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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Rivian’s second-generation R1T pickup and R1S SUV looked familiar when Ars drove them in June 2024, but the engineering underneath had changed substantially. Ars’s drive focused on a specific dual-motor R1S Performance with the Max Pack: in rainy Seattle-area conditions, the reviewer found its revised suspension more comfortable than the R1S driven in 2022, including in the rear and third row. Those impressions apply to that vehicle and one drive, not to every R1 configuration or a controlled comparison.
What changed in the second-generation R1T and R1S?
Rivian introduced its second-generation R1 lineup in June 2024, roughly two years after the vehicles debuted. The exterior remained recognizably R1T and R1S, but Rivian said it changed more than half of the platform’s hardware components. The update touched the electrical architecture, drive units, batteries, cameras and sensors, and suspension—not just styling.
- Electrical architecture: Rivian removed 1.6 miles (2.6 km) of wiring and reduced the number of electronic control units.
- Drive units: Revised units supported tri- and quad-motor configurations alongside dual-motor versions.
- Ride: Rivian retuned the suspension, including the shocks.
- Company goals: Rivian described the redesign as a way to improve range, power, and efficiency while lowering manufacturing cost.
The changes to wiring and control units are part of a wider architectural revision; they should not be read as proof of a specific reliability or repair-cost outcome. Ars also reported Rivian’s goal, at the time, of bringing limited hands-free driver assistance later in 2024. That was a forward-looking statement in the June 2024 article, not confirmation that the feature was available during the drive. Ars Technica’s June 6, 2024 drive report
How did the Gen 2 R1S drive?
The tested R1S configuration
Ars drove a dual-motor R1S Performance with the Max Pack, rated at 665 hp (496 kW) and 829 lb-ft (1,124 Nm), with a stated range of up to 410 miles (660 km). These are specifications for that tested configuration, not a single range or power figure for all R1S models.
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Ride comfort and drive settings
On a rainy route from the Seattle area to DirtFish Rally School in Snoqualmie, the reviewer said the revised platform, suspension, and shocks felt more comfortable than the R1S Ars had driven in New York in 2022. The report particularly noted improved comfort across seating positions, including the second and third rows. This was a reviewer’s impression from one drive, not an instrumented, controlled comparison.
The tested vehicle offered Sport, All Purpose, Snow, All-Terrain, and Soft Sand settings. Drivers could also customize suspension, ride feel, ride height, and regenerative braking. Ars noted that this particular vehicle no longer had a Conserve mode; later Gen 2 Quad material discusses Conserve mode, so the 2024 observation should not be generalized to every Gen 2 vehicle.
Rank #2
- Realistic features with doors, front trunk, and gear tunnel that open and wheels that turn
- Interior details: wood grain panel and patterned stitching on the seats
- Four wheel suspension
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- Popular Colors: Available in Forest Green and Glacier White
How do later Gen 2 models compare?
The 2024 drive figures and later model claims describe different configurations and dates. The table separates Ars’s 2024 test car, Rivian’s 2025 Quad announcement, and Ars’s report on model-year 2027 specifications. Range and performance figures are configuration-specific estimates, not guaranteed real-world results.
| Configuration and source date | Power and torque | Range and acceleration | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dual-motor R1S Performance with Max Pack, driven by Ars in June 2024 | 665 hp (496 kW); 829 lb-ft (1,124 Nm) | Up to 410 miles (660 km), as reported for the test vehicle | Ars’s first-drive configuration; not a lineup-wide specification. Source |
| Second-generation Quad, announced by Rivian July 8, 2025 | 1,025 hp; 1,198 lb-ft | Up to 374 miles EPA-estimated; up to 400 miles in Conserve mode; 0–60 mph in as little as 2.5 seconds | Rivian estimates. The 0–60 and quarter-mile estimates use Launch mode and 22-inch road wheels; Rivian says results vary with battery, tires, drive mode, load, weather, and options. It cautions against using Launch mode on public roads. Source |
| MY2027 Premium, reported by Ars in August 2026 | 533 hp, upgradable to 655 hp | 329 miles; larger-battery option up to 420 miles in R1T or 410 miles in R1S | Ars-reported lineup figures; check the live configuration for the chosen model and options. Source |
| MY2027 Performance R1S, reported by Ars in August 2026 | 850 hp; tri-motor | 371 miles | Ars-reported model-year specification. Source |
Rivian says Quad output and acceleration estimates can vary with battery, tires, drive mode, load, weather, and options. The figures therefore should not be treated as directly comparable test results against Ars’s 2024 R1S drive.
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- Realistic features with doors, front trunk, and gear tunnel that open and wheels that turn
- Interior details: wood grain panel and patterned stitching on the seats
- Four wheel suspension
- Panoramic glass roof
- Popular Colors: Available in Forest Green and Glacier White
What changed for the 2027 R1T and R1S?
In August 2026, Ars reported that Rivian renamed the MY2027 Dual and Tri trims Premium and Performance, while Quad remained. Ars reported no technical specification changes at that model-year changeover. Its reported base prices were $79,990 for the R1T and $83,990 for the R1S; these are dated figures, so check Rivian’s live configurator before shopping.
- R1S seating: A six-seat layout with second-row captain’s chairs joined the existing three-row SUV’s seating choices. Ars reported that the chairs required the Sound+Vision package: $1,500 on top of the required $2,500 package, or a $4,500 premium for Ocean Coast interior.
- New options: Ars reported new Esker Silver paint and a 20-inch all-season wheel-and-tire option for the R1T.
- Body-style choice: Rivian identifies the R1T as a two-row, five-passenger pickup and the R1S as a three-row SUV. The MY2027 R1S can instead be configured for six with captain’s chairs. R1T overview · R1S overview
Does a Rivian R1 need a NACS adapter?
It depends on model year and charger type. Rivian said R1 vehicles would receive a native North American Charging Standard (NACS) charge port starting with model year 2026. Its 2025–2026 R1T owner guide says 2026 vehicles can charge directly at NACS DC fast chargers, while 2022–2025 vehicles need a Rivian NACS DC adapter for that access.
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Rivian’s guide says only Rivian-provided NACS DC adapters are authorized for Tesla Superchargers and warns that incorrect or third-party adapters can damage the vehicle or property. Confirm the vehicle’s model year and follow Rivian’s current instructions before using an adapter. Rivian R1T owner guide
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the 2024 drive can—and cannot—tell you
The first-drive report is useful for understanding what Rivian revised and how one equipped R1S felt on the road. It is not a long-term reliability report, a controlled test of every powertrain, or a guarantee that a particular R1T or R1S will achieve its stated range. Model year, motor configuration, battery, tires, options, and drive mode all matter when applying the later specifications.
Best Value
- Brand new box.
- Real rubber tires.
- Steerable wheels.
- Has opening doors.
- Detailed interior, exterior.
Ars disclosed that Rivian provided travel and accommodation for the June 2024 drive, and said it does not accept paid editorial content. Rivian chief software officer Wassym Bensaid told journalists at the event: “Overdelivering on the product is one of our core values, and customer feedback has been one of the key inspirations for us.” That is Rivian’s stated position, not independent evidence of product quality. Ars Technica
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