Rivian R1T & R1S: The Adventure EVs, Decoded

The Rivian R1T pickup and R1S SUV are the adventure EVs — electric vehicles designed from the ground up around the idea that the trailhead, the campsite, and the boat ramp are destinations, not detours. Built on the same platform with the same motors, batteries, and software, the R1T and R1S differ mainly in body: the R1T is a five-seat truck with a bed and the famous gear tunnel, while the R1S is a seven-seat three-row SUV. Both offer up to 400+ miles of range with the largest battery pack, serious off-road hardware, and towing that embarrasses most gas SUVs.

The quick take: choose the R1T if you haul dirty, bulky, or wet gear and love the truck format's open bed; choose the R1S if you carry people — it's one of the few EVs that pairs a genuine third row with genuine off-road capability. Either way you're buying into the same strengths (design, capability, range) and the same trade-offs (price, weight, a software-first cabin with no Apple CarPlay).

This guide decodes the Rivian lineup for shoppers: how the R1T and R1S differ, what the motor and battery options actually mean, real-world range and towing expectations, charging, cost of ownership, and who each vehicle genuinely fits.

Rivian R1T vs. R1S: same platform, two missions

Rivian builds both vehicles on its skateboard platform — battery in the floor, motors at the axles, air suspension at all corners. The R1T launched first, becoming the first electric pickup to reach the U.S. market, and the R1S followed as its SUV sibling. In 2025 both received a major "second generation" refresh that overhauled the electrical architecture, updated the motors and battery packs, improved efficiency, and upgraded the driver-assistance hardware — so late-model examples are meaningfully better than early ones, which matters if you're shopping used.

What's shared

• Motor options, battery packs, software, and infotainment
• Adjustable air suspension with generous maximum ground clearance for real off-roading
• A large front trunk (frunk) with a drain, perfect for muddy boots and wet gear
• Standard all-wheel drive on every configuration

What's different

Category	Rivian R1T	Rivian R1S
Body	Crew-cab pickup, ~4.5-ft bed	Three-row SUV, seats up to 7
Signature feature	Gear tunnel between cab and bed	Huge enclosed cargo area behind third row seats folded
Towing (max, properly equipped)	Up to ~11,000 lb	Up to ~7,700 lb
Wheelbase	Longer — more stable towing	Shorter — better breakover off-road, tighter turning
Best for	Gear haulers, towing, truck life	Families, dog owners, group trips

The R1T's gear tunnel deserves special mention: a full-width pass-through storage compartment between the cab and bed that swallows skis, camp tables, wet wetsuits, or a full camp kitchen, with doors that double as steps or seats. It remains one of the cleverest storage ideas in any vehicle, electric or not.

Motors, batteries, and trims decoded

Rivian's configurator can overwhelm first-time shoppers, but the structure is simple: pick a motor count, then a battery size.

Motor options

• Dual-Motor: One motor per axle. Quick (0-60 in the mid-3-to-4-second range depending on tune), fully capable off-road, and the right choice for most buyers. A Performance upgrade adds power.
• Tri-Motor: One front, two rear. Supercar acceleration and torque-vectoring agility off-road, with the big battery standard.
• Quad-Motor: One motor per wheel — the flagship. Around 1,000 horsepower, 0-60 in roughly 2.5-3 seconds, and party tricks like precise individual-wheel control for extreme terrain. Spectacular, and priced accordingly.

Battery packs

• Standard pack: The value play, with EPA range roughly in the 260-270-mile band. Uses LFP chemistry in recent versions, which tolerates frequent 100 percent charging — handy for towing days.
• Large pack: The middle option, pushing range into the low-to-mid 300s of miles.
• Max pack: The road-tripper's choice, with EPA estimates topping 400 miles in the most efficient configurations — among the longest-range EVs sold in the U.S.

Not every combination is available on both vehicles at all times, and ranges vary with wheel and tire choice — all-terrain tires can trim range by a noticeable margin. Use our range calculator to see how each configuration maps onto your real driving, especially if your adventures start with a long highway slog.

How far can a Rivian really go? Range, towing, and winter

Rivians are heavy, blocky vehicles, and physics collects its fee in specific situations worth understanding before you buy.

Everyday and highway range

In mixed daily driving, owners typically see numbers reasonably close to EPA estimates. At sustained highway speeds, expect roughly 10-20 percent less than the rating — normal for EVs, but more noticeable in a vehicle with this frontal area.

Towing: the honest math

The R1T tows up to about 11,000 pounds and does it with the effortless confidence only electric torque provides. But towing a large trailer can cut range roughly in half — sometimes more with a tall camper. A Max pack R1T that cruises 400 miles unloaded may deliver about half of that towing a big travel trailer, meaning charging stops every couple of hours. That's workable with planning (and the LFP standard pack's charge-to-full flexibility helps), but if you tow long distances weekly, go in with clear expectations.

