Starts at $74,900
FAST FACTS
MotorDonkey's proprietary vehicle data identifies every significant version of each model so that you can compare and decide. Ordered by price from low to high, here are the versions of the 2024 Rivian R1S that you need to be aware of, along with our expert analysis and recommendations.
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Right out of the box, the entry-level Rivian R1S Dual Standard is a 533-hp monster (0-60 in 4.5 seconds) with respectable range (270 miles).
Adding the Standard+ battery pack bumps up the EPA-estimated range to a healthy 315 miles, but you're pushing the $80k threshold for federal EV tax credits, in case that's important to you.
The Dual Large is the sweet spot for many Rivian fans, delivering a formidable 352 miles of range on a full charge without straying too far from the R1S's starting price. It's our pick as well. If you can have all that range along with 533 horsepower, three rows of seating and mega off-road capability for $84k, we'd say that's a fantastic deal. The Large pack has a slightly more generous warranty, too, in case you're planning to roll up 150k miles over the next eight years.
As with the R1T pickup version of this powertrain, we don't see the value in the R1S Quad Large, even though it does add value in the form of extended warranty coverage. Is it the fastest R1S variant? Technically, yes, but even the base R1S is super fast for an SUV, and the quad-motor setup limits your range to 321 miles. Using the same Large battery pack, the dual-motor R1S gives you 352 miles of range for $8k less. We'd be inclined to add the Performance Upgrade ($5k) to that R1S Dual Large configuration if we wanted more speed — you get 665 hp and 829 lb-ft of torque that way, and the EPA range estimate is unaffected.
Well, how much are another 48 miles of range worth to you? Rivian wants to charge you $10k, which seems like quite a lot on a per-mile basis when you're starting at a lofty 352 miles (that's the range of the one-rung-down R1S Dual Large). But there's something psychologically comforting about a 400-mile EV, and it's not just in your head — that's a difference-maker on long trips in particular. Maybe you want all the miles you can get, in which case the extra 10 grand might seem like a bargain.
Publisher and Donkey-in-Chief
Josh has been reviewing cars professionally since joining Edmunds.com fresh out of grad school in 2008, personally driving most new cars on the market every year since. He also served as the project manager for Edmunds' expert vehicle rankings from their inception in 2018, building the product out from the back end to the front end. Josh is a card-carrying member of the Motor Press Guild and a lifelong car nut who has tested, compared and critiqued a ridiculous number of cars in his career.
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