Have you noticed that most people tend to hate on Rivian a lot less than they do Lucid? Granted, trying to challenge Tesla’s popularity is a tall order, but I’m pretty sure this discrepancy is also related to the fact that Rivian’s prices are somewhat reasonable, whereas the Lucid Air (while affordable in base spec), can run you a lot more if you’re opting for a flagship spec.
There’s also something to be said about Rivian’s design language. It’s very... nonconfrontational. They’re not trying to be aggressive in any way, nor exceedingly elegant or pretentious. To me, the R1S kind of looks like a battery-electric Grand Cherokee, which is a compliment. It’s masculine, rugged, and with a straightforward design language.
The same can be said about its interior. I think Rivian did a fantastic job creating an environment that feels very relaxing. It’s almost Scandinavian-like; even Volvo might want to pick up on a thing or two from the R1S and R1T.
Now, what you shouldn’t expect from your RivianEV is for it to ever go up in value – or hold its value well, for that matter, especially in today’s used EV climate where prices are dropping like flies.
Take this 2023 R1S Adventure Edition quad motor variant for example. It’s barely been driven (has just 456 miles on the clock), and it retailed for $82,500 last year. Well, just a few days ago, its owner (a dealership out of Newburgh, NY) was forced to say no to a maximum bid of $70,000 at auction. I’m not sure how high the reserve was, but my guess is that ‘too high’ would be the answer.
Granted, $70k for thisSUV might be a hard pill to swallow, yet I don’t see it fetching considerably more than that. But what do you guys think?
Photo: Bring a Trailer
In terms of specs, we’re looking at a Glacier White exterior with black lower-body cladding, whereas features include the split tailgate, a fixed panoramic sunroof, LED lights, plus a set of Sport Dark 22” wheels with Pirelli rubber and yellow calipers. You also get the Driver+ assistance system that adds 10 exterior cameras, 12 ultrasonic sensors and five radar sensors.
Meanwhile, interior highlights include the Ocean Coast vegan leather seats (heated & ventilated front, heated rear), multi-zone climate control, a wireless smartphone charging pad, adaptive cruise control, a large 15.3” touchscreen infotainment display, and a heated steering wheel fronting a 12.3” configurable digital display.
As for performance, there’s plenty to like here. The quad motor setup combines for 835 horsepower and 908 lb-ft of torque, getting you to 60 mph in 3 seconds flat. This thing is more than quick enough. It can even make easy work of the quarter mile (it’s an 11-second SUV).
Sergiu got to experience both American and European car "scenes" at an early age (his father drove a Ford Fiesta XR2 supermini in the 80s). After spending over 15 years at local and international auto publications, he's starting to appreciate comfort behind the wheel more than raw power and acceleration. Full profile
Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?
Google News