12-Month review: I can't recommend the R1S for most people

[daeHelkcunK]

Maybe this has been discussed enough already, but I have some time and figured I'd chime in as an R1S owner of just over 3 years and ~30K miles. Also had "luxury" sport SUVs like the X5M as well as normal vehicles, sport cars, and motorcycles.



I can see where this can make sense if you're looking strictly as a 3-row SUV. There are plenty more options out there at nearly half the price.

However if you look at the specifics, what vehicle out there gives you 800-1000hp, off road capability, luxury-ish interior quality, sporty handling, and 3 rows with ample cargo room?

There's almost nothing out there except maybe:
- Mercedes G63: less cargo room, but more than double the price with ADMs.
- BMW X5M: I owned this prior and I loved it. More sporty, but can't do off road with huge brakes. No 3rd row option in the M variant. I was paying $400+/month in gas. Also more expensive.
- Audi RSQ8: Similar to X5M.
- Jeep 392: More off road worthy, less luxury, no 3rd row, basically folks aren't cross shopping these unless you're a weirdo like me.
- Range Rover SVR: Do they even make those anymore? I guess you could get a preowned one.

All of the above are significantly more expensive than the Rivian.



As others have mentioned, because of its "skateboard" design, it will ride almost exactly like a body on frame truck/SUV. And if you have owned any, they drive....like a truck. You just have to accept that. My X5M was much more comfortable.

That said, the R1T is well known to be a better riding vehicle, likely due to its much longer wheelbase.



I can agree that the HVAC system in the Rivian is definitely quirky. You have to have it on Auto for it to "make sense". It seems to compare your temperature setting with the outside temp to decide if you want hot or cold air. I've learned to deal with it, plus I live in SoCal where the temperature is pretty steady, so I don't mind as much. But I get it.

I learned if you turn on the 3rd row, it circulates the air a little better to get the 2nd row more comfortable faster.



Definitely quirky. But I've been lucky that nothing really bad has happened. Only small things like my steering wheel being full forward when I get in the car in the morning. Or the 15 second podcast skip sometimes being 15 seconds and sometimes not.



I can't agree with this one. It is my understanding, it is one of the largest 3rd rows in the segment. I think the Palisade/Telluride is the other?

You can't compare this to a full sized Denali.

I've had a rear facing child seat in the second row for the first 2 years and it was fine. I had it behind the passenger side (my wife is about 5'7") and there was plenty of room for the seat and her in the front. I had the seat on the passenger side to allow for the 60% folding of the 2nd row on the driver's side.

I don't use the 3rd row often, but yes I can agree that it is difficult to get back up. I often have to help my wife heave it back up. Personally I don't mind, but I get it. I prefer not to have electronic components actuating it, as it is something that can break later.



I agree. I had a Tesla Model S prior to the Rivian and the Autopilot/self drive was miles better. That being said, I never used it. I prefer driving on my own so after a mile or two, I just cancel it. Same with the Rivian.

I know some folks use it all the time, so I can understand. As a Gen1 owner, I don't anticipate much improvement here. But again, I'm lucky I don't mind since I don't use it.



Ehh, see my above comments.

Well said. You hit the nail on the head. But I do think my X5M actually rode worse than my R1S. Nobody wanted to ride in that.

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[2kwik4u]

Since the key fob became a thing I always had a key in my wallet as a backup…

So, there's my point. You carry something as a backup due to trust issues. Except the Rivian makes you carry two things, and those two things only grant permission to unlock not a means to actually physically unlock.

Hell, my wifes Nissan Rogue has a fob with a built in key. battery dies in the fob or the vehicle, use the key to turn a mechanical cylinder and you have physical access to the vehicle.

And this comment of " that detestable, hideous ICE key fob, no way I would ever carry that garbage around. PAAK only. " from @bigsky is a hot take I see a lot. I just can NOT wrap my head around the fob being any of those adjectives. Guess I'm just not evolved enough to get it.

 

[2kwik4u]

Rivan isn't the greatest thing to ever happen to the automotive industry, but it is better than Tesla.

Now there's a hot take I can get behind.

 

[mkhuffman]

What is completely frustrating about this thread (to me) is there are solutions to address most of the issues reported in the OP., but almost nobody is offering help. Instead, it is a bitch session and arguments over who's opinion is correct or not.

