R1S on 22" Sport Dark wheels - 2k Mile Review

[strangelove]

I picked the R1S up a few months ago, but it's not my first electric - I went from a Volvo XC40 Recharge to the R1S. My wife drives a '23 Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid Pinnacle, and my other car in the garage is a 2017 Grand Sport Collector's Edition.

I feel a sort of special connection to Rivian, given I grew up in Bloomington/Normal and my dad worked for 20 years at the Mitsubishi plant Rivian eventually moved in to. So I wanted to like this thing... and I do.

Here's my scattershot review:

? Things that really surprised me:

• Interior quality: The ocean coast interior is stunning, making the car feel like it's worth 100k. It's also a godsend in this blazing Austin heat... we've already had a dozen days where the temps reached 105+, and more are on the way. With a black interior, I might be getting rid of the vehicle. But the design, material quality, layout... it's great. The open pore wood is a knockout.
• Handling: Not to be confused with ride quality (more below), but the level handling is a nice surprise given the curb weight. Stays flat, feels responsive, wheel even communicates a bit of the road... very nice. The low center of gravity from the battery helps, but the XC40 had that also and didn't feel as sharp.
• Infotainment UI: I really dig the UI. Layout looks good, generally feels responsive (the most recent update is muting this a bit...), I love the design. I enjoy interacting with the screen more than I thought I would. Again, disclaimer that this is separate from the actual functionality of the system... but the UI is nice.
• Exterior Details: This thing looks way better in person than in photos. It's not until you get close to some of the finer bits, like the depth in the headlights or the details in the light bar, that you understand how premium the overall package is. Love it.
• Generally feels like an experience when driving: As an intangible note, driving the R1S feels like an occasion each time I'm behind the wheel. Despite the negatives noted below, I look forward to being behind the wheel, and it it feels as unique as it really is. It's certainly a conversation starter with strangers.
• Breadth of Capability: One can't really overstate how silly it is that this vehicle is SO capable off-road while being so fast and generally capable on-road. You read about it, and think "that sounds cool", but to have it at your fingertips is another thing in general. I'm a driving enthusiast, I take the Grand Sport to COTA on a regular basis, and have found the Rivian gives me another outlet for that enthusiasm.

Things that met my (lofty) expectations:

• Acceleration: It is, of course, phenomenal. It tapers off pretty quickly, and I wish the top speed was 5mph higher so you could complete a 1/4 mile run without hitting the limiter (making it show better on Throttle House, Carwow and the like ?), but you can't beat the feeling of smoking sports cars in your family hauler.
• Stereo Sound: The Rivian audio is great, with rich sound and great performance across the range. This would be in the "surprised me" section, except that the sub has a tendency to rattle panels at certain frequencies, which takes some of the shine off the experience. It feels like a solvable problem for Rivian; most of the noise is from the cover over the sub itself, from what I can tell. Shore that up!
• OTA Update Frequency: This has been good, far better than Volvo did with the XC40. I look forward to each and they've had some meaningful updates. Some of the biggest are yet to arrive.
• Overall Build Quality: I think I'm a lucky one, as I found few, if any, notable issues with panel gaps, paint problems, misaligned interior bits... it's good. And it should be. Yes, this is Generation One™ of cars for Rivian, but buyers base their expectation on price paid, and that's about it. So far, I think the R1S is close to feeling like it's worth what I paid. The shortfall I consider my fee for being an early adopter.
• One Pedal Drive: Well tuned, good job.

? Things I'm not sold on...

• Glass Roof + HVAC Capability: Austin will test the limits of any car's AC system, but the Rivian is borderline acceptable. It works, but just barely. The vent locations don't help, and third row passengers frequently complain that fan power is weak. Luckily this problem is seasonal, but it's on the watch list.
  • Edit: Have a service center visit soon to see about the harshness. I managed to survive the Austin summer overall; I credit a lot to the Ocean Coast interior.
• Third Row Access: The second row seats are heavy as hell, and moving them back into position is a real pain given they don't return to where you had them. So getting kids into the back seat takes a lot of time. I would gladly pay for a captain's chair option in the second row so kids (and dogs) can just walk through the second row to access the third, bypassing the need to adjust the seats at all. Please gimme this on the next-gen S. Another reason my wife borderline-hates the car (and loves her Pacifica)
• Infotainment Functionality: Our Volvo XC40 had a Google-driven infotainment, so I learned to live without CarPlay or Android. But it had two things Rivian doesn't, but might soon: messaging (absolutely critical... get this done!) and more access to apps, IHeartRadio being one. I listen to sports talk radio often and miss having this. Doing it through the phone + Bluetooth is clumsy so I don't bother. But I think Rivian can address these. Oh, and the navigation, but we know that's a work in progress.
• Alexa: She kinda dumb compared to Google and Siri, especially when asking for directions to a business by name. If you don't get it exactly right, you'll probably end up in another state. And having to go in and add "skills" to do basic things like play an artist on Spotify is annoying, I haven't bothered yet.
• Self-Driving: This feels like a step back, even from my Volvo. The lane centering is decent, but the places where you can use it are very limited. It turns off when it shouldn't, like when changing lanes it shouldn't disable completely, it should wait until you are in the new lane and re-engage. Feels temperamental overall. Fortunately I don't use it much anyway, so it's not a big knock, but to be competitive it needs love.
• Motor, suspension and HVAC noises: I don't really mind the whine from the electric motors, given I like engine noise in general. But electrics are fun and unique for being silent but deadly. The whine intrudes on that a bit. However, the goddamn AC buzzing is a constant irritant in summer. Add to that suspension noise over speed bumps and other large obstacles, and you get some frequent irritation while driving. Another no-go for the wife.

