R1S third row seats optional?

Is the 3rd row seating in the R1S mandatory or will we be able to option it out? I'll never carry 7 passengers and would rather opt for more cargo room.

The 3rd row I believe folds completely flat to line up with the trunk floor? Also the 180 kWh version is listed as sitting 5 passengers, not 7. They must have had to use that space for additional battery modules. It'd be cool if the seats could be completely removed for more cargo space or to fit the auxiliary battery option?

DiggiRob said:

It'd be cool if the seats could be completely removed for more cargo space or to fit the auxiliary battery option?

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Same here, but like Keith (presumably eyeing up the 105 or 135 kWh model), I, and I suspect many others, have little to no need for 3rd row of seats. Instead of wasting the material and money on some thing that will never get used, I'd rather see that space freed up for other uses as you pointed out. Which leads me to something else I, and others, have been wondering about - the spare tire. Assuming there is one, where is it stored and what type - full size or space saver? Perhaps info on the spare is already available and I just haven't seen it yet, however, there is an open thread asking about this. I'd gladly sacrifice the 3rd row seats if it meant having a full size spare. Obviously everyone's needs/wants are different and hopefully Rivian will see it that way and make it an option, if not initially perhaps down the road.

DiggiRob said:

The 3rd row I believe folds completely flat to line up with the trunk floor? Also the 180 kWh version is listed as sitting 5 passengers, not 7. They must have had to use that space for additional battery modules. It'd be cool if the seats could be completely removed for more cargo space or to fit the auxiliary battery option?

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Right. The 185 kWh / 400+ mile R1S model will be 5 seats because the underfloor space will have a larger battery occupying the space where the 3rd row would fold down into.

Hasn't been announced if the 105kw and 135kw models will have choice of 3rd row delete. If it's optional, I'd like to see that it reduces price of the vehicle and also gives extra storage underfloor space where the 3rd row would otherwise fold into.

I read in a review that, like the R1T, the R1S will have a full-size spare that can be removed to free up more cargo space. I assume it is under the floor of the cargo bay, since folding the rear seats supposedly yields a flat floor, but that's just an assumption.

Hmp10 said:

I read in a review that, like the R1T, the R1S will have a full-size spare that can be removed to free up more cargo space.

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@Hmp10 can you provide a link to that review/article?

https://www.motortrend.com/news/2021-rivian-r1s-ev-electric-suv-first-look-review/

Here's the relevant passage:

"There's also a rear tub if you take the full-size spare tire out, giving you another 6.4 cubic feet."

Thanks @Hmp10 . I think the author may have gotten his notes mixed up. (Or perhaps I am?) The quoted passage is certainly true for the R1T (pics available on the internet) but I don't see how it's possible with what I've seen and read about the R1S. The R1S cargo area/bay will either have 3rd row seats (presumably foldable) or the additional battery module(s) for the 180 kWh 5-seater module. The only way I can see a "rear tub ... with a full-size spare" in the cargo bay of the R1S is if the 3rd row seats were indeed optional on the 105 and 135 kWh models. If that's the case, then 1) it would seem to indirectly answer the OP's question that the 3rd row seats are optional, and 2) the 7-seater and 180 kWh models either don't come with a (full-size?) spare or it's stored somewhere else within the vehicle.

Side note - another interesting passage from the article in the same paragraph: "the R1S has a two-piece tailgate, split just below the Rivian badge. The lower gate drops down to create a seat or loading platform."

I just realized I have yet to see a pic of the R1S tailgate in the open position. For some reason I just assumed it was a hatch style tailgate. (Probably because my last two SUVs opened that way.) Considering the R1S shares about 85% of the R1T, I guess it would makes sense for the R1S tailgate to work this way. Has anybody seen a pic or video of the R1S with tailgate open?

It's just a guess, but the spare tires in both vehicles might be under the rear cargo floors behind the rear axles. My Tesla has a deep storage well in that location, as the battery skateboard ends ahead of the rear axle, as it does on the Rivians.