I like this forum mostly because there are people here who have ideas about how to resolve issues with my truck, and ideas for how to make it better. Is the OP looking to improve the situation, or just complain?

The complaints in the OP are valid. Of course. Opinions are valid, even if wrong. And I am not saying the OP's opinions are wrong. If my wife drove my truck and experienced those issues, she would want to get rid of it. She has no patience for inconvenience. And that is fine. But I want to fix it. That is how I think. Don't complain if you can fix it. Again, that is me, not my wife.

Anyway, here are some fixes to try if the OP really wants to improve the experience over the next two years:

1. Replace your phones with the newest models. Maybe that already has been done, but maybe not. New phones will likely have a stronger Bluetooth signal and connect better with the truck. Check the permissions set for the app on the PaaK. Make sure there are zero restrictions on the app. It must have all permissions allowed (location, battery, etc.). If the phone is putting the app to sleep, for example, PaaK will fail. And don't put your phone in your back pocket when walking up to the truck. It needs to be in a front pocket or in your hand.

2. Get 20" wheels with the OEM Goodyear all season tires. EPA range will be impacted by 4% (according to Rivian) but the larger sidewalls will improve ride comfort. Make sure the suspension is forced to stay in Standard all the time. Low is great for cornering and for higher speed efficiency, but it is not the most comfortable setting. Try changing the suspension setting from Soft to the middle one. Suspension comfort is definitely a personal preference, and maybe you will like Firm or the middle setting better. Soft might be too wallowly.

3. Put a cover over the glass roof. This will help in the Atlanta heat for sure. If you can find an insulated one, use that. I have one in my truck, but it is not insulated. Still, it helps even though I also have the glass that can be shaded. Shade the glass and add the cover. You could also try putting some reflective PPF on the glass roof to reflect more of the sun. Do that along with the cover and I bet the AC will work a lot better.

4. It is a PIA but just get in the habit of rebooting the truck after an OTA update. In fact, when you have something weird going on, and when the wife and kids are not waiting for you, just do a reboot. It takes five minutes. It really is just a small PIA, and I have found it can fix a lot of the weird stuff. Rivian has added the reboot option to the Service menu now, so you don't need to set the hazards (the hazards going off after a reboot really annoyed me).

5. Be patient with the self-driving capability. Rivian has made a lot of improvements since shifting to their in-house sensor system, but it just went live a few months ago. I expect it will get a lot, and I mean a lot, better in the next 6-12 months. Will they release "FSD" before the end of this year like RJ promised? I am very skeptical, but they are supposed to announce something on December 11 so maybe it is coming s00n?

As for the space and car seat issues, I don't have any suggestions to offer. Maybe instead of arguing with you, one of our other productive forum members will offer some ideas.

My hope is you learn to love your R1S like I love my R1T. No human produced thing is perfect, and my truck will never be perfect. But holy crap it is good. Very good. My favorite vehicle ever for sure.

 

[ebellinder2]

Model Y is definitely in the top 10 mid-sized electric SUVs in terms of price/performance/features and it is the only one that communicates so clearly that personal "I'm not necessarily a fascist but I definitely like to affiliate myself with them" brand identity.


Looks like it is official: Model Y has the worst defect rate of any vehicle every recorded in the past decade.

TÜV has just published its 2026 reliability report, and it included a thorough assessment of electric vehicles for the first time. Echoing concerns that rental car companies and fleet companies have shared in past, TÜV found that the Tesla Model Y had shockingly bad reliability — the worst in the industry in a decade. It had a 17.3% defect rate for cars 2–3 years old, the worst TÜV recorded in the auto industry in 10 years.

https://cleantechnica.com/2025/12/0...-worst-reliability-of-2022-2023-models-yikes/'

 

[ebellinder2]

Model Y is definitely in the top 10 mid-sized electric SUVs in terms of price/performance/features and it is the only one that communicates so clearly that personal "I'm not necessarily a fascist but I definitely like to affiliate myself with them" brand identity.


Looks like it is official: Model Y has the worst defect rate of any vehicle every recorded in the past decade.

