Give up your 3rd row for MAX battery (extra 100miles)?

[RayzorBEV]

The 3 row configuration will decrease your cargo capacity, lower your range and decrease the performance of the R1S (check out Tesla's configurator for Model Y and the X to get some idea of its impact). I'll gladly take back my 5 seater configuration any day. But it seems less and less likely now..

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[mkg3]

So much hate for the 3rd row...

Loose cargo space - yes but its marginal and before you say that extra couple of inches of height makes all the difference in the world, is this an everyday need or when you need it? If its the latter, its a tradeoff you'll have to make if its the right vehicle for you or not.

Less range?? How?? Don't tell me the extra weight of the 3rd row seats will add to the vehicle weight; hence, lower range. Technically correct but carrying more cargo will too. Getting 20" AT will impact the range far greater than the 3rd row. Again, its your tradeoff that you need to make.

Can get a full size spare instead of space saver spare - maybe. My Model 3 did not come with a spare at all. I don't like run flats and the wife wanted a spare, so we bought a space saver that we keep in the boot. Yes the extra weight of spare does decrease the range but that's a tradeoff we made. Btw, never used it in 4 years of ownership - but you never know...

Back to the extra range. Max pack does have its place and not having it most like a deal breaker for some. I get.

Having said that, if its more of nice to have because I can go further without recharge, or what if I'm camping in a place where there is no viable charging option for round trip to charging, I'm willing to bet that that's more of planning issue.

If R1S got a real world 225~250 mile range (say drive at 75~80mph on a very hot or cold day and full of cargo), you would stop after 3.5 hrs of driving or so for either a meal or nature break, or both. Plan and eat something or whathaveyou, while charging and go for another 180~200 miles. That'll take another 3 hours or so. Now you've driven 6~7 hours of driving time or lapse time of probably 7~8 hours. Its a full day. Do you really want to driver more??

Remote camp site requires bit more planning. Just need to charge to as much as you can (close to 100% - I've charged my Li-Ion Model 3 to 100% many times to go on a road trip and after 4 years, my theoretical range is still at 300 miles so if you are concerned, as long as the battery start to discharge - drive - in a relatively short time, its not an issue. So what remote camp site do you goto the cannot be covered safely within the 158 mile radius (316 mile range for 21" R1S)???

Having an EV anything has pros and cons. As an example, we just drove and back from SoCal to Las Vegas, the last few days. My total Supercharger cost was roughly $60, about an equivalent of 10 gals of gas at $6/gal at Costco where I live. Its roughly 500 miles round trip and whatever in town driving we did.

So that's one example of kind of economic benefit but it does require planning ahead of time for where to stop and when to leave - con, if as it were. We charged once each direction (ate while charing) and once when we were in LV (shopped at Caesar's Forum - less costly than gambling, ).

 

[Singletracker]

Mkg3 - some good points, for some. But the fact of the matter is, some people just have no use for 3 rows, period. I have never had a vehicle where I felt I needed more than two rows of seats and that is not going to change. So why get three. Some may say that a few inches in ceiling height is not a big deal, Well, I have a specific need for as much interior height as possible. The three row configuration could present a real problem. Than there is the issue of the larger battery pack (remote possibility, for sure). For some, who travel a lot or in remote locations, extra range may be critical and a whole lot more important than an extra row of seats that may never get used. Count me in that group. There are destinations, where I go, where all the planning in the world is not going to keep one comfortably powered up. Just sayin’. Maybe, someday, that will change.

 

[zigzagzap]

The 5-seater with 400+ miles range was what originally sold me on the R1S. I can make the current offering work (and will due to the complete lack of suitable EV alternatives that meet my needs) but it's not the config I want.

Exactly. Imagine you fill all 7 seats. The weight you are pulling just went up by about 30%, decreasing range by some factor a forum genius can illuminate me on. Don’t tell me weight doesn’t affect range. R1S+7 is just a buzz kill. I remind Rivian of this every chance I get.

 

[Zybane]

Mkg3 - some good points, for some. But the fact of the matter is, some people just have no use for 3 rows, period. I have never had a vehicle where I felt I needed more than two rows of seats and that is not going to change. So why get three. Some may say that a few inches in ceiling height is not a big deal, Well, I have a specific need for as much interior height as possible. The three row configuration could present a real problem. Than there is the issue of the larger battery pack (remote possibility, for sure). For some, who travel a lot or in remote locations, extra range may be critical and a whole lot more important than an extra row of seats that may never get used. Count me in that group. There are destinations, where I go, where all the planning in the world is not going to keep one comfortably powered up. Just sayin’. Maybe, someday, that will change.

Not sure where this myth about a few inches came from (that's what she said). A folded down third row seat back and bottom is going to be closer to 10-12 inches in depth taken up across the whole interior width and 2-3 feet front to back.

Not insignificant and can easily be used for more storage. As a matter of fact, if I do purchase my reserved R1S, I will be removing the seats to make my own custom storage area(s).

 

[RayzorBEV]

Not sure where this myth about a few inches came from (that's what she said). A folded down third row seat back and bottom is going to be closer to 10-12 inches in depth taken up across the whole interior width and 2-3 feet front to back.

Not insignificant and can easily be used for more storage. As a matter of fact, if I do purchase my reserved R1S, I will be removing the seats to make my own custom storage area(s).

