Any one regretted the R1S based on size?

[Vantripping]

I have an R1S and find it too large, mostly in length. I do not need the third row and have recommended to Rivian to at least offer the R1S with a third row delete option to gain more cargo space and reduced weight and cost. However, the R1S does accommodate my large frame MTB inside easily (just barely tall enough cargo opening), as did my BWW X5 albeit a tighter fit, but the R1S cargo space could be about a foot shorter in length and same for the vehicle and still fit a large MTB inside (a key requirement for my regular usage vs a rack) and also easily accommodates my 6'2" sleeping inside. All of this could still be accomplished if about a foot shorter wheelbase, cargo space and total length which would make it much easier to park and feel not so large. I would choose this "shortened" R1S if available.

Sponsored

 

[mkg3]

We've owned our R1S since August 2023. The vehicle has just over 20K miles.

It's my wife's daily driver and she loves the vehicle. It was her choice to get this vehicle. She has always like sitting high, truck-like ride (she grew up on Jeep SUVs) and she feels its bit too big. Me too.

Clearly, one gets used to the size in a relatively short period of time and quickly becomes a non-issue. The only time, thereafter, you notice is when on a narrow roads, tight parking spots or needing to maneuver in a tight space.

We used to own XC-90 with 3row seating when kids were small and used it a lot. When we looked at the R1S, we thought that having the 3rd row would make it easy to carry her elderly parents and our now grown kids together in a single vehicle. In the year and a half we've never used the 3rd row. Its been folded.

The vehicle seat is too high (even in the lowest position) for the elder parents to get in/out easily. As such, we end up using our Outback to transport them when needed. Outback seats and ingress/egress is so much better than Rivian's for them.

We have used the cargo space and do appreciate the available volume, especially with the 2+3 rows down..

Do we regret the size - no. Would we like it if it was bit smaller (and lighter for holding sake) - yes. We are not interested in R2 and probably this is our one and only Rivian for the next few vehicles.. We typically do not buy the same make/model consecutively. There are simply too many other options. Also as our needs change, so do our choice of vehicles.

Hope this helps.

 

[tjrivian]

Do people really consider the frunk to be a "secure storage" area? I certainly don't. All one needs is to remove a couple of easily accessible screws with a screwdriver to make the manual frunk release available.

 

[Gratedwasabi]

Do people really consider the frunk to be a "secure storage" area? I certainly don't. All one needs is to remove a couple of easily accessible screws with a screwdriver to make the manual frunk release available.

All one needs to get into the interior is a rock. Cars aren't secure storage areas.

 

[JayinNJ]

It's not as big as you think. I was actually a little surprised at its smaller size. It has good storage but even the back doesn't have that much due to it's lack of height when the 3rd row is folded down.

 

[tjrivian]

All one needs to get into the interior is a rock. Cars aren't secure storage areas.

You can get into the gear tunnel with a rock? That's news to me.

 

[dradam]

Do people really consider the frunk to be a "secure storage" area? I certainly don't. All one needs is to remove a couple of easily accessible screws with a screwdriver to make the manual frunk release available.

? stop telling everybody about that. It’s a secret.

 

[Donald Stanfield]

Do people really consider the frunk to be a "secure storage" area? I certainly don't. All one needs is to remove a couple of easily accessible screws with a screwdriver to make the manual frunk release available.

Car thieves aren't going to be unscrewing panels to get to access handles. They smash windows, or pry doors.

You can get into the gear tunnel with a rock? That's news to me.

A rock probably wouldn't work, but a crowbar would and that's the sort of tool a thief would use to pop a trunk as well.

 

[BTOR]

Our R1S replaced a 1995 GMC 4-door Yukon that had 303,000 miles which we purchased new in Oct. 1995. It drove like a truck, since it was built on the CK1500 pick-up chassis. The Rivian drives more like a modern passenger vehicle than a truck, IMO.