? The WTF List

• Ride Quality: This is clearly the most incomplete part of the vehicle, and makes me wonder if they rushed into manufacturing after feeling pressure of repeated delays. It's not on par with the price paid. Even accepting that it's an off-road vehicle, which should come with some compromises, it needs work. I can handle truck-like shuddering and bouncing (although the actual Rivian truck doesn't seem to have this), but the choppiness and clompiness™ over broken pavement is jarring. I cringe when I hit some rough parts of Austin's washboard roads, which can be bone rattling. It sounds like it's shaking parts loose permanently. Yes, I'm on 22s, but this is consistent with other owner feedback - on all wheel sizes. Some people might call it a deal breaker, though. It is for my wife. For this reason, she actually hates driving it. She compared it to "an old Caprice" based on how it can bounce, wallow and shake (we drive exclusively in Standard, never "auto" or conserve). It needs work.
  • Edit: the recent ride quality update greatly reduced harshness, head-toss, side-to-side wobble, and more things... greatly settling the ride. It's now what I'd call in-line with expectations for a near-luxury off-roader. Pretty happy with the change. I used to have to hold my Yeti-mugged coffee out of the cupholder when driving my kid to his school in an old part of Austin, over shitbox roads with speed bumps, potholes, and off-camber driveways. Now, I can leave it in the cupholder! That's all the proof I need.
• Screen Adjustment of Air Vents: This is a fail, by both Tesla and now Rivian. It's obnoxious to use at best, and a dangerous distraction at worst. As Michael Jordan once said: "Stop it. Get some help."
• Ingress/Egress: The PAAK is slow so I end up standing around waiting for the handles to pop out, the doors are too light and people have to slam them closed often so I can get into drive, I feel like I'm always pulling on the door handle twice to exit from the driver's side (goes into park too slow), the grab-handles are in the wrong spot (should be on the A-pillar) so my 5'1" wife complains every time she tries to get in... I hear complaints a lot.
• Heavy Seats: They are a pain to move around in the second row, and a bigger pain to put back up in the 3rd when you drop them for cargo space. These need to be powered for the price.

Misc Stuff:

+ Thank god there's a driver's display, unlike some electrics, and it looks great
- Why do my wipers swing once every time I go into drive?
- Rear hatch takes too long to start opening. Speed up!
+ Love the action on the door handles, they click open with a nice heft
+ Flat bottom steering wheel is nice. Makes it easier to get in/out and lets me think about my Grand Sport while driving ?
- Wife basically hates it due to the ride quality, seat access and ingress issues, and the HVAC vibration
+ Snapping people's necks as you drive by
+ I bought a pile of Rivian stock when it was near its ATL, which is paying off!

Summary (For now)

I'm deeply in like with the car, almost in love. My wife vacillates between being ok with it and outright hating it. I'm glad I supported Rivian, and glad I have the vehicle now. If Rivian hears owner feedback in the next-generation R1S and fixes the ride, fixes the noise issues, and adds more conveniences (seat access and infotainment), sign me up for Gen 2.

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[DaveA]

Your assessment is very good. If you REALLY want your wife to hate the suspension on rough pavement, put some 20 inch ATs on it.

 

[SANZC02]

Your assessment is very good. If you REALLY want your wife to hate the suspension on rough pavement, put some 20 inch ATs on it.

Nice summary.

One note on UI response. After an update it is a bit lazy on screens initially, seems like they need to generate and cache but once you have hit them all, response seems to go back to normal.

I would be interested in knowing if this is not the case for you.

 

[strangelove]

Nice summary.

