I really wanted to love them. There is a lot to like about them.
But there are deep flaws that can't be easily fixed.
Let me explain....
What I liked about the R1S
- elegant and timeless design
- really beautiful interior and nice materials. one of the nicest interiors on the market in my opinion.
- similar to Tesla, you buy it online. I love avoiding a dealership!
- similar to Tesla, it has a great phone app that actually works. You never need a key, and you can easily monitor your Rivian.
- I like the sounds/whirring of the motors
- The frunk was great
- the air compression was very useful
- the sound system was very nice. But not as nice as my cybertruck.
- thoughtful features like a built-in flashlight and removable Bluetooth speaker
What I did not like about the R1S
- (similar to the R1T) - the ride quality is HORRIBLE.
- I rate the ride quality a 1 out of 10.
- The suspension pops and cracks, even on smooth roads
- going over a bump, it feels like the SUV will break in half. The creaking sounds it makes really don't sound right.
- it feels much slower than advertised because the accelerator is not super-responsive.
- in general, the driving dynamics were off. It just doesn't feel right.
- second row and third row are for kids. They are too small for a family SUV.
- the door handles seem cool, but they get stuck in the open or closed position and you have to force them
- interior rattles in random places
- it won't drive straight! it feels like the alignment is off
- good luck getting service if you have an emergency. It takes 1 to 2 months to schedule an appointment.
- the autosteer would never work.
- the radar cruise was scary bad.
- the interior tech seems nice at first glance, but it's bad when you start using it. Very buggy, and even simple things like playing music don't work properly. They tried to be like Tesla, and it's not even comparable. And they refuse to add carplay or android auto.
- gets about 220 miles of true range
- loses 5 to 7% of range every day just sitting there. Even with the gear-guard turned off. Insane amount of drain.
All of the above applied to my R1T as well. The R1T seems more practical, because of the amazing gear tunnel, plus it has a bed. The R1S third-row is not really practical, so the R1T just seems like a more practical option.
I really hope Rivian survives and improves their products. But as-is, I could not stand driving one. Too many cracks, pops, rattles, not enough range, not fun to drive, and very expensive. Maybe worst of all is that they don't feel reliable, by any measure.
I recommend staying far away if you can. Especially now that you can get a Hummer 2x SUV for $83k at some dealerships with their $17k discounts.