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Rivian R1

“Dream car with startup-quality fit and finish at luxury prices”

balance MIXED VERDICT

Check it at Rivian open_in_new

7.2

Inside Scoop Score

Mixed · 7.2 / 10

auto_awesome INSIDE SCOOP

The Inside Scoop

THE VERDICT

The Rivian R1S is genuinely exciting — blistering performance, clever storage, excellent OTA software updates, and a cabin unlike anything else on the road. But at $75K–$126K, buyers are also signing up for panel gaps, hanging trim strips, sensor glitches, and a third row that's functionally useless with car seats. Rivian's service is reportedly excellent if you live near a center, but that caveat is a big one.

Anchored by Gjeebs's review

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OTA updates keep improving it

Rivian pushes meaningful software updates — including new AI assistant features and improved HUD maps — so the car you own a year from now is measurably better than the one you took delivery of.

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Performance defies its weight

The tri-motor R1S hits 0-60 in 2.9 seconds with launch control despite weighing over 7,000 pounds, a physics-bending feat no rival SUV matches.

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Frunk and storage genuinely useful

The front trunk is large enough for a full set of golf clubs, drains for ice use, and frees up cabin space on road trips in a way most SUVs cannot.

warning WATCH OUTS

Before You Buy — What Nobody Tells You

We analyzed the expert reviews and owner discussions to surface the surprises buyers only learn after.

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Third row is basically fake

With car seats installed in the second row, accessing the third row requires crawling through the trunk — it functions as a five-seater in real family life despite being marketed as a seven-seater.

— from top reviewer (Gjeebs, 7,000-mile ownership review)

lightbulb Rivian offers captain's chairs as an alternative configuration in some trims, which would help access, but isn't currently a standard option.
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Waterproofing makes doors hard to close

Because the cabin is sealed for 36-inch water wading, all doors require noticeably more force to close when other doors are shut — owners often discover this feels like a defect before learning the actual reason.

— from top reviewer (Gjeebs, 7,000-mile ownership review)

lightbulb Rivian service confirmed it is by design and will not adjust the doors, so you adapt or live with it.
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Trim pieces hang and fall off

Multiple rubber and plastic trim strips around the exterior have a habit of loosening or drooping post-purchase, requiring repeated trips to the service center for what should be non-issues on a six-figure vehicle.

— from top reviewer (Gjeebs, 7,000-mile ownership review)

lightbulb Rivian service has been responsive, but if you live far from a service center — Pittsburgh owners drive to Cleveland — this becomes genuinely painful.

groups VERDICT

Who it's for

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Best For

Adventure-oriented families who live near a Rivian service center, want best-in-class off-road and towing capability with software that keeps improving, and can tolerate early-adopter build quality quirks.

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Skip If

Buyers in rural areas without nearby Rivian service, anyone prioritizing interior refinement and audio quality for the money, or families who actually need that third row to be functional.

smart_display VIDEO REVIEWS

Video reviews

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NEW Rivian R1S After 7,000 Miles - Endless issues

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"Thank you to Quince for sponsoring this video! Elevate your wardrobe essentials with Quince. Go to https://quince.yt.link/6DZJATe ..."

12:24

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2025 Rivian R1S Review: The Futuristic SUV

CarGurus • 125998

"Shop for a Rivian R1S on CarGurus: https://cargur.us/18nFxK The 2025 Rivian R1S takes the concept of an all-electric, three-row ..."

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