2025 Rivian R1S Review

Rivian’s R1S is a mid-size all-electric SUV with three rows starting at $75,900. As a primary competitor of Tesla, Rivian first showed the R1S as a prototype at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show—when the model was instead named the A1C. The company’s CEO and CFO drove the first two production R1S examples in 2021, but customer deliveries didn’t begin until 2022. Rivian’s 2025 R1S remains part of this model’s first generation, launching in 2022.

MotoPickers Rating: 9.4/10

It’s essential to distinguish the R1S SUV from its R1T counterpart, a pickup truck. Rivian built the R1S using its skateboard platform, which allows the automaker to manufacture other models like the R1T. The R1S’ 2025 production year introduces a three-motor configuration, a new Ascend trim level, and Apple Music streaming—but that’s not all.

According to Rivian, a new electrical architecture removes 44 lbs. of wire, and drivers have fresh 20” and 22” wheel design choices. New graphics enhance interior displays, and the headlamps are reworked to optimize visibility without bothering other drivers. Rivian is introducing this headlight functionality via a software update this year on October 15.

Upsides to the R1S include:

• Quick acceleration
• Quality off-roading via features like all-terrain tires
• A roomy cabin
• Solid electric range

Our review also touches on this high-end vehicle’s drawbacks, such as a lack of Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, despite the presence of Apple Music streaming. The 2025 Rivian R1S’ primary rivals are Tesla’s Model X, Mercedes-Benz’s EQS SUV, and BMW’s iX.

Learn more about the new 2025 R1S below.

Exterior spotlight

The 2025 R1S’ exterior is characterized by a sleek and minimalist design that’s more dynamic than Tesla’s Model X SUV due to elements like a unique headlight design, well-placed side/rear badging, wraparound taillights, and more. Exterior features such as badging come in silver or yellow and are complemented by brake caliper colors like Laguna Blue or Yellow.

This all-electric SUV’s exterior has plenty of tricks up its sleeve that aren’t visible at first glance. One of these features is floodlights in the side mirrors you can activate to illuminate areas such as a campsite. Pressing a button will also flatten this vehicle so you can use it as a surface or sleep.

Part of the R1S’ exterior appeal is its elevated height—but this look doesn’t come at the expense of accessibility. While parked, you can activate Kneel mode, which lowers this SUV to a height of around 10” from the ground. There’s also a Car Wash mode that closes the charging part door while muting other features, such as parking sensors, for more seamless cleaning. You can get into the rear cargo area via a split hatch design. The top section contains a power liftgate, while the lower section opens manually.

Paint options for the 2025 R1S include:

• LA Silver
• Glacier White
• Midnight
• Red Canyon
• Forest Green
• Rivian Blue
• Limestone
• El Cap Granite
• Storm Blue

LED tech is present within:

• The front light bar
• Stadium headlights
• Brake and taillights
• Rear lightbar
• Entry lights
• Lightbar charging indicator

You’ll additionally receive rear fog lights, illuminated door sills, and heated auto-dimming side mirrors that adjust to reduce glare from other cars’ headlights. Wheel sizes span from 20” to 22”, and built-in exterior ports make it easy to install accessories such as crossbars, which can carry 250 lbs. of gear while driving, or a rooftop tent weighing 600 lbs. while parked.

While the 2025 R1S’s exterior appears more dynamic than Tesla’s Model X, the Model X contains Falcon doors that open upwards for easier entries but also look plain cool. These doors have sensors to ensure they don’t hit anything within their immediate surroundings while opening. Mercedes-Benz’s EQS and BMW’s iX favor a luxury exterior aesthetic over the R1S’s rugged modernism.

Interior close-up

This all-electric SUV’s interior contains a panoramic glass roof tinted for more UV ray protection. The tinted panoramic roof also provides extra shade and privacy via the dynamic glass roof feature. Materials include wood accents, plaid textiles, and bronze finishes.