Spoke with a Rivian representative about the 3rd row. He basically told me that it is not that difficult to remove inorder to regain the space. Seems like Rivian is already anticipating owners doing just that.

 

[Singletracker]

Don’t know how much additional weight will significantly affect mileage, unless it’s a lot of weight. In my experience, for normal driving, speed and tires are the biggies. I have an FJ, not exactly a low drag vehicle. I have found that loading it up doesn’t have a great affect on mileage, but driving over 70 mph sure as heck does. Also, even modestly larger, more aggressive A/T tires have a very noticeable, everyday negative effect. They are simply heavier, with more aggressive tread and increased rolling resistance (think Rivian 20” wheels and tires). My somewhat larger (34”) than stock tires probably cost me around 1 mpg. Oddly, I have an RTT and it really doesn’t seem to come with a truly noticeable mileage hit. Whether it’s on or off, mileage seems about the same. Go figure. I figure, by the time the wind gets deflected off the front of the car, then up off the front windshield, and finally off the wind deflector on my roof rack, the RTT is pretty much bypassed. Anyway, that’s my theory and I’m sticking to it ?

 

[Singletracker]

Spoke with a Rivian representative about the 3rd row. He basically told me that it is not that difficult to remove inorder to regain the space. Seems like Rivian is already anticipating owners doing just that.

Seriously! That is great news, for me! One of my major concerns with the R1S is the ability to mount my MTB inside the car. The seven seat configuration would make for a very tight fit, vertically. And, no! It’s an expensive bike and I don’t want to mount it on a hitch mounted rack, where it can get damaged or worse. Plus, I will likely have to get a hitch rack to mount a full sized spare.

 

[Singletracker]

Not sure where this myth about a few inches came from (that's what she said). A folded down third row seat back and bottom is going to be closer to 10-12 inches in depth taken up across the whole interior width and 2-3 feet front to back.

Not insignificant and can easily be used for more storage. As a matter of fact, if I do purchase my reserved R1S, I will be removing the seats to make my own custom storage area(s).

Note almost 3” reduced cargo height with the 7-seater. And, as she said, ”Every inch counts.” ?

 

[Zybane]

Here is a representation I did of the storage capacity of the rear seats taken up, definitely not insignificant:

That area plus the lift up compartment in the back is where they were supposed to put the defunct Max Pack extra ~45 kWh of battery.

 

[mkg3]

Mkg3 - some good points, for some. But the fact of the matter is, some people just have no use for 3 rows, period. I have never had a vehicle where I felt I needed more than two rows of seats and that is not going to change. So why get three. Some may say that a few inches in ceiling height is not a big deal, Well, I have a specific need for as much interior height as possible. The three row configuration could present a real problem. Than there is the issue of the larger battery pack (remote possibility, for sure). For some, who travel a lot or in remote locations, extra range may be critical and a whole lot more important than an extra row of seats that may never get used. Count me in that group. There are destinations, where I go, where all the planning in the world is not going to keep one comfortably powered up. Just sayin’. Maybe, someday, that will change.

Clearly, as I'd noted originally that, you have a tradeoff decision to make. The real question is, given what Rivian is today, the right vehicle for you?

You may want R1S, or EV SUV, or whatever the primary reason why you came down to this path. Now that you are here, you're finding out that it may not work - such is life, right?

You can accept as is and live with it, or move on to something else. No one is holding your feet to the fire saying you must buy R1S.

You say no other EV alternative - maybe, but there are PHEV or ICE that probably will meet your range and cargo needs. You may not like that either but they exist.

So, its really. up to you and it is ALL within your control as to what you can do about it...

 

[Singletracker]

Hey mkg3. I can’t thank you enough for bringing so much clarity to my life, with your thoughtful, sage, fatherly advice. What the heck was I thinking? My original R1S reservation was for the 5-seater and I’ve been conflicted ever since that option was eliminated ? Now, I am canceling my R1S reservation, ASAP., and will proceed to explore other options. Consider me cured. Please, feel free to move on to your next patient. I’m sure you’ll find these forums a fertile field for your services ?

 

[mkg3]

Hey mkg3. I can’t thank you enough for bringing so much clarity to my life, with your thoughtful, sage, fatherly advice. What the heck was I thinking? My original R1S reservation was for the 5-seater and I’ve been conflicted ever since that option was eliminated ? Now, I am canceling my R1S reservation, ASAP., and will proceed to explore other options. Consider me cured. Please, feel free to move on to your next patient. I’m sure you’ll find these forums a fertile field for your services ?

Ouch. So harsh. This is what I get for being rational and polite. Probably should have asked you “do you want some cheese with all that whining”?

if it makes you feel better by complaining without absolutely no control or input about it, it’s all good?

 

[Taycanfrank]

Not to be a downer but the battery design where eliminating the 3rd row gets you that much more capacity doesn't exist and no one is going to spend the money to create it.

It is puzzling to me why they eliminated the 5 seat option, though. It's a pretty good indication of their production struggles that they couldn't figure out a simple way NOT to put in a row of seats.

I'd give up the 3rd row for just a touch more cargo space, let alone added range.

 

[Chewy734]

I’ll need the 7 seater… 6 total - got 2 kids and 2 parents that live with us. Heck, I’d even support an ESV/EXT version of the R1S in the future for more space.

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