[QUOTE="I just realized I have yet to see a pic of the R1S tailgate in the open position. For some reason I just assumed it was a hatch style tailgate. (Probably because my last two SUVs opened that way.) Considering the R1S shares about 85% of the R1T, I guess it would makes sense for the R1S tailgate to work this way. Has anybody seen a pic or video of the R1S with tailgate open?[/QUOTE]

I saw it open in a video, but I can't remember which one it was.

This video shows the R1S rear storage, and Brian Gase (Chief Engineer) says there's an "inflatable spare tire". Not sure exactly what that means, but it doesn't sound like a full sized wheel...


Jump to 13:15 ^

aAlpine said:

This video shows the R1S rear storage, and Brian Gase (Chief Engineer) says there's an "inflatable spare tire". Not sure exactly what that means, but it doesn't sound like a full sized wheel...


Jump to 13:15 ^

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It's found in a bunch of vehicles and looks like this:



Smart space saving decision tho it does come at the cost of some inconvenience if the need for the spare arises. Worth it IMO.

Thanks @aAlpine and @DiggiRob for posting those vids. Been wondering about the spare in the R1S. BTW, you might want to consider posting your respective vids in the "Does Rivian SUV have space for a spare tire" thread.

Certainly a space saver spare tire is better than none at all but my preference is still a full-size spare. Space save spares usually come with warnings to not drive on them for any great distance and at a reduced speed (I believe 50mph from the video). To add to that is this undesirable tire tread. I'm guessing Rivian probably won't be offering a full-size spare as an option. If I bought my own I wonder if it would fit in the frunk stored horizontally or even vertically.

Back to the OP on optional third row seats. I forget where but I had read RJ responded to this question (Twitter?) saying there will be a "No third row seats" option you can select when ordering. If I can find the source/link I'll post it.

EyeOnRivian said:

Thanks @aAlpine and @DiggiRob for posting those vids. Been wondering about the spare in the R1S. BTW, you might want to consider posting your respective vids in the "Does Rivian SUV have space for a spare tire" thread.

Certainly a space saver spare tire is better than none at all but my preference is still a full-size spare. Space save spares usually come with warnings to not drive on them for any great distance and at a reduced speed (I believe 50mph from the video). To add to that is this undesirable tire tread. I'm guessing Rivian probably won't be offering a full-size spare as an option. If I bought my own I wonder if it would fit in the frunk stored horizontally or even vertically.

Back to the OP on optional third row seats. I forget where but I had read RJ responded to this question (Twitter?) saying there will be a "No third row seats" option you can select when ordering. If I can find the source/link I'll post it.

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I believe in the highest battery specification the R1S will not have standard 3rd row seats, only in the 2 lower battery configurations can have 7 seats. Maybe 7 seats in the 180 Kwh spec will be a option?

kumarczar said:

I believe in the highest battery specification the R1S will not have standard 3rd row seats, only in the 2 lower battery configurations can have 7 seats.

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Yes, that is correct. I believe the OPs question inferred the 105 and 135 kWh models since 3rd row is not available on the 180 kWh. Recently RJ has mentioned there would be an option when ordering to NOT include 3rd row seats, again, inferring the 105 and 135 kWh models.

kumarczar said:

Maybe 7 seats in the 180 Kwh spec will be a option?

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Rivian has stated the 3rd row is not available with the 180 kWh due to the additional space needed for the larger battery pack. Unless there is a large demand for 3rd row seats with the 180 kWh battery, I doubt Rivian will reconfigure the battery pack at this stage of development. But you never know. If the battery tech improves to the point it requires a smaller footprint and the Rivian EVs are still far enough away from production, maybe, just maybe, Rivian will turn that space into something useful like a full-size spare or 3rd row seats or additional storage or whatever. I won't be holding me breath.