The 2025 R1S also contains a front trunk (frunk) with a cargo capacity of 9.9 cubic feet (cu. ft.). Tesla’s 2025 Model X contains a smaller frunk with 6.5 cu. ft. of storage space. Neither Mercedes-Benz’s EQS nor BMW’s iX offer frunks. This Rivian frunk is lockable and contains automatic lights, cargo nets, and a bottom valve you can open to drain water from rinsing. You can open and close the frunk with Rivian’s smartphone app, in-vehicle controls, or a button under the exterior lightbar.

Rear cargo capacity within the 2025 R1S measures 17.6 cu. ft. behind the third row, 46.7 cu. ft. behind the second row, and 88.2 cu. ft., with the second and third-row seats folded. Tesla’s Model X falls short of these capacities with 15 cu. ft. behind its third row, 33.8 cu. ft. behind the second row and up to 88.2 cu. ft. However, Mercedes-Benz’s EQS beats both of these models’ capacities behind the third row with 23 cu. ft. of space.

Interior colors for the 2025 R1S include:

• Black Mountain
• Black Mountain + Dark Ash Wood
• Ocean Coast + Dark Ash Wood
• Black Mountain + Brown Ash Wood
• Ocean Coast + Driftwood
• Slate Sky + Walnut Wood

This Rivian’s cabin seats up to seven passengers and offers a blend of physical and digital controls to avoid an overreliance on touchscreen controls—unlike Tesla’s Model X. Heated and ventilated seats are standard up front along with a heated steering wheel. Heated seats are present in every row. Second- and third-row seats fold fully flat to create an even cargo surface, while a 100% recycled microfiber headliner and integrated door flashlight reflect this vehicle’s core values of sustainability and utility.

Power and performance

Quick acceleration is one of this vehicle’s most significant strengths. Horsepower ranges from 533 to 1,025, while torque spans 610 lb.-ft. to 1,198 lb.-ft.—translating to 0-60 MPH times from 2.6 to 4.5 seconds. The 2025 R1S’ range is 258 to 410 miles, so while the 258-mile version may spark some range anxiety, there’s plenty of capability available.

Drives modes consist of:

• Sport
• All Purpose
• Snow
• All-Terrain
• Drift
• Rally
• Rock Crawl

The 2025 R1S’ build quality is indicative of the drive modes above, with materials like aluminum alloy, ultra-high-strength steel, and carbon fiber optimizing aspects such as all-terrain performance. While this all-wheel drive (AWD) Rivian is large for a mid-size SUV, its lower center of gravity with a low battery pack position helps improve areas like cornering. There’s also an electro-hydraulic roll control system that can soften suspension off-road and stiffen during on-road driving for a smoother ride on variable terrain.

This R1S boasts excellent water fording capability, which can handle over three feet of water thanks to a fully submersible battery pack. When you go off-road, the underbody shield helps absorb impacts alongside the electro-hydraulic roll control system and adaptive air suspension. The 2025 R1S has a 7,700-lb. maximum towing capacity and a 1,764-lb. peak payload rating.

While the 2025 R1S’ ride quality doesn’t match the smoothness of other luxury SUVs such as Mercedes-Benz’s EQS and BMW’s iX, its exceptional off-roading, robust powertrains, and solid range that doesn’t suffer with all-terrain tires makes it one of the market’s best-performing mid-size electric SUVs.

Tech overview

The 2025 R1S’ displays measure 15.6” for the touchscreen, 12.3” for the digital instrument cluster and 6.8” for the rear seat display. Second-row passengers can use the back display to connect to the WiFi hotspot that supports up to eight devices at once, adjust climate control, and play or pause music. The front touch screen’s large 15.6” size makes reading data easier for navigation and drive modes, and the audio system impresses with 12 to 19 speakers, full EQ, balance, and fade controls, and available Dolby Atmos tech.

Drivers can also select the optional portable speaker, which can be stowed under the center console and doubles as a lantern or power bank. Rivian R1S tech, such as the audio system, receives continuous over-the-air software updates. Remote vehicle commands via smartphone and voice command compatibility are standard.

