivian vehicle from the factory, some may be added after purchase via over-the-air updates. The Rivian R1S comes standard with features like blind-spot warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and more.

• Highway assist
• Adaptive cruise control
• Lane-change assist
• Lane-keeping assist
• Lane-departure warning
• Blind-spot warning
• Automatic high beams
• Rear cross-traffic warning
• Park assist
• Trailer assist
• Forward collision warning
• Automatic emergency braking
• Dynamic brake support

IIHS Crash Testing

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

• Recalls (NHTSA): 0
• NHTSA Investigations: 0
• NHTSA Consumer Complaints: 0
• Awards: IIHS Top Safety Pick (2024)

Warranties

All Rivian R1S models come with the company’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty, which provides slightly different coverage depending on the trim. The warranty includes full coverage for 60 months/60,000 miles on the Quad-Motor configurations, but this is lessened to 48 months/50,000 miles on lower trims. On a similar note, the Quad-Motor trim with the Large battery pack comes with an impressive 96-month/175,000-mile battery warranty, which is lowered to 96 months/150,000 miles on other configurations.

Additionally, all R1S trims come with a 96-month corrosion warranty with no mileage limits and a limited 12-month/12,000-mile warranty on making any adjustments. Rivian also says that they provide 24/7 roadside assistance and there is no time or mileage limit on this service.

*These warranties are for the Quad-Motor configurations, lesser trims have lesser warranties as described above

(Data sourced from Rivian)

2024 Rivian R1S Versus Its Competitors

Since the Rivian R1S is widely considered one of the best electric SUVs on the road, it should stack up nicely against the 2024 Kia EV9, which was recently named TopSpeed’s top electric SUV of the year. With the luxury feel that the R1S gives off, especially on the interior, it may also give the Genesis Electrified GV70 a run for its money.

How The Rivian R1S Compares To The Kia EV9

The Rivian and Kia are currently two of the few manufacturers out there producing an electric SUV with third-row seating with the R1S and Ev9, respectively, which is no small feat. That said, the fact that they offer third-row seating is really the only thing these two SUVs have in common, especially when it comes to performance. The base model EV9 barely makes over 200 horsepower and takes a whopping 8.8 seconds to reach 60 MPH. Even the top-end GT EV9 takes 5.0 seconds to reach that mark, which is slower than the base model R1S.

Straight-line performance goes to the Rivian and it’s not even close, but what about range? The R1S also gets the nod here, with the Kia EV9 maxing out at 304 miles with its biggest battery pack, and three out of the four batteries available for the R1S offering more range than this. Stepping inside the SUVs, however, and it’s a much more balanced fight. The Rivian may offer slightly more luxury, but the Kia provides more room and offers backseat entertainment, which is essential on long trips.

Perhaps more important than anything else, however, is the price, with the Kia EV9 starting at just $54,900. This is $20,000 less than the base model Rivian R1S, and you can even get a fully loaded EV9 for around the same cost. This makes the overall value of the Kia EV9 arguably better than the R1S unless you’re looking to get as much performance out of the SUV as possible.

How The Rivian R1S Compares To The Genesis Electrified GV70

Next up is the Genesis Electrified GV70, which is one of the top luxury electric SUVs on the market right now. The electric version of the GV70 has a starting price of $66,450 for its base model, which is much closer to the price of the Rivian R1S, but it doesn’t offer third-row seating as the R1S does. For this additional space alone, opting for the Rivian over the Genesis might be worth the cost.

In terms of performance, the Electrified GV70 stands up to the R1S much better than the Kia above does, with its dual-motor powertrain producing 483 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. This is enough oomph to hit 60 MPH from a stop in just 4.2 seconds, which is actually faster than the base model Rivian. Compared to the higher R1S trims, the Genesis still falls short in terms of performance, but so does everything else except the Tesla Model X Plaid and its class-leading performance.

Inside both SUVs, you’ll get those luxury vibes you’re expecting, with each brand focusing on comfort, amenities, and features. The R1S offers the oh-so-valuable third-row seating, but the Genesis focuses on comfort and luxury to provide a soft, smooth ride that competes with the best. Plus, the Electrified GV70 offers wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which is a huge plus compared to the Rivian. It’s a toss-up between these two, it just depends on what you’re looking to get out of your new electric SUV.

How Much A 2024 Rivian R1S Costs

The base model Rivian R1S is the Adventure Package with the regular dual-motor powertrain and the Standard battery pack, which has a starting price of $74,900. Upgrading to the Standard+ battery adds $3,100, the Large battery adds $9,100, and the Max battery pack costs an extra $19,100. Opting for the Performance dual-motor setup will cost an extra $5,000, and it’s only available starting with the Standard+ battery, bringing the price to $83,000.

Going all-out for performance means going with the quad-motor powertrain, which is only available with the Large battery pack. This configuration will cost you $92,000. The most expensive R1S configuration you can get is the Performance dual-motor powertrain coupled to the Max battery pack, which has a starting price of $99,000. These prices are a bit higher across the board than some other electric SUVs on the market, meaning you really need to value performance to make the R1S worth it.

(Data sourced from Rivian)

Efficiency

(Data sourced from Rivian and the EPA)

Is It Worth Buying A Rivian R1S?

Anyone considering a new electric SUV should have the Rivian R1S at the very top of the list. No other SUV on the market provides the combination of performance, comfort, and luxury that the R1S does, but it comes at a price. With top-end trims costing nearly six figures, you might be able to get better value with something like the Kia EV9 and its attractive starting price.

That said, there are more affordable options out there, but they pale in comparison to the Rivian R1S and its versatility. The R1S can hit 60 MPH in 3.0 seconds flat with the Quad-Motor trim, out-tow any other electric SUV on the road today, off-road with the best of them, and even offers third-row seating for the whole family. If you’re on the fence about buying a new electric SUV and you’re thinking about the Rivian R1S, consider this the final push you need to buy one. You won’t regret it.