Cold weather

Like all EVs, Rivians lose range in freezing temperatures — often 20-30 percent in harsh conditions. Preconditioning while plugged in and using heated seats over cabin heat reclaims a chunk of that. The upside: instant traction control from electric motors makes these vehicles superb in snow.

Charging a Rivian: home, road, and the backcountry

Rivian owners charge three ways, and all three have improved dramatically since launch.

• Home: A Level 2 home charger refills even the Max pack overnight. At typical residential rates of $0.10-0.30 per kWh, that's roughly 5-12 cents per mile — estimate your monthly cost with the charging calculator, and compare it to what a gas truck of this capability drinks with the EV vs. gas calculator. The fuel savings versus a comparable gas truck are usually substantial.
• Road trips: Rivian vehicles gained access to the Tesla Supercharger network via NACS, stacking on top of CCS networks like Electrify America and EVgo. Between them, interstate coverage is now genuinely good, and the in-car trip planner handles routing.
• Adventure charging: Rivian's own Adventure Network places DC fast chargers near outdoor destinations, and its Waypoints Level 2 chargers show up at trailheads, parks, and lodges — a thoughtful touch that fits how these vehicles actually get used.

What Rivian ownership is really like

The good

• Design and details: From the flashlight in the door to the removable Bluetooth speaker in early models to the drainable frunk, Rivians are full of decisions made by people who camp.
• Ride and drive: Air suspension delivers a settled highway ride, and the driving experience shrinks the vehicle's mass impressively.
• Software cadence: Frequent over-the-air updates have added features, efficiency, and camera capability steadily since launch.
• Safety: Both vehicles have earned strong crash-test results.

The trade-offs

• Price: Realistically, most configurations land between about $70,000 and $110,000+. These are premium vehicles, full stop. Check current offers and financing — Rivian has periodically offered meaningful incentives — and see whether lease structures unlock credits in our rebate finder.
• No Apple CarPlay or Android Auto: Rivian is firm on its built-in software. It's polished, with native navigation, streaming, and connected apps, but phone-mirroring loyalists should test it before committing.
• Service network: Rivian services vehicles through its own centers and mobile vans. Coverage keeps growing but remains thinner than legacy-brand dealer networks — check proximity to your area.
• Tires and consumables: Heavy, powerful, and often wearing all-terrains: budget for tires more often than on a commuter EV.

Who should buy which Rivian?

Buy the R1T if you:

• Haul bikes, lumber, coolers, or anything wet or dirty regularly
• Tow heavier trailers (its longer wheelbase and higher rating make it the better tow rig)
• Want the gear tunnel — once you use it, every other truck feels like it's missing something

Buy the R1S if you:

• Need seats for six or seven, or a huge enclosed cargo bay for dogs and duffels
• Prefer secure, weatherproof storage over an open bed
• Want the tighter turning radius and shorter body for trailheads and city parking

Cross-shopping beyond Rivian? The Ford F-150 Lightning undercuts the R1T on price with a more traditional truck experience, and three-row shoppers should weigh the R1S against the Kia EV9 (far cheaper, less capable) and Volvo EX90 (similar money, luxury-first). Line them up in our comparison tool or browse all electric trucks and SUVs.

FAQ

What's the difference between the Rivian R1T and R1S?

They share the same platform, motors, batteries, and software. The R1T is a five-seat pickup with a bed and gear tunnel and tows up to about 11,000 pounds; the R1S is a three-row, seven-seat SUV with enclosed cargo space and up to about 7,700 pounds of towing. Pick based on whether you haul gear or people more often.

How far can a Rivian go on one charge?

Depending on battery pack, motors, and tires, EPA estimates range from roughly 260 miles with the Standard pack to over 400 miles with the Max pack. Expect 10-20 percent less at sustained highway speeds and steeper drops in freezing weather or while towing.

Can Rivians use Tesla Superchargers?

Yes. Rivian adopted the NACS standard and its vehicles can charge at compatible Tesla Superchargers, in addition to CCS networks and Rivian's own Adventure Network chargers located near outdoor destinations.

Do Rivians have Apple CarPlay?

No. Rivian uses its own built-in software for navigation, media, and apps, updated frequently over the air. It's well executed, but if CarPlay is a must-have, test the native system thoroughly before buying.

Is a Rivian worth the money?

If you'll actually use the capability — towing, off-roading, camping, hauling — the R1T and R1S deliver a combination nothing else matches at any price. If your driving is mostly commuting, a smaller, cheaper EV will do the job for tens of thousands less; the Rivian premium buys adventure capability you should plan to use.

Bottom line

The Rivian R1T and R1S are the rare vehicles that created a category: adventure EVs that pair 400-plus-mile capability with genuine off-road and towing chops and design details born from actual outdoor life. They're expensive, their software-only cabin won't suit everyone, and towing range demands honest planning — but for shoppers whose weekends point toward mountains and coastlines, nothing else decodes quite like a Rivian. Haul gear? R1T. Haul people? R1S. Either way, run the incentives and charging math first, and buy the battery your real trips require.