Rivian mitigates towing challenges with the 2025 R1S’ towing sensors, analyzing tow weight and aerodynamics to accurately calculate range and plan for stops, along with the rearview camera with guidelines for hitching. The Rivian app lets you set charging limits, schedule charging stops along your journey, and view a charging station’s driver scores. A 2025 R1S is also compatible with Tesla Superchargers in addition to the Rivian Adventure Network’s stations, providing up to 140 miles of range in 20 minutes.

One significant tech drawback of the 2025 R1S is its lack of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, like Tesla’s Model X. However, drivers can also connect to Spotify, and YouTube access is on the way.

Safety capabilities

Neither the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) nor the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) have yet rated the 2025 Rivian R1S’ crash protection capabilities. Still, we can explore its noteworthy standard safety features to better understand its value.

The 2025 R1S has 11 high-res cameras and 38 sensors, helping form the foundation of features like:

• Surround view system
• Adaptive cruise control
• Automatic emergency braking
• Automatic high beams
• Blind spot monitoring
• Forward collision warning
• Highway assist
• Lane departure warning
• Lane keeping assist
• Rear cross-traffic warning
• Surround sensors
• Rain detecting windshield wipers

Forward collision warning within the R1S uses automatic and dynamic brake support to respond to nearby people, cars, and pedestrians. When leaving parking spaces, surround sensors help this electric vehicle (EV) identify and warn you of approaching rear-cross traffic. In addition to a surround view system, the 2025 R1S offers an aerial birds-eye view of your immediate surroundings for greater visibility. This R1S is manufactured with aluminum alloy, ultra-high-strength steel, and carbon fiber materials for increased safety.

While the IIHS has yet to evaluate the 2025 R1S, it awarded the 2024 R1S its second-highest safety rating of Top Safety Pick behind Top Safety Pick+. The NHTSA didn’t release a full review of the 2024 R1S’ crash protection but did rate its rollover safety at four out of five stars.

Trim guide and owner considerations

Below is a list of starting prices and highlight-worthy specs for the 2025 Rivian R1S’ trim lineup, which includes the new Ascend grade.

R1S Adventure Dual Standard – $75,900

Purchasing an entry-level 2025 R1S gives you 270 miles of range, 533 horsepower, and a 4.5-second 0-60 MPH time.

R1S Adventure Dual Large – $82,900

The first trim beyond the base version increases range and horsepower to 329 and 665, respectively, while lowering the 0-60 MPH time to 3.5 seconds.

R1S Adventure Dual Max – $89,900

While the Adventure Dual Max matches the Adventure Dual Large’s horsepower and 0-60 MPH time, it has a higher range of 410 miles.

R1S Ascend Tri Max – $105,900

The Ascend Tri Max dials up horsepower to 850 and lowers the 0-60 MPH time to 2.9 seconds while maintaining a quality range of 371 miles.

R1S Ascend Quad Max – around $120,000

A peak-grade 2025 R1S Ascend Quad Max delivers 1,025 horsepower, 1,198 lb.-ft. of torque, and a 0-60 MPH time of 2.6 seconds.

Warranty info

Rivian offers 2025 R1S purchasers a basic warranty lasting four years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first, and an eight year or 120,000-mile powertrain warranty.

Final verdict

The 2025 R1S is one of the best-looking and most dynamic mid-size all-electric SUVs. Tesla’s competing Model X holds a more expensive base price of $81,630 before potential savings, and the BMW iX and Mercedes-Benz EQS SUVs like the R1S’ off-road capability.

There are also lots of neat features that give the 2025 R1S personality, such as the available portable speaker, built-in flashlight, frunk with a drainage valve, and materials like wood accents, plaid textiles, and bronze finishes that spice up the interior. The Model X’s cabin is far plainer, and its reliance on touch-activated controls might be enough to dissuade drivers from purchasing, along with other controversial features such as a standard yoke steering configuration. With its well-rounded nature, the 2025 Rivian R1S deserves a 9.4/10.