Catapulting from zero to 60 mph in a blink-of-an-eye 2.6 seconds in a three-row, family-friendly SUV has consequences.
Anything not stowed, tied-down or wedged-in tight will likely become a serious projectile. An airborne dachshund, a gym bag, loose change? Danger, Will Robinson.
So ponder wisely before engaging Launch Control in Rivian’s latest RS1 Quad with its insane 1,025 horsepower. Release the Kraken and reckon on over 1g of forward acceleration, blurred vision, and instant regret at having that deep-fried burrito and second mocha latte for breakfast.
While Rivian’s all-electric, box-on-wheels RS1 has been around since mid-2022, last year it got a mega power hike, going from 835 horseys to that mind-warping 1,025 hp.
Silly really. No one needs over a thousand horsepower in their SUV. Unless they’re competing in a stadium tractor-pull. Or robbing banks.
But boy is it fun. It’s Space Mountain, the Vomatron at Daytona Beach and Japan’s Do-Dodonpa coaster – zero-to-112 mph in 1.56 seconds – all rolled into one. For terrifying grandma or the neighborhood kids, nothing else comes close.
It’s what happens when you mount four industrial-grade electric motors – one for each wheel, hence the Quad badge – and juice them with a battery pack big enough to power a small city.
And, in case you’re curious, max range for the Rivian Quad is around 370 miles. Naturally significantly less with too many launch control shenanigans.
Thankfully you can get the RS1 in less caffeinated forms. There’s a dual-motor model with 533 hp priced at a competitive $78,885. Or step up to the tri-motor model with 665 hp, from $108,885. Our Evel Knievel RS1 Quad kicks off at a non-trivial $123,885.
As you might expect, the RS1 comes with enough technology to run the Artemis II rocket. Just consulting the owner’s manual requires a masters in astro-physics.
Want to adjust the front air vents, or angle of the door mirrors? This requires a distracting, eyes-off-the-road, multi-step swipe ‘n tap of the central 15.6-inch infotainment screen, and roll of steering wheel thumb-wheels. Ridiculous.
While the R1S’s shape was first revealed in 2018, it has definitely stood the test of time. This is still a great-looking SUV, with that boxy, minimalist design, distinctive horizontal front LED light bar and suppository-shaped headlights. Cool-looking 22-inch alloys and turquoise brake covers add to the visual drama.
Unless you’re the height of an NBA all-star, climbing in is like scaling Everest. If an SUV needed deployable, or just plain regular, running boards it’s this.
But once inside, this is a terrific space. Yes, very minimalist in a Volvo-slash-Scan Design way, but slathered with lovely premium materials. Not sure about the weird L.L. Bean-style plaid floor mats, or the looks-like-Fablon wood on the dash. But the quality, and fit and finish is excellent.
Here there’s space for seven in three rows, though as typical, the third row is best suited to kids. But the middle-row bench has lots of space for knees and terrific headroom. You’ll love the electro-chromic roof glass that goes from clear to opaque at the touch of another screen control.
As a load-carrier, the Rivian is a star. At the rear, there’s a Range Rover-style split tailgate that’s perfect for tailgating. Keep the third row in place and you have 18 cubic feet of space.
Drop the second row bench and it soars to 91 cubic feet. And the party piece is the forward “frunk” that adds another 10 cu. ft.
Out on the road, the R1S Quad feels impressively agile and athletic. Active air suspension quells any body roll, and all-wheel drive, plus a multitude of customizable steering and suspension characteristics through the on-screen RAD – short for Rivian Adventure Department – software, makes it definitely fun to drive, especially offroad.
These days there’s no shortage of crazy-fast, all-electric SUVs, many with 1,000-plus horsepower. Porsche’s new Cayenne Turbo Electric packs up to 1,139 hp, while Lucid’s new Gravity Dream Edition delivers 1,070 hp. Add to these the benchmark Tesla Model X Plaid with 1,020 hp.
None, however, have the rock-crawling, mud-plugging, adventure-seeking offroad capabilities of the Rivian Quad. Think of it as four times the fun.
