{"id":7304,"date":"2024-09-16T16:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-09-16T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/fashionista.dev\/?p=7304"},"modified":"2024-09-18T00:26:16","modified_gmt":"2024-09-18T00:26:16","slug":"the-2025-rivian-r1s-is-better-but-so-is-its-competition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/fashionista.dev\/index.php\/2024\/09\/16\/the-2025-rivian-r1s-is-better-but-so-is-its-competition\/","title":{"rendered":"The 2025 Rivian R1S Is Better, but So Is Its Competition"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Rivian\u2019s R1S is essentially all-new for 2025, but you\u2019d be forgiven for not knowing that by looking at it. It\u2019s got new batteries, new motors, new software, and even new wiring, but the sheet metal is virtually untouched\u2014it\u2019s still the same friendly two-box design from 2022.\u00a0<\/p>\n

What has changed is the R1S\u2019s competition. When it was new, the R1S was basically the only way to get an electrified (standard) three-row SUV; Now, it competes directly against an ever-growing segment of vehicles from EV upstarts and legacy manufacturers, and it makes the R1S a tougher sell. For 2025, the R1S now costs $75,900, which means a base model is priced roughly the same as a top-of-the-line Kia EV9<\/a> GT-Line, one of its biggest competitors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Quick Specs<\/strong><\/td>\n2025 Rivian R1S Dual Max<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Motor<\/strong><\/td>\nDual (Front \/ Rear)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Output<\/strong><\/td>\n665 Horsepower \/ 829 Pound-Feet<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Range<\/strong><\/td>\n410 Miles<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Base Price \/ As Tested<\/strong><\/td>\n$77,800 \/ $100,950<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
On-Sale Date<\/strong><\/td>\nNow<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Buyers of the base model get the same power as before: boatloads. The standard dual-motor drivetrain pumps out a whopping 533 horsepower and 615 pound-feet of torque, vastly more than the 379-horsepower EV9. It only gets faster from there. Upgrade to the Performance package ($5,000, equipped on my test vehicle) and the same pair of motors produce 665 hp and 829 lb-ft.<\/p>\n

Rivian also offers a tri-motor with 850 hp and a quad-motor version with 1,025 hp, but the quad-motor R1Ss won\u2019t hit the streets until next year. Those are promised to pull ten-second quarter miles and hit 60 miles per hour in 2.5 seconds. For my purposes, 665 horsepower was plenty<\/em>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"2025 \"2025 \"2025 <\/p>\n

Pros: Best Range Of Any Three-Row, Wicked Power, Excellent Steering<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

For supplying juice to those in-house-designed motors, Rivian offers three battery sizes: A 92.0-kilowatt-hour Standard, a 109.0-kilowatt-hour Large, and a 141.0-kilowatt-hour Max. The battery chemistries and actual capacities are different from the previous R1S, but that\u2019s primarily to help Rivian turn a profit, not to radically change the driving experience of the car.<\/p>\n

As far as things buyers will notice, the range varies from a quite-good 258 miles to an outstanding 410 miles, depending on the battery and vehicle specification chosen. My test vehicle was a Dual Max, which offers the full 410 miles of range; This handily bests the Tesla Model X<\/a>\u2019s 335 miles and the EV9\u2019s 304 miles. Replenishing times are also excellent, with Large and Max packs offering a 220-kilowatt maximum charging rate on DC fast-chargers, translating to 140 miles of range in just 20 minutes.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Buyers should note that price climbs quickly with larger, faster batteries, though. The R1S Dual Max starts at $89,900, but as-tested, the R1S I drove cost $100,950\u2014more than a much-faster Model X Plaid and rapidly approaching the sticker on a Mercedes-Benz EQS<\/a> SUV ($105,550).\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"2025 <\/p>\n

This is where comparison shopping the R1S starts to show weaknesses. For buyers who value off-road ability, the R1S is unrivaled by any EV short of the Hummer\u201436 inches of wade depth, 15 inches of ground clearance, 35.8 degrees of approach angle. But on the road, it isn\u2019t quite a premium ride. Despite updated and improved suspension, the R1S rides like an old-school SUV than a modern-day luxury EV. In “normal,” it feels a bit too stiff on less-maintained b-roads. In \u201csoft\u201d, it rides like its rebound rate doesn\u2019t quite match its compression rate. And potholes at speed lead to more cabin vibration than its road-focused electric competition.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The 2025 model is updated to a hydraulic anti-roll system, which works excellently, as body lean in cornering is well-managed. The steering is sharp, and the Dual Max stayed well-planted on full-throttle pulls. Still, because of the suspension tuning, if I were choosing a vehicle for a long road trip I\u2019d be more likely to eye an EV9 or an EQS for overall ride comfort.<\/p>\n

