Questions: Gen 1 R1T ---> Gen 2 R1S

[yizzung]

I just pulled the trigger. Had the truck for just over two years. Only 14K miles. No major issues. Obviously a loyal Rivian owner...

Just decided that R1S would be better for the dog, especially if we ever needed to haul extra humans around. Didn't really use the bed in ways that couldn't be easily replicated in an SUV (e.g. storing luggage). We also have a shallow garage, so 16" of extra space is meaningful.

Paid cash for the R1T but plan to lease the R1S. (I basically "paid" about $1,000/month in depreciation for the R1T, so the lease won't feel materially different from a financial perspective.) Trade in value was quite good + $7,500 lease credit + state EV credit kinda made it a no-brainer.

The Gen 2 upgrade wasn't terribly motivating. I don't care about autonomous driving and will likely never use it. Better cameras? Cool, I guess. Heat pump? We'll see if I detect any difference. Better organization in the frunk is cool. A functional phone charger is cool. Configurable interior lights are fine.

Old config to new:

R1T : R1S
Gen 1 : Gen 2
El Cap : Glacier White
Forrest Green : Ocean Coast
Quad : Dual
Large : Large
21" wheels (meh) : 22" Range wheels (meh)
Meridian : Premium Audio
Camp speaker : drawer
Air compressor : No air compressor

Some questions for the group from an experienced Rivian Gen 1 R1T owner and Gen 2 R1S noob:

1. Dog storage? I had to lift one dog into the back seats of the R1T. The younger dog jumped in ok. She's heavy... What do you like for getting dogs into the rear of the R1S and getting them out? Ramps? Steps? Dog crane?
2. How is the A/C in the very back of the R1S? My dogs frequently got as close as possible to the vents in the R1T. (I think they were exaggerating.) Does it get frosty back there or will dogs complain more?
3. Window tint? The rear glass seems pretty dark in the R1S. Have folks been tinting above and beyond factory? I thought about doing it in the R1T and just never got around to it. I kick myself every August...
4. Sunroof dimensions? I know the R1S has two sunroofs but is the front sunroof the same dimensions as the R1T sunroof? (I have a pop-in reflective shield for the R1T sunroof, so wondering if it'll fit the R1S.
5. Security? How is everyone covering up their valuables? Seems like the R1S Cargo Cover is optional for $250. (Surprised this isn't standard.) Do folks like this one or prefer an after-market option?
6. Bike transport? I'm guessing the tow hitch rack is the best option.
7. Ski transport? Luckily I have the cargo bars from my R1T. Can I get my skis all the way to the roof of the R1S? We'll see. Can't put them in the back due to the dog occupying that space.
8. Winter tires? The 21s on the R1T actually served me just fine through two winters in California and Colorado. I drove through 1.5' of fresh Tahoe snow without issues. But this will be my first time on 22s, so I think I will finally buy a set of 20" winter wheels and tires. Thankfully seem to be plenty of options now (compared to when I bought my R1T). Any recos are appreciated. Tirerack says there are no snow tire/wheel combos available for the R1S, but maybe I have to call.

I'm planning to keep/reuse my sunshade (and side window reflectors), cargo bars, Yakima ski rack, all-weather mats, bag of offroad stuff (never used), and my first aid kit (although I think they are included now). Already own a Rivian home charger and just got my tesla converter in the mail.

Guess I won't need the gear guard cables -- seems like they could have included the sockets for these in the R1S to lock up valuable things that are stowed in the back but if the thieves have already smashed the window, I guess the cables aren't going to slow them down much further. I will reluctantly hand over the camp speaker, although I only used it once.

Any other tips or tricks? (Going to x-post on reddit so sorry if you're seeing this in both places...)

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[swaggner]

I’m in a similar position - R1T for 19 months but considering a gen 2 R1S since I don’t use the bed as often.

I’d love to hear a comparison once you’ve had some time in the R1S to assess ride, functionality, etc.

As an aside, EV Sportline is now offering steelies with snow tires (I’m not affiliated but was looking recently for myself since I’m on 22s).