One note on UI response. After an update it is a bit lazy on screens initially, seems like they need to generate and cache but once you have hit them all, response seems to go back to normal.

I would be interested in knowing if this is not the case for you.

Yeah, I do think it's a caching thing. It doesn't appear to be every drive, either. Maybe after being idle long enough, the infotainment shuts down enough to clear the cache.

When everything is queued up in memory, the interface is surprisingly refined. I expected it to be underdeveloped given how new Rivian is to... everything. Happy to be wrong!

 

[wicked2112]

We have the same vehicle for the looks of it. Question for you, did you do a First Drive with Rivian?

 

[GeorgiaR1S]

Enjoyed the summary. The HVAC, A/C, Compressor noise is a massive issue. It makes the cabin an unhappy place to be. I have heard they have/are addressing the compressor, but I don't have any proof.

White noise is oppressive. Just think about the times you don't realize there is background noise and then it goes quiet... peace. Your brain has to work to filter that stuff.

I want my R1S so badly, but at the same time, happy to wait while this gets sorted, if it gets sorted?

The other items are all ok in my opinion! Just need to be big, strong, and tough?

 

[strangelove]

We have the same vehicle for the looks of it. Question for you, did you do a First Drive with Rivian?

I did do a first drive. I remember being a liiiiitle unsure if I was going to take delivery, noting the ride issues at the time. But I decided to move forward with the purchase, and I'm glad I did. I like the car more in ownership than I did in the drive, which was a thin slice of the car's greatness.

The other items are all ok in my opinion! Just need to be big, strong, and tough?

Yep, I think that's right!

This review probably reads the way my wife might write a review of me. It'd be easier for her to remember the things she doesn't like than the things she does, but in the end, she'll likely stick with me. ?

If I had to highlight one aspect of my review to elevate as "the point", it'd be the one where driving the car feels like a special occasion each time I'm behind the wheel. The R1S has an X-factor that is hard to describe but also hard to deny... and X-factor is usually the basis for love more than logical, rational things are.

 

[BoltAction]

I thought i was the only one with wipers coming on when placing vehicle in Drive, anyone else have this issue?

 

[SANZC02]

I thought i was the only one with wipers coming on when placing vehicle in Drive, anyone else have this issue?

If you turn off auto wiper it does not do it. Mine does not do it every time, seems like I see it on windy days when parked outside and dust gets on the window.

 

[BoltAction]

If you turn off auto wiper it does not do it. Mine does not do it every time, seems like I see it on windy days when parked outside and dust gets on the window.

Good tip ?

 

[strangelove]

If you turn off auto wiper it does not do it. Mine does not do it every time, seems like I see it on windy days when parked outside and dust gets on the window.

That checks out. Thinking about it more, it's typically when I'm leaving work, where the car is parked outside in an industrial-ish area with a lot of dust. Never enough that I would've thought using the wiper would be necessary, but yeah... makes sense.

 

[Batman]

1. I notice less steering wheel vibration over rough roads with ATs 20"
2. Bouncy aspect is there, I wonder if they just copied the R1T modes over to R1S and never really optimized it for the vehicle that is shorter wheelbase and heavier overall
3. Front air vents are blocked by dashboard
4. Ingress/Egress i'm good, i'm 6'4" wife is 5'11". Problem is for the kids, so I'm installing the EV Sportline running boards.
5. Getting into 3row is not as easy as getting into my Kia Telluride's 3rd row so agree there

 

[SlaterGS]

Third Row Access: The second row seats are heavy as hell, and moving them back into position is a real pain given they don't return to where you had them. So getting kids into the back seat takes a lot of time. I would gladly pay for a captain's chair option in the second row so kids (and dogs) can just walk through the second row to access the third, bypassing the need to adjust the seats at all. Please gimme this on the next-gen S. Another reason my wife borderline-hates the car (and loves her Pacifica)

My 9 and 11yr olds who are on the small side, really don't have an issue here so I guess I'm not seeing how this is an issue for an adult?

Captains chairs would be nice or seats that return to position with the push of a button, but we fill all 7 seats in our R1S and Pacifica Hybrid and would take the R1S every day of the week. There is simply no room for third row occupants in the Pacifica if there is even a narrow booster. The slight inconvenience of accessing the 3rd row is more than worth it with all the space that it provides.

 

[Steve A.]

I picked the R1S up a few months ago, but it's not my first electric - I went from a Volvo XC40 Recharge to the R1S. My wife drives a '23 Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid Pinnacle, and my other car in the garage is a 2017 Grand Sport Collector's Edition.