TÜV has just published its 2026 reliability report, and it included a thorough assessment of electric vehicles for the first time. Echoing concerns that rental car companies and fleet companies have shared in past, TÜV found that the Tesla Model Y had shockingly bad reliability — the worst in the industry in a decade. It had a 17.3% defect rate for cars 2–3 years old, the worst TÜV recorded in the auto industry in 10 years.

https://cleantechnica.com/2025/12/0...-worst-reliability-of-2022-2023-models-yikes/'

I would not put much into rental companies reliability reports. Second hand experience with two family members that rented Teslas from Hertz. First rental had 20% charge with no instructions to renter as to what to do. Second family member rented a Tesla in New Mexico and after driving for a day with his family we learned he believed he rented one without air conditioning. I contacted him and explained the controls and that all Teslas have AC. So in my opinion Hertz did not understand how to market a Tesla and how to properly instruct drivers on the vehicles operation. This caused them to dump the Teslas do to numerous customer complaints. Another example I rented a car from Enterprize a Kia Niro. Sales person handed me a key fob and was ready to leave when I stopped him to figure out how I start the vehicle. Good thing I am an experienced EV owner for the other necessary issue such as charging and regen settings.

 

[hudesigns]

I think we need to focus on R1S gen2 here. These are issues specifically related to this vehicle, not gen1 especially not R1T!

I have had almost identical experience with OP. Software latency and suspension behavior are two huge issues, not to mention that bad audio sound! I have driven F150 (not lightning) you feel enormous cabin space and yet very much solid, in control and buttery smooth driving experience.

 

[mkhuffman]

I think we need to focus on R1S gen2 here. These are issues specifically related to this vehicle, not gen1 especially not R1T!

I have had almost identical experience with OP. Software latency and suspension behavior are two huge issues, not to mention that bad audio sound! I have driven F150 (not lightning) you feel enormous cabin space and yet very much solid, in control and buttery smooth driving experience.

The lack of bass is due to the front speakers wired out of phase with the rear speakers. It baffles my mind they did it that way. Unfortunately the fix isn't easy.

The easiest fix is adding a subwoofer so that the sub's output overwhelms the bass in the front speakers. It works and those who have added a subwoofer are very happy with the results. You can probably find a shop that will do it if you don't want to take the job yourself. My guess it will take a newbie all day on a Saturday to get it done.

 

[ATLRivvy]

What is completely frustrating about this thread (to me) is there are solutions to address most of the issues reported in the OP., but almost nobody is offering help. Instead, it is a bitch session and arguments over who's opinion is correct or not.

I like this forum mostly because there are people here who have ideas about how to resolve issues with my truck, and ideas for how to make it better. Is the OP looking to improve the situation, or just complain?

The complaints in the OP are valid. Of course. Opinions are valid, even if wrong. And I am not saying the OP's opinions are wrong. If my wife drove my truck and experienced those issues, she would want to get rid of it. She has no patience for inconvenience. And that is fine. But I want to fix it. That is how I think. Don't complain if you can fix it. Again, that is me, not my wife.

Anyway, here are some fixes to try if the OP really wants to improve the experience over the next two years:

1. Replace your phones with the newest models. Maybe that already has been done, but maybe not. New phones will likely have a stronger Bluetooth signal and connect better with the truck. Check the permissions set for the app on the PaaK. Make sure there are zero restrictions on the app. It must have all permissions allowed (location, battery, etc.). If the phone is putting the app to sleep, for example, PaaK will fail. And don't put your phone in your back pocket when walking up to the truck. It needs to be in a front pocket or in your hand.

2. Get 20" wheels with the OEM Goodyear all season tires. EPA range will be impacted by 4% (according to Rivian) but the larger sidewalls will improve ride comfort. Make sure the suspension is forced to stay in Standard all the time. Low is great for cornering and for higher speed efficiency, but it is not the most comfortable setting. Try changing the suspension setting from Soft to the middle one. Suspension comfort is definitely a personal preference, and maybe you will like Firm or the middle setting better. Soft might be too wallowly.

3. Put a cover over the glass roof. This will help in the Atlanta heat for sure. If you can find an insulated one, use that. I have one in my truck, but it is not insulated. Still, it helps even though I also have the glass that can be shaded. Shade the glass and add the cover. You could also try putting some reflective PPF on the glass roof to reflect more of the sun. Do that along with the cover and I bet the AC will work a lot better.

4. It is a PIA but just get in the habit of rebooting the truck after an OTA update. In fact, when you have something weird going on, and when the wife and kids are not waiting for you, just do a reboot. It takes five minutes. It really is just a small PIA, and I have found it can fix a lot of the weird stuff. Rivian has added the reboot option to the Service menu now, so you don't need to set the hazards (the hazards going off after a reboot really annoyed me).