 

[jambaman84]

I was told by Riviantrk on X that Rivian will soon start an upgrade incentive for gen1 owners to upgrade to gen2 .. No word of when it will happen or what it actually will look like.
I am waiting for that to see if I should upgrade.

 

[yizzung]

I’m in a similar position - R1T for 19 months but considering a gen 2 R1S since I don’t use the bed as often.

I’d love to hear a comparison once you’ve had some time in the R1S to assess ride, functionality, etc.

As an aside, EV Sportline is now offering steelies with snow tires (I’m not affiliated but was looking recently for myself since I’m on 22s).

I read all the complaints about ride quality but it seems like they got quieter with recent OTA updates. We'll see. I'm looking forward to a tighter turn radius, as it's not easy to get into my garage via alley...

I will look into those steelies. I've seen others who bought questionable versions on Amazon with suspect load capacity. Presumably these are better, if not super expensive.

 

[Eric9610]

Ride Quality will never be = in an R1S due to the wheelbase being so much smaller.

 

[BrianB]

I just traded an F-150 for the 2025 R1S, so can relate to the reasons you’re going with an SUV and am happy with my R1S.

3rd row AC is fine in Houston in July. I find rear passengers ask me to bump up the air speed manually, then in 20 minutes ask me to turn it down. I see no need for darker window tint.

I use my car blanket or the spare tire storage compartment to deter thieves, rather than cargo covers.

Not sure if “premium audio” is the base or the $1700 upgrade. If you’ve had a car with a subwoofer, the gen 2 base audio is really lacking. Much worse than the base audio on the gen 1 R1T I test drive.

If you want to get more hyped for a gen 2, listen to RJ’s recent podcasts where he talks about the compute headroom for feature upgrades on Gen 2.

Hope you enjoy your R1S.

 

[yizzung]

I just traded an F-150 for the 2025 R1S, so can relate to the reasons you’re going with an SUV and am happy with my R1S.

3rd row AC is fine in Houston in July. I find rear passengers ask me to bump up the air speed manually, then in 20 minutes ask me to turn it down. I see no need for darker window tint.

I use my car blanket or the spare tire storage compartment to deter thieves, rather than cargo covers.

Not sure if “premium audio” is the base or the $1700 upgrade. If you’ve had a car with a subwoofer, the gen 2 base audio is really lacking. Much worse than the base audio on the gen 1 R1T I test drive.

If you want to get more hyped for a gen 2, listen to RJ’s recent podcasts where he talks about the compute headroom for feature upgrades on Gen 2.

Hope you enjoy your R1S.

Thanks. Helpful. Yes, the premium audio is the upgrade. I actually like the Meridian audio in the R1T (although many bitch about it). My hope is that it wouldn’t be that big of a drop off. Just saw some post on here suggesting that EQ tweaks can help quite a bit. Guess I’ll find out.

I haven’t paid much attention but I’ll dig around for the RJ casts.

 

[MidnightRivian]

Thanks for staying loyal to the brand.

Coming from the R1T, you will love the new / revised suspension on the Gen 2. It will feel nice and refined like you're use to.

Your dog will appreciate all the extra space climate controlled space.

Please post some pictures of both of them when you get a chance.

 

[yizzung]

Ride Quality will never be

Thanks for staying loyal to the brand.

Coming from the R1T, you will love the new / revised suspension on the Gen 2. It will feel nice and refined like you're use to.

Your dog will appreciate all the extra space climate controlled space.

Please post some pictures of both of them when you get a chance.

We also have two reservations for the R2…

 

[chaynes745]

I just pulled the trigger. Had the truck for just over two years. Only 14K miles. No major issues. Obviously a loyal Rivian owner...

Just decided that R1S would be better for the dog, especially if we ever needed to haul extra humans around. Didn't really use the bed in ways that couldn't be easily replicated in an SUV (e.g. storing luggage). We also have a shallow garage, so 16" of extra space is meaningful.