As for size, I'm a big cyclist and the Yukon was great as I could easily load bikes perpendicular to the bed (front wheel removed) up against the back seats. I could get 4 bikes in this way and still have room for cargo. I can do this in the R1S too but I need to lower the bike saddles since the height of the cargo area is about 8cm less than the Yukon. An inconvenience albeit, not a huge one. I do have a trailer hitch rack that I use sometimes. But on longer trips or when I don't want to leave my bike out or expose them to the elements of a dirty wet road, they go inside (which is most of the time). I keep the 3rd row seat is always folder down too.

On my long winter trips when I head south for sun and warmth, the R1S has just enough room for my bikes (usually 2-3 inside) and all my gear. I have yet to try and sleep in it with the bikes but I'm sure I could figure out a way if needed. I have rubber mats in back to protect the carpet from dirt and grease. This prohibits easy access to the rear cargo storage area. This would be my only complaint. I don't think you will find the R1S too big, especially with two of you.

 

[NTinkle]

So an R2....

I have an R1S and find it too large, mostly in length. I do not need the third row and have recommended to Rivian to at least offer the R1S with a third row delete option to gain more cargo space and reduced weight and cost. However, the R1S does accommodate my large frame MTB inside easily (just barely tall enough cargo opening), as did my BWW X5 albeit a tighter fit, but the R1S cargo space could be about a foot shorter in length and same for the vehicle and still fit a large MTB inside (a key requirement for my regular usage vs a rack) and also easily accommodates my 6'2" sleeping inside. All of this could still be accomplished if about a foot shorter wheelbase, cargo space and total length which would make it much easier to park and feel not so large. I would choose this "shortened" R1S if available.

 

[Donald Stanfield]

So an R2....

R2 would be too short for his requirements

 

[Gratedwasabi]

For those that don't know, the R1S originally did offer a 3rd row delete. It was on my pre-order.They removed it quite a while ago before cars were built. I tend to think with the R2, etc.., they won't decide to offer it again.

I do agree it would be very nice. The third row down works but it would be pretty sweet to have a completely flat trunk up to the 2nd row.

 

[SANZC02]

The R1S is an excellent vehicle and very efficient EV for its size. It’s about 18 inches shorter than R1T and we have never had a problem with its size (e.g. parking in malls, garages, etc).

The only time we typically have an issue with size is if the vehicle is either too large to fit into parking spots/garages, the size results in poor fuel economy/efficiency, or if the vehicle is too small.

If I was in your situation, I might consider leasing for 24 months (if that’s feasible for you) and then coordinating the end of that lease with your R2. The R2 will be quite a bit smaller and should also be more efficient.

As you say R2 is considerably smaller, 15 inches shorted and 7 inches narrower.

R2
75 inches wide
185.6 inches long
66.9 inches high

R1S
82 inches wide
200.8 inches long
77.3 inches high

 

[SANZC02]

Do people really consider the frunk to be a "secure storage" area? I certainly don't. All one needs is to remove a couple of easily accessible screws with a screwdriver to make the manual frunk release available.

I think pretty secure as anything in there is out of sight, not a lot of people;

1) know how to open it
2) will go through the hassle just to see if anything is in there.

Most vehicles breaking a window gets you access through the rear seats to the trunk so at least as secure as those.

Locks really only keep honest people honest, not sure you can secure anything if someone really wants it.

 

[Vantripping]

So an R2....

I fear that an R2 will be too short to both sleep in and fit at least one larger bike inside. It would be ideal to fit inside 2 to 4 bikes without having to lower the saddles which would mean 6+ feet of flat cargo space that is ~44" tall inside. I don't think an R2 will be long or tall enough to accommodate this, so hence why I say a "shortened" R1S without the third row--a "third-row-less". As many have said, the third row really isn't functional except for small people so for most who seem to have R1S's, completely useless. Rivian like many other auto manufacturers needs to focus on actual use not some specification and excessively adhere to customer wants not their designers' specs in order to progress forward from the mundane repeating designs that don't meet most customer's actual use or else compete with nearly every other similar vehicle on the market.

Sponsored