Driven: 2025 Rivian R1S Is The Only Family Vehicle You’ll Ever Need

In order to satisfy the role of a “family vehicle,” a car must be able to do several important tasks. We suggest that this includes carrying people (and their cargo), road tripping safely, and, as an added bonus, going off-road – or at least being fun on-road. Many SUVs satisfy these requirements, but there are still nonbelievers out there who believe an electric vehicle will never fulfill the road trip portion of the equation, mostly due to range concerns (as though we all drive 1,000 miles per day). But when you come face to grille with the new 2025 Rivian R1S SUV, – and, like us, spend meaningful time with it – even the staunchest EV denier will have to admit it can do everything your family needs.

The R1S is the second model from American automaker Rivian (not counting the Electric Delivery Van), which debuted for the 2022 model year. For 2025, the R1S receives its first major refresh, mostly addressing software and under-the-skin changes while adding a new tri-motor configuration. DrivingOnRoad spent a week driving the new tri-motor model, and discovered that the R1S might be the most compelling electric SUV on sale today. In fact, we think it makes a solid case for being one of the most exciting SUVs available, regardless of powertrain. We firmly believe that there is no family whose lifestyle wouldn’t fit with the R1S.

Exterior Looks: Is It Any Different?

If you aren’t a sleuth who spends every day on the Rivian forums, you probably won’t be able to tell the refreshed R1S apart from the old one. Rivian even drove these vehicles around Seattle completely undisguised before officially revealing the facelift. New additions for 2025 include Adaptive Drive Beam headlights, which can change colors to show the charging status, direct traffic around the vehicle, and even project fun ‘costumes’ like KITT from Knight Rider. Three different wheels are available (22-inch for on-road and 20-inch for off-road), including a new 22-inch Aero Wheel ($2,000) that maximizes range.

Rivian offers some interesting colors (such as Red Canyon, Rivian Blue, and Forest Green), but they all cost between $1,750 to $3,000, apart from LA Silver, which is the only no-cost paint. You can also tell what motor configuration an R1S is equipped with based on the accent colors of the badges and brake calipers. Silver is a Dual-Motor, yellow is a Tri-Motor, and blue is a Quad-motor.

The R1S is a fairly large vehicle, stretching 200.8 inches long with a 121.1-inch wheelbase. That’s longer than the Kia EV9 (197.2 inches) and Tesla Model X (198.3 inches), but shorter than some gas-powered competitors like the BMW X7 (203.6 inches) and Cadillac Escalade (211.9 inches). With adjustable suspension, the R1S can rise up to 77.3 inches in height, giving it up to 14.7-inches of ground clearance. Even the Escalade only towers at 76.7 inches in height and off-road vehicles like the Ford Bronco and Jeep Wrangler can’t match the Rivian’s ground clearance number.

Interior & On-Board Technology: Inteligent Interior

The interior of the R1S looks mostly the same as last year’s model, but Rivian did add a new Premium “Ascent” interior scheme on the tri-motor and quad-motor models, which comes in Black Mountain with Brown Ash Wood (pictured) or a lighter Ocean Coast with Driftwood theme. This interior also adds special plaid accents, including plaid floor mats, and nicely quilted seats that are heated/ventilated in the front row and heated in the second/third rows. Dual-motor variants have the same interior color options, but with less extravagant seats and no plaid touches.

In addition to the features you’d expect to see in a premium vehicle, Rivian has some fun ones too. There’s a Bluetooth speaker that slides out from the center armrest and a flashlight that ejects from the driver’s door. In the trunk, you can even add an air compressor for $350 to keep your mountain bike tires pumped up. A new Sound + Vision Package ($2,500) adds a Dynamic Glass Roof that can become clear or opaque, plus a new Rivian Premium Audio system with Dolby Atmos.

The R1S has more total storage space than a Tesla Model X, Kia EV9, or Volvo EX90 – just the ID. Buzz electric minivan has it outmatched with 145.5 cubic feet. Rivian does earn some points back with its massive frunk, which can hold 22.7 cubic feet, and deep storage under the trunk floor.

In terms of passenger space, the Rivian is close to the Tesla and Volvo, but the VW has more second and third row legroom. If you need a spacious EV that can fit the whole family, the R1S is among the best options.

Infotainment: Make Everything Like This

Every R1S gets a 15.6-inch touchscreen powered by the Unreal Engine, the same software used by video games like Fortnite and vehicles like the GMC Hummer EV. The system responds immediately to touch, and the interface is highly intuitive, like an iPad. You can easily swipe to see important information and access features like the drive modes and 360-degree camera system. A touchscreen in the second row offers passengers access to climate and audio controls, which might spell trouble if your kids decide to turn on the third row’s heated seats as a prank.

Rivian does not offer Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, meaning you won’t be able to text friends and family with voice commands, though the company says that feature is coming in 2025. There are plenty of built-in apps, such as Spotify and Apple Music, meaning you likely won’t miss having your phone projection. This software is done nearly flawlessly, though we were prompted to do a rest twice during our week of testing.