Wondering if there is any update since getting the new Gen 2 R1S. I am in the same boat, currently have had my R1T since January 2023, but looking at the possibility of switching to a Gen 2 R1S for many of the same reasons; minimal use of bed, dog crate in back seat leaves no room for backseat passengers, etc. I have gone back and forth with trading up, but slight hesitation as I would be leaving my Quad Large and currently only have the option for Tri at most. Do you see any big impact going from your Quad to a Dual? Any other benefits/drawbacks from your switch?

I also will remain loyal to Rivian, having an R2 reservation from about a minute within launch.

 

[yizzung]

Wondering if there is any update since getting the new Gen 2 R1S. I am in the same boat, currently have had my R1T since January 2023, but looking at the possibility of switching to a Gen 2 R1S for many of the same reasons; minimal use of bed, dog crate in back seat leaves no room for backseat passengers, etc. I have gone back and forth with trading up, but slight hesitation as I would be leaving my Quad Large and currently only have the option for Tri at most. Do you see any big impact going from your Quad to a Dual? Any other benefits/drawbacks from your switch?

I also will remain loyal to Rivian, having an R2 reservation from about a minute within launch.

Just picked up on Saturday so still finding my way.

Posted a thread about the dog situation here: https://www.rivianforums.com/forum/threads/anyone-using-the-third-row-r1s-for-dog-transport.33235/

If I toss the dog in the very back, all our problems are solved. But I've gotten a little more conscious / paranoid about just having a free-roaming animal in the back (and becoming a projectile missile if we get in a crash).

As for the move from R1T Quad Gen1 to R1S Dual Gen2 -- still too early to have an opinion BUT, here's some early observations:

• The complaints online that portray Gen2 as a huge lemon seem overblown. (Just like Gen1 complaints from two years ago, complainers gotta complain.) Only now there are probably 10X the number of complainers, which is a net good thing...
• The sound system is blah. Much worse than the Meridian. Haven't futzed with the EQ but it's noticeably worse. Just sounds muddy.
• Everything in the UX is 5X snappier than it was in the Gen1. Wasn't anticipating that but the compute power is noticeable.
• Unpopular opinion -- the power "downgrade" is hardly noticeable. Granted, I'm not 22 years old. I only launched the R1T about 4-5 times (always to show someone else what it could do). I always drove in All-Purpose mode. Slowing from a 2.9 sec 0-60 to 4.5 sec experience makes very little difference to me. It's still quick as a cat and will have zero issues getting on the freeway. Rumor is that they may just software-enable performance upgrades in the future and I'm frankly not sure that I'd care. (I used to own a 911* and if I wanted a sports car, I'd just go buy another one.) I had all that power and was nervous about giving it up but turns out I rarely tapped into it, so why bother?
• My range is now closer to 400 miles on 100% charge. Big deal in the winter, heading uphill into the mountains.
• Others have covered this but the R1T generally seems to drive a little more comfortably due to longer wheel base, but parking it was a huge pain in the ass. The turning radius of the R1S is way better -- much easier in a grocery store parking lot and I no longer have to do a 14-point turn to get into my garage.

* Worth noting that a Dual would still hang tough with a 2023 Porsche 911 Carrera T 0-60 Time: 4.3 seconds

 

[chaynes745]

Just picked up on Saturday so still finding my way.

Posted a thread about the dog situation here: https://www.rivianforums.com/forum/threads/anyone-using-the-third-row-r1s-for-dog-transport.33235/

If I toss the dog in the very back, all our problems are solved. But I've gotten a little more conscious / paranoid about just having a free-roaming animal in the back (and becoming a projectile missile if we get in a crash).

As for the move from R1T Quad Gen1 to R1S Dual Gen2 -- still too early to have an opinion BUT, here's some early observations:

• The complaints online that portray Gen2 as a huge lemon seem overblown. (Just like Gen1 complaints from two years ago, complainers gotta complain.) Only now there are probably 10X the number of complainers, which is a net good thing...
• The sound system is blah. Much worse than the Meridian. Haven't futzed with the EQ but it's noticeably worse. Just sounds muddy.
• Everything in the UX is 5X snappier than it was in the Gen1. Wasn't anticipating that but the compute power is noticeable.
• Unpopular opinion -- the power "downgrade" is hardly noticeable. Granted, I'm not 22 years old. I only launched the R1T about 4-5 times (always to show someone else what it could do). I always drove in All-Purpose mode. Slowing from a 2.9 sec 0-60 to 4.5 sec experience makes very little difference to me. It's still quick as a cat and will have zero issues getting on the freeway. Rumor is that they may just software-enable performance upgrades in the future and I'm frankly not sure that I'd care. (I used to own a 911* and if I wanted a sports car, I'd just go buy another one.) I had all that power and was nervous about giving it up but turns out I rarely tapped into it, so why bother?
• My range is now closer to 400 miles on 100% charge. Big deal in the winter, heading uphill into the mountains.
• Others have covered this but the R1T generally seems to drive a little more comfortably due to longer wheel base, but parking it was a huge pain in the ass. The turning radius of the R1S is way better -- much easier in a grocery store parking lot and I no longer have to do a 14-point turn to get into my garage.

* Worth noting that a Dual would still hang tough with a 2023 Porsche 911 Carrera T 0-60 Time: 4.3 seconds

Thank you for the extra information. Would love to hear more feedback as you play with the new Gen 2 a little more.

Being on the younger side (early 30's) I still get the appeal of playing with launch occasionally, but also know that I am not a racecar driver and don't partake in the street racing as much as I have in the past. I have also experienced the beauty of Porshe, with my spouse previously owning a 2023 Taycan 4S, and my MIL having previously owning two separate Taycan Turbo S's. Launch in the Taycan is quite an adventure, but I also enjoy the Launch in my R1T.

For me, the biggest advantage would be the ability to allow my dog a little more room, while also allowing the use of a backseat for the very occasional passenger. My pup being a 65+ lb Golden Doodle, he fills up his current crate a little too much, but I am limited to the currently available space between the drivers seat and the back seat area.

Ultimately, I think the big thing would come down to cost and efficacy of switching from current R1T to Gen 2 R1S. Currently, I do have the go ahead from the spouse, so just have to make my own decision for what would be the best option.

 

[mpshizzle]

Thank you for the extra information. Would love to hear more feedback as you play with the new Gen 2 a little more.

Being on the younger side (early 30's) I still get the appeal of playing with launch occasionally, but also know that I am not a racecar driver and don't partake in the street racing as much as I have in the past. I have also experienced the beauty of Porshe, with my spouse previously owning a 2023 Taycan 4S, and my MIL having previously owning two separate Taycan Turbo S's. Launch in the Taycan is quite an adventure, but I also enjoy the Launch in my R1T.

For me, the biggest advantage would be the ability to allow my dog a little more room, while also allowing the use of a backseat for the very occasional passenger. My pup being a 65+ lb Golden Doodle, he fills up his current crate a little too much, but I am limited to the currently available space between the drivers seat and the back seat area.

Ultimately, I think the big thing would come down to cost and efficacy of switching from current R1T to Gen 2 R1S. Currently, I do have the go ahead from the spouse, so just have to make my own decision for what would be the best option.

Sounds like the R1S would do you well for your situation. Just yesterday I had a liner installed for my dog. It's designed to fit in the cargo area with the 3rd row folded down.Plenty big to nicely protect the trim, and TONS of space for the dog. Plus he gets dedicated air vents back there.

I had a quad loaner for a while and got used to the power. It was nice. But my dual still moves plenty well. The range (I got Max pack) is really impressing me. MUCH better than the quad/large. All that said, I will likely be buying the performance upgrade once that becomes available.

 

[LL75]

Unless you are getting a Tri R1s, it is hard to compared the Quad to DM. Doesn't matter what gen it is.
I have both 2023 Quad R1s and recently got a 2024 DM R1T gen 1. I can't get used to the DM just yet. It definitely lack the "kick" factor of a Quad. The Enduro motors is louder as well than the Bosch. If I have to redo, I would get another Quad or Tri instead of a Dual. I may have to upgrade to performance for the DM when they are available.
The positive thing about the DM is the extra range. I get 3.4 mkw compared to 3.3 with the Quad. 351 miles vs 338 (conserve).

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