5. Be patient with the self-driving capability. Rivian has made a lot of improvements since shifting to their in-house sensor system, but it just went live a few months ago. I expect it will get a lot, and I mean a lot, better in the next 6-12 months. Will they release "FSD" before the end of this year like RJ promised? I am very skeptical, but they are supposed to announce something on December 11 so maybe it is coming s00n?

As for the space and car seat issues, I don't have any suggestions to offer. Maybe instead of arguing with you, one of our other productive forum members will offer some ideas.

My hope is you learn to love your R1S like I love my R1T. No human produced thing is perfect, and my truck will never be perfect. But holy crap it is good. Very good. My favorite vehicle ever for sure.

Really appreciate the constructive feedback. Fortunately I’m not a tech novice (I’m a tech investor for a living) so have done some of this already and can resolve software issues for a time. Issue is that they either reoccur or are replaced by new issues a couple months (and updates) later. I’ll switch ride height out of auto and see how much that helps. Glass cover is irrelevant - the hvac issues are a problem even at comfortable outdoor temps and I have another car with a glass roof sitting right next to it that handles the same situations without issue.

Ultimately - for me a car is first and foremost an appliance (not a hobby) but with a few cool things stacked on top. If it can’t provide appliance-like performance/reliability “out of the box” as a baseline then I just can’t place much value on the rest. This is part of why I leased this one (in addition to expected steep depreciation curve) instead of buying - I knew there were some risks. I value (pay a premium for) living near the things I visit/use regularly so we only put about 6-8K miles a year on the family car. Just not worth our time to need to do a bunch of tinkering to achieve decent baseline functionality

 

[CSPDune]

Ultimately - for me a car is first and foremost an appliance (not a hobby) but with a few cool things stacked on top. If it can’t provide appliance-like performance/reliability “out of the box” as a baseline then I just can’t place much value on the rest. This is part of why I leased this one (in addition to expected steep depreciation curve) instead of buying - I knew there were some risks. I value (pay a premium for) living near the things I visit/use regularly so we only put about 6-8K miles a year on the family car. Just not worth our time to need to do a bunch of tinkering to achieve decent baseline functionality

Agree with this completely. For a premium price you should get premium performance AND premium service, both of which are lacking. I was on board with everything, patient, willing to tinker and overlook issues, until I finally called for help and was pretty much told to deal with it or fix it myself. A real car company doesn’t do that. I leased for the same reasons listed and am happy I did.

 

[mkhuffman]

Really appreciate the constructive feedback. Fortunately I’m not a tech novice (I’m a tech investor for a living) so have done some of this already and can resolve software issues for a time. Issue is that they either reoccur or are replaced by new issues a couple months (and updates) later. I’ll switch ride height out of auto and see how much that helps. Glass cover is irrelevant - the hvac issues are a problem even at comfortable outdoor temps and I have another car with a glass roof sitting right next to it that handles the same situations without issue.

Ultimately - for me a car is first and foremost an appliance (not a hobby) but with a few cool things stacked on top. If it can’t provide appliance-like performance/reliability “out of the box” as a baseline then I just can’t place much value on the rest. This is part of why I leased this one (in addition to expected steep depreciation curve) instead of buying - I knew there were some risks. I value (pay a premium for) living near the things I visit/use regularly so we only put about 6-8K miles a year on the family car. Just not worth our time to need to do a bunch of tinkering to achieve decent baseline functionality

I am sure you know technology promises <> execution. These vehicles are "software defined" (I am starting to get sick of that term already, and yet it will be used for years) so the execution is very difficult. My Mach-e was Ford's first real attempt at matching what Tesla pioneered, and my first year MME was buggy to say the least.

I have never leased a vehicle before leasing my R1T. So I am on the same page with some of your reasons for leasing. My biggest concern was (and still is) company viability - will they be around to fix my truck when it breaks? The original Scout Motors reminds me a lot of Rivian. Their finances look reasonable, so I think they have a good shot of making it, but it is definitely a risky place they are in right now.

I don't know which issue is the one that bothers you the most, but I suspect ride quality is up there. Replacing the wheels is very easy, and you can revert it back easily when returning the truck at the end of the lease. I know you don't want to hassle with it, but I would give that a shot anyway.