I feel a sort of special connection to Rivian, given I grew up in Bloomington/Normal and my dad worked for 20 years at the Mitsubishi plant Rivian eventually moved in to. So I wanted to like this thing... and I do.

Here's my scattershot review:

? Things that really surprised me:

• Interior quality: The ocean coast interior is stunning, making the car feel like it's worth 100k. It's also a godsend in this blazing Austin heat... we've already had a dozen days where the temps reached 105+, and more are on the way. With a black interior, I might be getting rid of the vehicle. But the design, material quality, layout... it's great. The open pore wood is a knockout.
• Handling: Not to be confused with ride quality (more below), but the level handling is a nice surprise given the curb weight. Stays flat, feels responsive, wheel even communicates a bit of the road... very nice. The low center of gravity from the battery helps, but the XC40 had that also and didn't feel as sharp.
• Infotainment UI: I really dig the UI. Layout looks good, generally feels responsive (the most recent update is muting this a bit...), I love the design. I enjoy interacting with the screen more than I thought I would. Again, disclaimer that this is separate from the actual functionality of the system... but the UI is nice.
• Exterior Details: This thing looks way better in person than in photos. It's not until you get close to some of the finer bits, like the depth in the headlights or the details in the light bar, that you understand how premium the overall package is. Love it.
• Generally feels like an experience when driving: As an intangible note, driving the R1S feels like an occasion each time I'm behind the wheel. Despite the negatives noted below, I look forward to being behind the wheel, and it it feels as unique as it really is. It's certainly a conversation starter with strangers.
• Breadth of Capability: One can't really overstate how silly it is that this vehicle is SO capable off-road while being so fast and generally capable on-road. You read about it, and think "that sounds cool", but to have it at your fingertips is another thing in general. I'm a driving enthusiast, I take the Grand Sport to COTA on a regular basis, and have found the Rivian gives me another outlet for that enthusiasm.

Things that met my (lofty) expectations:

• Acceleration: It is, of course, phenomenal. It tapers off pretty quickly, and I wish the top speed was 5mph higher so you could complete a 1/4 mile run without hitting the limiter (making it show better on Throttle House, Carwow and the like ?), but you can't beat the feeling of smoking sports cars in your family hauler.
• Stereo Sound: The Rivian audio is great, with rich sound and great performance across the range. This would be in the "surprised me" section, except that the sub has a tendency to rattle panels at certain frequencies, which takes some of the shine off the experience. It feels like a solvable problem for Rivian; most of the noise is from the cover over the sub itself, from what I can tell. Shore that up!
• OTA Update Frequency: This has been good, far better than Volvo did with the XC40. I look forward to each and they've had some meaningful updates. Some of the biggest are yet to arrive.
• Overall Build Quality: I think I'm a lucky one, as I found few, if any, notable issues with panel gaps, paint problems, misaligned interior bits... it's good. And it should be. Yes, this is Generation One™ of cars for Rivian, but buyers base their expectation on price paid, and that's about it. So far, I think the R1S is close to feeling like it's worth what I paid. The shortfall I consider my fee for being an early adopter.
• One Pedal Drive: Well tuned, good job.

? Things I'm not sold on...

• Glass Roof + HVAC Capability: Austin will test the limits of any car's AC system, but the Rivian is borderline acceptable. It works, but just barely. The vent locations don't help, and third row passengers frequently complain that fan power is weak. Luckily this problem is seasonal, but it's on the watch list.
• Third Row Access: The second row seats are heavy as hell, and moving them back into position is a real pain given they don't return to where you had them. So getting kids into the back seat takes a lot of time. I would gladly pay for a captain's chair option in the second row so kids (and dogs) can just walk through the second row to access the third, bypassing the need to adjust the seats at all. Please gimme this on the next-gen S. Another reason my wife borderline-hates the car (and loves her Pacifica)
• Infotainment Functionality: Our Volvo XC40 had a Google-driven infotainment, so I learned to live without CarPlay or Android. But it had two things Rivian doesn't, but might soon: messaging (absolutely critical... get this done!) and more access to apps, IHeartRadio being one. I listen to sports talk radio often and miss having this. Doing it through the phone + Bluetooth is clumsy so I don't bother. But I think Rivian can address these. Oh, and the navigation, but we know that's a work in progress.
• Alexa: She kinda dumb compared to Google and Siri, especially when asking for directions to a business by name. If you don't get it exactly right, you'll probably end up in another state. And having to go in and add "skills" to do basic things like play an artist on Spotify is annoying, I haven't bothered yet.
• Self-Driving: This feels like a step back, even from my Volvo. The lane centering is decent, but the places where you can use it are very limited. It turns off when it shouldn't, like when changing lanes it shouldn't disable completely, it should wait until you are in the new lane and re-engage. Feels temperamental overall. Fortunately I don't use it much anyway, so it's not a big knock, but to be competitive it needs love.
• Motor, suspension and HVAC noises: I don't really mind the whine from the electric motors, given I like engine noise in general. But electrics are fun and unique for being silent but deadly. The whine intrudes on that a bit. However, the goddamn AC buzzing is a constant irritant in summer. Add to that suspension noise over speed bumps and other large obstacles, and you get some frequent irritation while driving. Another no-go for the wife.

