Rivian R1S.

The Gavler Review.

Rivian R1S Review: The Only 3-Row EV With Real Off-Road Credentials

The Rivian R1S sits at number one on our Best Electric 3-Row SUVs list with an 8.8, and it earns that spot by refusing to be just a school-run vehicle with three rows bolted on. Quad-motor AWD with independent torque vectoring at each wheel, a genuine tank-turn party trick, and 300-plus miles of range mean this is the only electric 3-row that can do trailhead access and carpool duty in the same week without compromise on either job. Buy it if you actually use an SUV's capability, not just its seating chart. Skip it if the third row needs to fit adults on a regular basis or the $75,900 starting price is a stretch — the Kia EV9 is the honest alternative on both counts.

What it actually is

The R1S takes the formula that made the Rivian R1T a genuine adventure vehicle and wraps it in a three-row SUV body that seats seven. The quad-motor AWD system puts an independent motor at each wheel, producing 1,025 horsepower and a 2.5-second 0-60 in the top configuration — numbers that would be startling in a two-row sports sedan, let alone a family SUV with a fold-flat third row. Air suspension adjusts ride height between highway-efficient lowering and serious ground clearance for trail access, and the same independent-motor architecture that powers the R1T's tank turn is present here too.

Range lands at 300-plus miles, and every 2026 model ships with a NACS port for direct Tesla Supercharger access — a meaningful convenience for a vehicle families will actually take on road trips. At $75,900, it's priced well above most of the 3-row EV field, and the honest framing is that you're paying for genuine off-road capability most 3-row SUV buyers will never fully use, not for the seating itself.

In use

Car and Driver's assessment cuts straight to what separates the R1S from the rest of the 3-row EV field: "The only electric 3-row with genuine off-road credentials." That's a meaningful distinction in a category where most "adventure-styled" SUVs are adventure-styled and nothing more. The quad-motor system's independent torque vectoring isn't a marketing bullet point — it enables real trail behavior, including the tank turn that pivots the vehicle in place at low speed, a trick that has genuine utility in tight trailhead parking and off-camber maneuvering, not just novelty value.

On the family-use side, Edmunds' take on the 2026 refresh notes the powertrain gains carried over from the R1T: "The 2026 Quad Motor is quicker and more powerful than ever." That performance headroom translates into confident merging and passing with a full third row of passengers and cargo loaded — a scenario where underpowered 3-row SUVs, electric or otherwise, tend to feel strained. Outside Magazine frames the R1S's broader appeal well: it "proves you don't have to sacrifice adventure for electrification," which is exactly the positioning that separates it from more conventionally family-focused electric 3-rows.

The community response backs this up in a specific way — InsideEVs notes that "strong owner loyalty and enthusiasm define the R1S community," and Gavler's own data shows a community rating of 91 against an expert score of 88, an unusually inverted gap that suggests owners who commit to the R1S end up loving it more than critics predicted on paper.

Where it shines

• Off-road capability that's actually real. Quad-motor torque vectoring, a genuine tank turn, and adjustable air suspension mean the "adventure SUV" branding is backed by hardware, not just styling — a rarity in the 3-row EV segment.
• Performance headroom most 3-rows don't have. A 2.5-second 0-60 in a seven-seat SUV changes how confident merging, passing, and towing feel with a full load, not just how quick a spec sheet reads.
• Owner loyalty that shows up in the data. A 91 community rating against an 88 expert score is the kind of gap that signals genuine day-to-day satisfaction beyond what test-drive reviewers can measure in a week.

The trade-offs — who should skip it

This is the most capable 3-row EV on the market, not the most practical one for every family, and the honest reasons to look elsewhere are specific:

• You need the third row to genuinely fit adults. Gavler's scoreNote is direct about this: third-row space is limited for adults. It's fine for kids on any trip and adults on short ones, but if adult-friendly third-row seating is a hard requirement, this isn't the vehicle built for it.
• Rivian's price premium is a real budget concern. At $75,900 to start, the R1S sits nearly $20,000 above the Kia EV9's $56,395 starting price for broadly comparable seating capacity.
• Rivian's financial health gives you pause. As with the R1T, prospective buyers weighing a six-figure family vehicle purchase should factor in Rivian's company trajectory alongside the vehicle itself.

How it compares

Within its own list, the R1S's closest rival sits directly behind it. The Kia EV9 at number two undercuts the R1S by nearly $20,000, charges 10-80 percent in 24 minutes on 800V architecture, and — critically for family buyers — fits actual adults in its third row. What it gives up is the R1S's off-road pedigree and quad-motor performance ceiling. The Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV takes a third approach entirely, prioritizing cabin refinement and the 56-inch MBUX Hyperscreen over both capability and value.

It's also worth noting the R1S shares its platform DNA with the Rivian R1T, Gavler's number-one pick on the Best Electric Trucks list — the same quad-motor architecture, gear-tunnel engineering lineage, and off-road philosophy carry over between the two, just wrapped in a three-row body instead of a bed.

The Gavler verdict

An 8.8, reflecting genuine capability that most 3-row EV buyers will admire even if they don't use all of it. The Rivian R1S is the electric 3-row for families who actually use their SUV beyond the school parking lot — the off-road capability is real, the range means you reach trailheads without charger detours, and the owner enthusiasm behind it is unusually strong. The third row is tight for adults and the price is a genuine premium, but for buyers who want capability first and are willing to pay for it, nothing else in the segment offers this combination.

Common Questions

Is the Rivian R1S worth it in 2026?

For families who actually use an SUV beyond school drop-off, yes. It ranks first on Gavler's Best Electric 3-Row SUVs list with an 8.8, built on genuine quad-motor off-road capability that no other 3-row EV offers. The honest caveats are the third row, which is tight for adults, and the $75,900 starting price, which sits well above family-focused rivals like the Kia EV9.

Rivian R1S or Kia EV9?

Buy the R1S if off-road capability and quad-motor performance matter to you and the price premium is acceptable. Buy the EV9 if you want a genuinely spacious third row that fits adults, 800V charging that hits 10-80 percent in 24 minutes, and a starting price nearly $20,000 lower. The R1S wins on capability and driving excitement; the EV9 wins on family practicality and value.

Can the third row of the Rivian R1S fit adults?

It's usable, not spacious. Gavler's data and the wider consensus agree the third row comfortably fits kids on any trip and adults on short ones, but it's tighter than dedicated family-first 3-rows like the Kia EV9. If adult-friendly third-row space for regular use is the deciding factor, cross-shop the EV9 before committing to the R1S.

How capable is the Rivian R1S off-road, really?

Genuinely capable, not marketing theater. Quad-motor AWD gives each wheel independent torque control, enabling a tank turn that pivots the vehicle in place, and air suspension raises ground clearance for trail access when needed. Car and Driver has called it the only electric 3-row SUV with real off-road credentials, and that reputation is backed by actual owner use, not just spec-sheet claims.