After I tested out the 2025 Rivian R1T Tri-Motor this past winter, I was left wanting more. That’s because it’s the most luxury electric pickup truck I’ve come across, supplanting the Ford F-150 Lightning as my favorite pickup.
Thankfully I didn’t have to wait long to try out its other EV, the Rivian R1S Tri-Motor.
Essentially, it’s the SUV equivalent of the R1T because it features the same elongated body design. But instead of a flatbed, the entire cabin space is closed off and offers 3-row seating. If you're like me and think the Kia EV9 is premium, then you’ll be astounded by the R1S.
While the base model, the R1S Dual Standard, has an MSRP of $75,900, the 2025 Rivian R1S Tri-Motor I drove for a week balloons to a whopping $105,900 starting price. The exact trim with all the added features and options that I drove came out to a total of $111,200. It’s expensive to say the least, but valid due to all the features it offers.
2025 Rivian R1S Tri-Motor: Specifications
2025 Rivian R1S Tri-Motor: Testing summary
Given how excited I was to put the Rivian R1S Tri-Motor to the test, it doesn’t shock me that I drove a total of 413 miles in my week’s worth of testing. On one hand, I’m really not thrilled to report that it achieves an average efficiency of 2.46 mi/kWh, but this result is much better than the dreaded 2.09 mi/kWh and 1.74 mi/kWh efficiencies I got from the Rivian R1T Tri-Motor and Chevy Silverado EV, respectively.
I was hoping for a smidge more because I was driving with mostly two people inside, so I can only imagine that the efficiency would drop dramatically the more people there are. Compared to similar luxury all-electric SUVs I’ve tested, the Rivian R1S Tri-Motor still trails many of them in this area — like the 2.7 mi/kWh efficiency of the Acura ZDX Type-S.
However, I’m happy to report that Level 1 charging is just as speedy as the R1T with a rate of 2.32 mi/hr through a standard 120V outlet. I did change the charging amperage down to 14 amps for safety reasons to not trip my breaker.
In total, 12.5 hours of charging added back 29 miles of range. In comparison, the Rivian R1T charged at the rate of 2.25 mi/hr. Of course, if you plan to drive longer daily, I would suggest installing a Level 2 charger to have your EV completely charged overnight.
2025 Rivian R1S Tri-Motor: What I like
Plenty of seating
With its 3-row seating, you can comfortably pack up to seven people inside of the 2025 Rivian R1S Tri-Motor. However, the third row seats have little leg room, unless the middle row moves up a little.
Nonetheless, it’s the kind of SUV that’s great for traveling long distances because the seats are all comfy.
Adaptive headlights
One of the coolest things about the Rivian R1S are its adaptive headlights, which I think are the most underrated features I’ve come across in EVs.
That’s because these headlights adapt to the road conditions by turning off certain LEDs so that they don’t blind drivers in front of you. This is especially noticeable when I activate auto high beams, where the R1S would scale back the lights when it senses another car — and then turn them back on.
High quality cameras
No other EV I’ve tested to date matches the outstanding quality that the cameras all around the Rivian R1S capture. Everything is crisp and clear, but when there’s contrasting light conditions, I really enjoy how the wide dynamic range performance neutralizes the exposure — much like how the best camera phones do it.
I find the R1S cameras much more helpful than others because of the amount of detail they capture, which isn’t negatively affected at night like it can be on other cars.
Class-leading assisted cruise control
Just like the R1T, the Rivian R1S offers the same class-leading assisted cruise control system that can apply any necessary braking and acceleration while maintaining cruising speed. This is all thanks to a combination of its sensors, radar, and cameras working in conjunction with one another for 360-degree awareness.
It’s very gentle with the acceleration, too, and reacts appropriately whenever a car suddenly crosses into my lane. In contrast, other systems tend to react too abruptly by applying a hard brake.
Gear Guard security
I really like how I can keep tabs on the R1S when it’s parked in a lot thanks to Rivian’s Gear Guard system, which activates the cameras to notify me when there’s activity — like when it sees someone nearby. Through the app, I can get a live feed of the cameras when I’m sent a notification about an event.
While I really appreciate this sentry of sorts, it does come at a cost. You’ll have to subscribe to Rivian’s Connect+ service, which costs $14.99 per month.
Huge trunk and frunk
Rivian’s EVs continue to astound me for their utility, and the R1S is no different. That’s because it features a sizable trunk that fits my Jackrabbit OG2 micro bike with ease because it’s so wide. By pulling down the third-row seats, the trunk space is large enough to fit big boxes.
Meanwhile, its powered frunk is both wide and deep enough to store groceries and other smaller items with ease.
Digitally controlled air vents
You can tell when you’re dealing with a luxury vehicle when nearly every control is digital. Case in point, the air vents all throughout the dashboard in the Rivian R1S. There are clearly air vents all around, but controlling them is all done through the central touchscreen console.
It’s different and neat, but I really enjoy how the airflow matches what I select on the touchscreen — I can choose to have one vent blowing out more air while less on another.
Kneel mode
I can’t deny how intimidating it is to drive the 2025 Rivian R1S Tri-Motor because it’s so tall and wide. However, I really enjoy the small details — like how it lowers when I park.
This kneel mode actually lowers the R1S closer to the ground, making it much easier to get in and out. Once I kick the R1S into drive, it’ll adjust its height accordingly.
Smooth drive
Again, for something so large on the road, the Rivian R1S Tri-Motor offers a very smooth ride complete with a decent turning radius. That’s a welcome relief when it comes to making those tight turns, while the R1S's smooth acceleration and responsive steering makes it a breeze to drive. It’s so good with the drive that it didn't take me long to get acquainted with it.
2025 Rivian R1S Tri-Motor: What I don't like
It’s obnoxiously expensive
My biggest complaint about the Rivian R1S Tri-Motor is that it’s ungodly expensive, which I can understand for the insane amount of premium features it offers and its utility.
But still, at more than $100,000 it’s nearly double the cost for the average EV according to Kelly Blue Book.
Yes, the Dual Standard trim lowers the price to $75,900, but it has a lower 270-mile range and other trade-offs. For about the same price, you could get a fully loaded Kia EV9.
Inconvenient location for cruise controls
Just like on the R1T, I don’t like how the cruise control buttons are incorporated into the vehicle’s shifter because it can cause a little bit of confusion. Pushing down or up on the left adjusts the shifter, while pulling it toward/away controls the cruise control. I would feel safer if the cruise controls were separated, just to eliminate any confusion.
2025 Rivian R1S Tri-Motor: Bottom line
I’ll admit that the 2025 Rivian R1S Tri-Motor is a truly impressive electric SUV. From its 3-row seating that fits seven people to all of its premium features that make driving it a breeze — and the best cruise control system I’ve come across — the R1S is truly in a class of its own.
It also helps that the R1S offers a ton of utility and surprisingly decent range, despite not clearing that 3 mi/kWh efficiency I’d like to see in all EVs I test.
However, the R1S Tri-Motor’s biggest drawback is its high cost. It’s a huge financial commitment for the average person.
Even though the base trim comes at a much lower starting cost, I keep on bringing up the Kia EV9 into the conversation because you can get a fully loaded one for about the same price. But to Rivian’s credit, the R1S is a much more refined vehicle that truly showcases the latest and greatest features.