Inside the cabin, I appreciated the new software written for the 15.6-inch infotainment screen and 12.3-inch driver gauge cluster. Response times are excellent, and graphics for changing drive modes and entering menus are crisply animated. The electric-dimming roof-spanning skylight equipped on my Dual Max was gorgeous and worked well, when dimmed, at keeping most of the heat out of the interior despite 100+ F temps outside. The synthetic leather upholstery feels nice enough, the new in-house premium audio system blasts tunes with clarity, and the woodgrain trim is a thoughtful touch. It\u2019s pleasant when parked.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"2025 \"2025 <\/p>\n

Cons: Not The Comfiest Cruiser, Frustrating Screen-Centric Cabin, Expensive<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Actually driving and interacting with the R1S\u2019s cabin, however, is a different story. Rivian has persisted with its virtually button-free philosophy for 2025, and the R1S suffers greatly for it. This anti-tactile ethos applies to things such as mirror and steering column adjustments, climate control, and even the aim of the air vents, which are controlled by dragging icons on the 15.6-inch center screen. Even tech-centric Lucid doesn\u2019t relegate climate control aim to its touchscreen.\u00a0<\/p>\n

While minimalism has its place, the R1S\u2019s single-minded insistence on a screen-centric cabin is frustrating. It\u2019s also at odds with its off-road audience: I shouldn\u2019t need to remove my gloves after a long day skiing to re-aim my heat towards my hands. The NFC card \u201ckey\u201d also gave me troubles, even on my short test drive, as the vehicle didn\u2019t recognize I\u2019d left it in the center console sometimes when I\u2019d hop out to take photos.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The R1S also still lacks Android Auto and Apple CarPlay functionality, although 2025 models offer a $149\/year Connect+ subscription, which offers Apple Music and Spotify integration (as well as thousands of other streaming apps).\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"d7s-3632\" <\/a> <\/p>\n

This puts the R1S in a strange spot. In 2025 models, Rivian dropped 40 pounds from the wiring, improved its motor and battery engineering, drastically cut the number of computers required on-board, and added hardware that can support semi-autonomous functionality to rival Autopilot and Super Cruise. (The complete semi-autonomous software\u00a0 still isn\u2019t available, although Rivian has added an automatic lane-change feature via an OTA update this summer.)<\/p>\n

Buyers won\u2019t notice most of these changes, though, and whatever cost savings the company found haven\u2019t been passed on. With the $55,000 EV9 on the market and the launch dates for the Cadillac Vistiq, Lucid Gravity, and Hyundai\u2019s to-be-named three-row EV all looming, the R1S has a much tougher case to make now than it did two years ago.<\/p>\n

Competitors<\/h3>\n

Kia EV9<\/a><\/strong> Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV<\/strong><\/a> Tesla Model X<\/strong><\/a> <\/p>\n

More Rivian News<\/h2>\n

The 2025 Rivian R1T and R1S Now Make Over 1,000 Horsepower<\/a>
Rivian Might Be Preparing a Raptor-Fighting R1X<\/a>
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Privacy Policy<\/a> and Terms of Use<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
2025 Rivian R1S Dual Max<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Motor<\/td>\nDual (Front\/Rear)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Battery<\/td>\nLithium-Ion (NCA), 141 Kilowatt-Hours<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Output<\/td>\n665 Horsepower \/ 829 Pound-Feet<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Drive Type<\/td>\nAll-Wheel Drive<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Speed 0-60 MPH<\/td>\n3.4 Seconds<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Weight<\/td>\n6,000 Pounds (Estimated)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Efficiency<\/td>\n91 MPGe City \/ 77 MPGe Highway \/ 84 MPGe Combined<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
EV Range<\/td>\n410 Miles<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Charge Time<\/td>\n10-80% SoC in 30-40 Minutes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Charge Type<\/td>\nUp To 220 Kilowatt-Hour DC Fast Charging<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Seating Capacity<\/td>\n7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Towing<\/td>\n7,700 Pounds<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Wading depth<\/td>\n36 Inches<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ride height<\/td>\n15 Inches (Maximum)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Angle of repose<\/td>\n35.8 Degrees<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Departure angle<\/td>\n34.3 Degrees<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cargo Volume<\/td>\n17.6 Cubic Feet \/ 46.7 Cubic Feet \/ 105.8 Cubic Feet (Total With Frunk)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Base Price<\/td>\n$77,800<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
As-Tested Price<\/td>\n$100,950<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
On Sale<\/td>\nNow<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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Rivian\u2019s R1S is essentially all-new for 2025, but you\u2019d be forgiven for not knowing that by looking at it. It\u2019s got new batteries, new motors, new software, and even new wiring, but the sheet metal is virtually untouched\u2014it\u2019s still the same friendly two-box design from 2022.\u00a0 What has changed is the R1S\u2019s competition. When it […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7306,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[9],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/fashionista.dev\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7304"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/fashionista.dev\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/fashionista.dev\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/fashionista.dev\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/fashionista.dev\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7304"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/fashionista.dev\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7304\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7316,"href":"http:\/\/fashionista.dev\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7304\/revisions\/7316"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/fashionista.dev\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7306"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/fashionista.dev\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7304"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/fashionista.dev\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7304"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/fashionista.dev\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7304"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}