? The WTF List

• Ride Quality: This is clearly the most incomplete part of the vehicle, and makes me wonder if they rushed into manufacturing after feeling pressure of repeated delays. It's not on par with the price paid. Even accepting that it's an off-road vehicle, which should come with some compromises, it needs work. I can handle truck-like shuddering and bouncing (although the actual Rivian truck doesn't seem to have this), but the choppiness and clompiness™ over broken pavement is jarring. I cringe when I hit some rough parts of Austin's washboard roads, which can be bone rattling. It sounds like it's shaking parts loose permanently. Yes, I'm on 22s, but this is consistent with other owner feedback - on all wheel sizes. Some people might call it a deal breaker, though. It is for my wife. For this reason, she actually hates driving it. She compared it to "an old Caprice" based on how it can bounce, wallow and shake (we drive exclusively in Standard, never "auto" or conserve). It needs work.
• Screen Adjustment of Air Vents: This is a fail, by both Tesla and now Rivian. It's obnoxious to use at best, and a dangerous distraction at worst. As Michael Jordan once said: "Stop it. Get some help."
• Ingress/Egress: The PAAK is slow so I end up standing around waiting for the handles to pop out, the doors are too light and people have to slam them closed often so I can get into drive, I feel like I'm always pulling on the door handle twice to exit from the driver's side (goes into park too slow), the grab-handles are in the wrong spot (should be on the A-pillar) so my 5'1" wife complains every time she tries to get in... I hear complaints a lot.
• Heavy Seats: They are a pain to move around in the second row, and a bigger pain to put back up in the 3rd when you drop them for cargo space. These need to be powered for the price.

Misc Stuff:

+ Thank god there's a driver's display, unlike some electrics, and it looks great
- Why do my wipers swing once every time I go into drive?
- Rear hatch takes too long to start opening. Speed up!
+ Love the action on the door handles, they click open with a nice heft
+ Flat bottom steering wheel is nice. Makes it easier to get in/out and lets me think about my Grand Sport while driving ?
- Wife basically hates it due to the ride quality, seat access and ingress issues, and the HVAC vibration
+ Snapping people's necks as you drive by
+ I bought a pile of Rivian stock when it was near its ATL, which is paying off!

Summary (For now)

I'm deeply in like with the car, almost in love. My wife vacillates between being ok with it and outright hating it. I'm glad I supported Rivian, and glad I have the vehicle now. If Rivian hears owner feedback in the next-generation R1S and fixes the ride, fixes the noise issues, and adds more conveniences (seat access and infotainment), sign me up for Gen 2.

Looks like I have the identical R1S build except for my Black Mountain + Dark Ash Wood interior. I picked mine up exactly 5 weeks ago today and have 3,300+ miles on it.

It's funny how reviews can be very different depending upon individuals previous experiences, current lifestyle, and expectations. I've read many negative reviews of the R1S ride quality. Just out of curiosity, have you owned a *real* truck before?

Just asking since while I acknowledge the *rough* ride of the R1S, based upon my previous ownership of Ford diesel Excursions, Ford Expedition, Ford F-150, and Lincoln Navigator, driving 100% in sport mode at the lowest level, stiffist suspension, and maximum brake regen, doesn't bother me in the least bit although admittedly it does bother my wife who drive all of the above as well. ;-)

That said, I can't disagree more about the infotainment system from the user experience to lack of Android Auto to the *mediocre* at best speakers. If it doesn't include at least Waze and 16+ Bose speakers, then it's unacceptable AFAIC.

As far as the glass roof, who decided that it didn't need to be popped open like a sun/moon roof or at least covered up upon request? What was the logic behind that decision? SMH

As far as the A/C noise, sure, it's louder than need be, but hopefully there is a simple noise dampening solution in the works. While the vents take a bit to align just right, just let me manually move them w/ my hand; not everything needs to be controllable via the touchscreen.

Lots of other opinions to come once I get time to post my 30+ day/3k+ mile review perhaps this weekend.

 

[RivianRachel]

I thought i was the only one with wipers coming on when placing vehicle in Drive, anyone else have this issue?

I’m having this issue as well!

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