– Rivian R1S EV Car

Essentially an SUV version of the R1T, the Rivian R1S is an all-electric SUV aimed at consumers with active lifestyles. Like its truck sibling, the R1S promises excellent off-road capability and up to three rows of seating. Underpinning the Rivian R1S is a skateboard architecture that mounts the battery under the passenger compartments, giving the SUV a low center of gravity. Like its truck sibling, the R1S has 14.5 inches of ground clearance for better off-road performance. Rivian claims the R1S should offer excellent acceleration with acceleration to 60 in as quick as 3.0 seconds.

Rivian R1S pricing will start in the mid-$70,000 range and the driving range comes in at over 300 miles.

If you’ve driven the Rivian R1T pickup, then you probably know what to expect from the EV brand’s follow-up, the 2022 R1S SUV. This is the same capable, quiet, and fun machine, only shorter (thanks to a trimmed wheelbase) and with an enclosed cargo area. Interior space is on par with the Subaru Ascent and the R1S’ rectangular form factor improves third-row headroom compared to the Tesla Model X. The SUV’s cabin is just as minimalist, premium, and tech-laden as the truck’s, as well.

The Rivian ute’s cross-linked suspension delivers the same flat, supple ride as the pickup, firming up the same amount in Sport mode. This 7,000-pound. beast makes the sprint to 60 mph from a standstill in just 3.0 seconds like the R1T. It’s a slightly nimbler rock crawler than the pickup, but when the rig is on all-terrain 20s there’s a bit more noise and a reduction in ride comfort compared to the R1S on street tires. As the R1T is the electric future of trucks, the R1S leads the way on the EV SUV side—but the competition is coming up fast. For now, however, the R1S is hard to beat in the three-row premium SUV segment.

The 2022 Rivian R1S will be available in three battery sizes: 105-, 135- or 180 kWh. Like the R1T, the R1S has an electric motor at each wheel. Depending on the battery size you pick, the R1S has up to about 800 hp and 900 lb-ft of torque. The EPA-rated range for the launch model comes in at 316 miles, with 69 mpg-e. Rivian estimates the range for the rest of the lineup between 240 and 400 miles on a charge depending on the battery chosen. The largest battery, however, isn’t available in the seven-seat configuration, according to Rivian.

In our First Test of the 835-hp 2022 Rivian R1S Launch Edition AWD (which came with the 135-kWh battery pack), we got it up to 60 mph from a standstill in 3.1 seconds on all-season tires. The time eclipses the best effort from our 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning Lariat AWD tester with extended range battery, which clicked off the distance in 3.8 seconds.

The 2022 Rivian R1S’ maximum towing capacity tops out at 7,700 pounds when properly equipped, which is 3,300 pounds less than the R1T. A common feature between the R1T truck and R1S SUV is the 11.0-cubic-foot front trunk, giving the latter additional space for cargo. With all seats in place, the three-row R1S has 7.1 cubic feet of cargo space. The rear tub on the Rivian R1S has an extra 6.4 cubic feet of capacity when you take out the spare tire.

Like the R1T, the 2022 Rivian R1S features two displays inside the cabin. A 15.3-inch digital gauge cluster replaces analog instruments while a large 12.3-inch touchscreen on the dash controls media, navigation, and temperature adjustment. Second-row passengers also get a touchscreen at the back of the center console to adjust the climate control. Oh, and how cool is this: The rear speakers can be removed so you can keep the music going at a beach bonfire.