2025 Rivian R1S Review: Futuristic SUV with 410-Mile Range & Quirks

content: The Unconventional Entry Experience

Forget traditional keys or start buttons. The Rivian R1S demands you adapt to its future-first approach. Your entry begins with a sleek key card tapped against the door handle—triggering motorized handles to extend. Inside, the absence of an ignition button signals this SUV’s tech-centric DNA. Instead, the massive 15.6-inch touchscreen awakens the vehicle. This isn’t just a display; it’s Rivian’s central nervous system, controlling everything from climate to drive modes. After testing this system, I found the redesigned interface visually striking and responsive, though the reliance on screens introduces notable complexities.

Screen-Centric Controls: Brilliance and Frustration

Rivian’s tech-forward ethos delivers both innovation and inconvenience. Core functions like seat heating, frunk release, or drive mode selection require screen navigation. The mirror adjustment process epitomizes this trade-off: First, tap the mirror icon on-screen, then use steering wheel controls to position them. Skip the screen step? Those same buttons change radio stations instead. While over-the-air updates keep software current (a genuine advantage), the absence of physical controls feels excessive for a $100,000 vehicle.

Rivian Connect Plus: Essential but Extra

Connectivity defines the R1S experience, but full potential costs extra. Standard features include real-time navigation and OTA updates—significant value inclusions often premium elsewhere. However, critical entertainment and security features require Rivian Connect Plus:

Integrated Apple Music, Spotify, Audible
Gear Guard security (using vehicle cameras for surveillance/incident recording)
Upcoming YouTube and Google Cast support
Hotspot functionality
Priced at $14.99/month or $149.99/year, this subscription is near-mandatory since Android Auto and Apple CarPlay aren’t available. Without it, the tech experience feels incomplete.

content: Performance & Driving Dynamics

Electrifying Power Options

The 2025 R1S offers three powertrains, all upgraded:

Dual Motor (Standard): 533 hp / 610 lb-ft torque
Dual Motor Performance: 665 hp / 829 lb-ft torque (tested)
Quad Motor: 1,025 hp / 1,198 lb-ft torque (0-60 mph in 2.5 seconds)
Our Performance Dual Motor model delivered startling acceleration for a 6,500-lb SUV, yet felt controllable. Rivian’s revised electrical architecture reduces wiring, improves efficiency, and extends range:
Standard Battery: 270 miles
Large Battery: 329 miles (Dual Motor)
Max Battery: 410 miles (Dual Motor)

On-Road Refinement

Rivian’s suspension retuning transforms the drive. New air springs, adaptive dampers, and hydraulic roll mitigation enable remarkably composed handling over rough roads. Key observations:

Steering is precisely weighted—neither overly light nor heavy.
Regenerative braking is linear and predictable, easing transition from gas vehicles.
Body roll is minimal for an SUV this size, defying its weight during cornering.
Efficiency averaged 2.9–3 mi/kWh in mixed driving. Highway speeds will reduce the 410-mile range, and DC fast charging (220 kW peak) can replenish 10–80% in ~40 minutes.

content: Practicality & Packaging Challenges

The Three-Row Space Compromise

While luxurious, the R1S’s cabin prioritizes materials over space. Premium touches like open-pore wood, metal accents, and comfortable front seats impress, but rear seating reveals flaws:

Second-row seats are stiff and complex to adjust.
Third-row access is tight. With the driver’s seat set for a 6’ adult, the third row offers minimal legroom.
No powered third-row seats. Folding requires manual levers, and raising them demands awkward climbing or second-row folding—unacceptable at this price.

Storage & Utility Highlights

Cargo flexibility shines despite seating drawbacks:

Split tailgate (powered upper section) simplifies loading.
17 cu ft behind third row + 5 cu ft underfloor storage.
11 cu ft front trunk (frunk).
Abundant connectivity: 10+ USB-C ports and dual wireless pads.

content: Pricing & Final Verdict

Value Proposition

The R1S starts at $76,000, but our test model exceeded $102,000 with options like:

$1,000 monoblock wheels
$2,500 Sound & Vision Package (dynamic glass roof, premium audio)
Positioned against the Tesla Model X and Kia EV9, the Rivian excels in design, materials, and driving engagement but trails in spaciousness and user-friendly controls.

Actionable Takeaways

Test the third row personally if regularly carrying adults.
Budget for Rivian Connect Plus ($150/year) to unlock essential features.
Maximize efficiency by avoiding constant highway speeds.
Consider weather mats—the vegan leather upholstery stains easily.
Join Rivian forums (e.g., RivianForums.com) for real-world ownership insights.

content: The Bottom Line

The 2025 Rivian R1S blends breathtaking range, intoxicating performance, and head-turning design with a distinctly futuristic—and occasionally frustrating—user experience. It’s the most compelling electric SUV for tech adventurers willing to overlook packaging quirks. For traditionalists prioritizing space or tactile controls, alternatives like the Kia EV9 warrant consideration.

"After a week with the R1S, its brilliance in motion made the interface hassles fade—until I needed to adjust the mirrors."

Which trade-off matters most to you: cutting-edge tech or intuitive controls? Share your dealbreaker below.