Performance: A Three-Row Supercar Killer

Rivian offers the R1S with three different motor setups: Dual-Motor, Tri-Motor, and Quad-Motor. The Dual-Motor is available in a base “Standard” configuration with a lithium iron phosphate battery that has a longer lifespan than the larger lithium-ion battery packs. A more expensive Dual-Motor model can be equipped with Rivian’s Large or Max ($7,000) battery pack and an optional Performance Package ($5,000) that increases the power and torque, adds a Sport Mode, and a Soft Sand Mode. The Tri-Motor and Quad-Motor models both come with the Max battery, plus additional drive modes such as Rally, Drift, Rock Crawl, and Conserve. These modes make a huge difference in how the R1S performs and how far it will go on a charge.

Performance Impressions

Rivian sent us the R1S Tri-Motor to review, since the Quad-Motor doesn’t go on sale until later in 2025. Frankly, we can’t see the need for a fourth motor, since the Tri-Motor is the second-quickest vehicle we’ve ever tested. With launch control, the R1S takes just 2.86 seconds to hit 60 mph, beating Rivian’s estimate. There is virtually no wheelspin off the line, just a perfect launch every time. Even without launch control, the R1S hits 60 mph in 3.04 seconds. In All-Purpose mode, 0-60 takes 3.58 seconds, while the Conserve Mode (which deactivates the rear motors to extend range), results in a still-impressive 4.51-second sprint. That’s quicker than a Cadillac Escalade-V.

Ride and Handling

Every R1S rides on independent air suspension with adaptive dampers and automatic ride-height leveling. Reviews of the pre-facelift R1S criticized it for a hard ride, which has been addressed with this new model. The suspension rides smoothly over bumps, especially in Soft Mode, but we found this setting to allow too much body motion on certain highways. Switching to Moderate Mode solved the issue, while Firm Mode keeps the R1S more planted during spirited driving. No SUV of this size has any right to handle like the R1S, with tight steering and excellent body control. While the ride is greatly improved, there is noticeable “crashy” noise when the suspension compresses. We had ample opportunity to test the Rivian Autonomy Platform, which enables strong lane-keeping on the highway and will later add Lane Change on Command and Enhanced Highway Assist with hands-free driving.

Range and Battery Info

The driving range in the R1S varies greatly depending on which configuration you choose. The Dual-Motor Standard with the LFP battery can travel 270 miles on a charge. Upgrading to the Dual-Motor with the Large pack boosts the range to 329 miles, while the optional Max pack brings it to a whopping 410 miles. In the electric SUV segment, only the Lucid Gravity and Cadillac Escalade IQ can travel further on a charge. The Tri-Motor drops to 371 miles, but Conserve mode can extend the range to 405 miles, using the rear motors less frequently to save charge. Opting for the All-Terrain package drops the range in-change for off-road capability.

Rivian hasn’t switched to a native NACS charging port yet – that will arrive on the upcoming R2 – but the R1S can utilize Tesla Supercharger stations with a CCS to NACS adapter. We tested this functionality, which was extraordinarily easy, after setting up a Rivian account on the company’s mobile app. The R1S can charge at speeds of up to 220 kW, meaning it can go from 10-80% charge in 30-41 minutes, depending on the battery size. On a Level 2 charger, it can add about 25 miles per minute at up to 11.5 kW.

Verdict & Pricing: It Does Everything

Without trying to sound too hyperbolic here, the 2025 Rivian R1S might be the most compelling electric SUV on sale right now. No competitor blends the same combination of performance, range, luxury, off-road capability, and practicality into a single vehicle. It’s not inexpensive, but the Dual-Motor Standard isn’t far off what you’d spend on a German luxury EV from Audi, BMW, or Mercedes-Benz. The Tri-Motor that we drove offers staggering performance that bests most supercars, but we feel it’s unnecessary for the average family, especially given the price. We’d feel perfectly content with the Dual-Motor Large battery and the Performance Package ($87,900), saving $18,000 compared to the Tri-Motor. You could even spring for the Max battery and still save $11,000 grand to take a nice family vacation. In our opinion, the $7,000 premium for the Max battery is pretty steep, and we’d only recommend it if you plan to take frequent road trips.

If we were given a budget between $75,000 and $106,000 to purchase an electric vehicle that could be used as a family vehicle, we’d probably put a Rivian R1S in our driveway. There are more affordable options like the Kia EV9 and Volkswagen ID. Buzz (if you like the van vibes) but they can’t match the Rivian’s performance. The Cadillac Escalade IQ and Mercedes-Benz G 580 with EQ Technology excel in terms of luxury and performance, but at a much higher price. The Rivian R1S is one of the rare vehicles we’d buy with our own money, and we can’t wait to see what Rivian can do with the smaller, more affordable R2.