If I were in your situation, and looked at this as appliance, I would not want to do anything to fix it either. But I might try to fix the biggest issue since you do have to live with it for two more years. Well, I guess you don't. You can buy out the lease and then sell it or trade it in.

 

[hudesigns]

The lack of bass is due to the front speakers wired out of phase with the rear speakers. It baffles my mind they did it that way. Unfortunately the fix isn't easy.

The easiest fix is adding a subwoofer so that the sub's output overwhelms the bass in the front speakers. It works and those who have added a subwoofer are very happy with the results. You can probably find a shop that will do it if you don't want to take the job yourself. My guess it will take a newbie all day on a Saturday to get it done.

Yes I did hear discussion about phase issues. But my listening experience does point to other worse problems. It seems to me between 500hz to 3000hz or so frequency band there is a “horn” like resonance sound, which indicates speakers are not tuned correctly against cabin space to eliminate that resonance. So common remedy is using equalization to raise 5k to 15k band to drown out resonance but the result is whole system becomes even more high pitched and shrieky. This is only my personal experience which relates also to the type of music I enjoy, mostly classical. I also tried using very front sound to eliminate back speakers phasing interference but doesn’t improve anything. Anyway it’ll be very interesting to see what fixing phase can do if someone will figure it out someday.

 

[SwampNut]

Rivan isn't the greatest thing to ever happen to the automotive industry, but it is better than Tesla.

Define "better."

My Rivian, and seemingly most, have vastly more problems that require service. I've had more repairs in 15k miles than I had in 40k on the Tesla, by far.

ADAS--obviously objectively far better on the Tesla, that's an easy one.

Luxury? Rivian wins of course, easily. But it's a $105k vehicle against a $40k vehicle...no comparison.

Charging options--Tesla obviously wins, that's just a math fact of having more chargers that are Tesla only.

Charging speed--my Tesla was consistently faster at the same locations.

I do like the Rivian UI a bit better, other than it seems to have more bugs/reboots. Not a big deal.

So...I want to hear what is better without involving some political shit about their Glorious Leader.

 

[carsly]

Appreciate the insights and experiences. I'm nine months into my Gen 2 R1S Dual Large and while it's far from perfect, it's never been in the shop.

Sure, there are a lot of software gremlins - sometimes the blind spot cameras won't turn on at all or after a lengthy 5-10 second delay at which point on the highway I've already completed a lane change, the doors might not unlock for 5-10 seconds while I stand literally next to the vehicle pushing the handle and highway assist is a dangerous joke - but it's been comfortable and spacious and a heck of a lot nicer to use and live with than any comparable three-row EV of which there are precious few. Low speed (0-5mph) tuning is just bad, non-progressive throttle and braking inputs at those speeds mean I often have to move more quickly to move smoothly. Highway ruts and filled potholes mean white knuckling the steering wheel since the R1S has a tendency to jump, almost out of the lane as dampening those sudden movements isn't very good at the mandated low ride height on highways, esp. on my OEM 22" sport brights. Efficiency has also been deplorable, lifetime average under 2 mi/kwh with an average speed of 25mph since it's mostly used around town. No DCFC to speak of (no need).

It's a solid first effort from a new company, a solid 70-75 on a hundred point scale, but don't expect more than that. Still prefer it to a Volvo EX90, Model X 6/7 seater (third row is too small) and the Hyundai/KIA twins which are more minivan-like. Should the capabilities be higher and match more closely to the marketing hype? Absolutely. But Rivian's branding is still more aspirational than achievable in the real-world IMHO.

For longer trips, foul weather, etc. we still always take our 2023 Land Rover Defender on 20" all terrains. That thing is a comfortable beast under all conditions even though fuel economy isn't the best. Charging/refueling costs are basically the same.

 

[superfly_snook]

I also notice most of the things in this 12-month review - I am about 30 months in myself. To me it seems that a “recommend or not-recommend” should take into account who you’re talking to. If someone is coming from a BMW X5 used for freeway commuting and weekend trips to soccer games I would talk about my Rivian experience differently than someone coming from a 4Runner using it for camping, skiing etc. Tons of people buy 4Runners in full off road guise with no intention to ever take them off road - do they all go to 4Runner forums and complain about the crappy mileage, poor turning radius, ancient technology and so on? Hopefully they are too busy doing fun things out in nature with their $70k toy.

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