2022 Rivian R1S

Rivian is a brand new car manufacturer that released their all-electric truck in 2021 and this year released their brand new all-electric SUV. The first to make an all-electric off-road vehicle, Rivian is creating not only first-in-its-class cars, but also features. We love car manufacturers thinking outside the box and Rivian definitely does. 

I am a fan of boxy SUVs and this car is boxy, but also so unique. I think it’s fresh and futuristic.  It’s a mid-size, three-row SUV that’s about the same size as a Ford Expedition. It has some great visual features, like its signature yellow accents that match the brake pads and a huge lightbar that I don’t usually like, but Rivian is making me rethink that. I actually really like it along with the huge, double-spaced Rivian branding. The only thing I don’t love on the exterior is the back window. It’s tiny. I’m worried about the visibility, but we’ll get to that later. 

Rivian R1S First Row

The Rivian R1S has tons of fun features I’ve never seen before and the first is on the driver’s side door—a built-in flashlight. The door side cubby also opens wider to give you some extra storage space. The seat design is also super unique and the floor mats are made of door mat material, not fabric. Brilliant. 

The infotainment system is like nothing I’ve seen before. It’s incredibly minimalistic. The only button pulled out is the emergency hazard button, which is government mandated. There is a small screen in front of the driver in the dash and another larger screen in the center. It’s super cool, but a little clunky to use. I don’t want to have to press four buttons just to turn down my air. But there are some really cool features in it like camping mode, dog mode, surround view camera, and gear guard that will record footage around your car if someone bumped into it or tried to break in.

As for driver’s amenities we have everything: heated and ventilated seats, customizable steering wheel buttons, a wireless phone charger, a bluetooth removable speaker that also doubles as a camping light, a super deep center console with two USBC outlets and two very disappointing cup holders. My big Stanley cup does fit, but the cup holders pop out and aren’t nearly as sturdy as normal cupholders. We also have a little extra cubby space under both the driver and passenger seats. Great for sunglasses or snacks. 

And my worry about visibility out that tiny back window is confirmed—it’s not great. I wish there was a rear-view camera in the rear-view mirror because with my car seats installed I can barely see anything back there. 

Rivian R1S Second Row

The second row is equally as nice and spacious as the front. The seats are firm but comfortable, and I have great knee and head clearance. The bench is 60/40, with the independent seat behind the front passenger. The back door panels also have that great expandable side cubby, but we are missing sunshades. I would have loved to see sunshades to make it even more family friendly. Also, I would have also liked to see ceiling vents for better ventilation for kiddos in car seats. I do like the USBC chargers and hooks on the back of the seats so we can charge the kids’ tablets. 

The seats recline and slide back and forth on tracks, which offers great flexibility if you need more space in the trunk to haul gear or for third-row passengers. With my infant seat installed rear facing I have plenty of clearance between the car seat and the driver’s seat, which is set for me and I’m about six feet tall. 

Car Seat Set Up

There are four sets of lower anchors and five tether anchors for the five second- and third-row seats, which is great. But if you’re thinking about installing three across on the bench you might get into some trouble because of the seat belt overlap and how narrow the middle seat is. 

Rivian R1S Third Row

To access the third row, hit the button on the top of the seat. I love that there are only two seats back here. As for amenities, I have side vents, USBC outlets, cup holders, a mini cubby space, and a third-row sunroof. My knee clearance isn’t amazing, but because the roof is so tall and the seats are so wide (since they didn’t try to cram three seats back here) I have plenty of room. The one mistake Rivian did make in the third row is that once the third row is down, there is no way to get it back up unless you crawl into the trunk and manually pull it up. There is no button or tether.

Rivian R1S Trunk

The trunk is split, which I love. Not only does the tailgate give you a place to sit or change a diaper, but also if your groceries shifted on the drive home they won’t fall out when you open the liftgate. I also love that there is some extra storage space under the floor, a household and 12 volt outlet, and an air compressor for filling up your air mattress, beach ball, or tires. 

The trunk is also such a great size. Even with the third row up, my Uppababy Vista fits with plenty of room to spare.

2022 Rivian R1S Wrap Up

I’m really excited about this all-electric Rivian R1S for families. I think it’s amazing for two-car seat families, but won’t get my stamp of approval for families with three car seats. They definitely will safely fit, but I’m concerned about the access. But if you’re an outdoorsy family with one or two car seats and access to electric car charging, this car might be the one for you.

What do you think of the Rivian R1S? Let me know in the comments! And to keep up with the latest family vehicles on the market, check out my recent reviews: