2025 Rivian R1S

FIRST LOOK

2025 Rivian R1S First Look

One of the few electric three-row SUVs sees substantial upgrades.

Benjamin Hunting | 

Jun 28, 2024 | 3 min read

Rivian

There aren't many three-row electric SUVs on the market, but even if there were a dozen, the Rivian R1S would still be an appealing choice. For 2025, the luxury electric sport-utility vehicle has undergone an update that gives it more power, revised batteries, and a host of style and feature improvements that make it an even more potent package for EV-curious family buyers.

Rivian

A Self-Tinting Glass Roof and Gaming Graphics Are Interior Wow Factors

It's largely status quo when it comes to the Rivian R1S's exterior, as the 2025 update largely makes do with adding a paint color option, Storm Blue, and blacking out some of its trim as a way to keep the still-attractive design feeling fresh.

More attention has been paid to the 2025 Rivian R1S's cabin, which gains a pair of new trims aimed at high-dollar buyers. On top of that, the SUV features a sound system that integrates Dolby Atmos technology, as well as a tint-on-command glass roof that can take the interior from cozy to sun splashed in seconds.

Also helping to dazzle are new graphics capabilities for the vehicle's dashboard screens, which now rely on the Unreal Engine 3D creation tool to provide more compelling graphics and animations.

Rivian

Choose Your Horsepower From More Motor Configurations

For 2025, Rivian has moved the production of all of its electric motors in-house. Its quad-motor design was the last to swap third-party sourcing for homegrown goodness. Now upgraded to 1,025 horsepower, the quad-motor R1S is joined by a dual-motor configuration — with 533 horsepower for the base model, 665 horsepower for the Performance trim — and a new tri-motor 850-hp version.

Rivian continues to offer individual control over each motor to assist with traction and acceleration both on the road and off. Its rear motors pour on the torque while accelerating, and its front motors are designed inside a more compact housing to boost efficiency.

Rivian

Reconfigured Batteries and Wiring Add Efficiencies to the R1S

Battery range for the Rivian R1S remains robust, even with the more powerful electric motor configurations now on tap. The company has reconfigured each of its battery designs, with a maximum of 420 miles of driving available from its longest-legged model.

Entry-level R1S editions continue to see about 270 miles per charge, albeit now derived from a new lithium-iron-phosphate battery that should endure better over time than the previous chemistries used by the company.

Additional tech investments in the Rivian R1S include much higher definition for each of the 11 video cameras it uses as part of the SUV's suite of driver-assistance features, as well as a dramatic reduction in the amount of wiring and computer chip usage. This is made possible via a new computerized management system that is more efficient — and faster — than what was found in first-generation versions of the R1S.

Rivian

The Base R1S Starts at $78,000

The most affordable, 270-mile-range version of the 2025 Rivian R1S is priced at about $78,000, which is on par with the outgoing model.

The price can rapidly climb from there. Another $7,000 buys the Dual Large version with 330 miles of range, while the 410-mile Dual Max version goes for about $92,000. The ultra-rapid Tri Max has 380 miles of range, and it's about $108,000. The price of the Quad Max, which Rivian says will be available in 2025, has not been announced.

Rivian charges extra for some paint hues, plus various wheel designs, interior and exterior trim packages, and accessories that can hike the price north of $115,000.

All vehicle pricing includes MSRP plus destination charges (set at the time of publication) and will be rounded to the nearest thousand.

Benjamin Hunting

Nearly two decades into his career as an automotive journalist, Benjamin has had his hands greasy, his hair blown back, and his heart broken by more than one project car. In addition to his work at Capital One, he has contributed features and reviews to Motor Trend, Car and Driver, Hagerty, Driving Line, Inside Hook, Super Street, European Car, Roadkill Magazine, Motor 1, The Drive, the Toronto Star, the National Post, Business Insider, NAPA, Autoblog, Automotive News Canada, and AutoGuide. He is also cohost of the Unnamed Automotive Podcast and cocreator of the Code 45 and Dead Air graphic novels. In his spare time, he's a friend to vinyl and enjoys keeping the shiny side up during track days.