Is 2022 Rivian R1S SUV Worth The Wait And Price?

Automotive Journalist

October 4, 2021 at 1:31 PM

We have already covered a detailed review of the Rivian R1S SUV mentioning the price, specs, features, dimensions, and other details. But as the Rivian R1T pickup production and deliveries have recently kicked off, we are trying to clear the clouds of speculations and rumors circulating about the R1S SUV, while providing reasons on why it is worth the wait and price.

Rivian R1S Latest Updates:

The R1S starts at an MSRP of $70,000 | Rivian R1S In-depth Review
The R1S comes with three rows and a large touchscreen | Rivian R1S Interior Review
R1S has 14.9-inches of ground clearance | Rivian R1S Dimensions
R1S can tow up to 7,700 pounds | Rivian R1S Towing Capacity

Rivian is a young innovator and contender in the EV market that is bringing seismic shifts. The 2022 Rivian R1T pickup and 2022 R1S SUV are current all-electric adventure-ready offerings from the brand. Recently these Rivians flashed in the headlines for receiving an official EPA estimate of 316 miles.

Earlier this month, the founder and CEO of Rivian, RJ Scaringe, posted that the 2022 Rivian R1T pickup production, as well as first deliveries, have been kicked off. Following this, a lot of questions as well as rumors have been popping up regarding the 2022 R1S SUV, so we are here to clear the clouds.

Know more about the Rivian R1S:

Is the Rivian R1S worth it?

We can check whether the 2022 Rivian R1S is worth it by comparing it with the closest competitors like Tesla Model X and GMC Hummer EV SUV. Although Tesla Model X and Rivian R1S have a seating capacity of up to 7 passengers, the former is the most expensive, and the latter is the least expensive of the lot. The GMC Hummer EV SUV can seat only 5 passengers, but it offers unprecedented levels of off-road capabilities, followed by the Rivian R1S.

Model Specs	Rivian R1S	GMC Hummer EV SUV	Tesla Model X
Price range(MSRP)	$70,000-$75,500	$79,995-$99,995	$89,990-$119,990
Expected Delivery beginning	January 2022	Spring 2023 - Spring 2024	January- February 2022
Range	316 miles	Over 250 miles - 300 miles(est. based on trim)	340-360 miles
0-60 mph	3 seconds	3.5 seconds(approx. With 3X models)	2.5-3.8 seconds
Powertrain	Quad-motor setup	Dual-motor/Tri-motor setup	Dual-motor/Tri-motor setup
Power	754 hp	625 hp - 830 hp	670 hp - 1020 hp
Torque	823 lb-ft	7400 lb-ft - 11,500 lb-ft	-
Max. towing capacity	7,700 lbs	--	5,000 lbs
Max. seating capacity	7 passengers	5 passengers	7 passengers
Max. storage Capacity	108 cu.-ft.	81.8 cu.-ft.	91 cu.-ft.
Frunk storage capacity	11 cu.-ft.	--	6.6 cu.-ft

The 360-mile maximum EPA-rated range of the 2021 Model X outpaces the 316-mile maximum EPA-rated range of the 2022 Rivian R1S and over 300 miles of estimated Hummer EV range. That said, the 2022 Rivian R1S is the most decently packed low-priced three-row off-road-oriented all-electric SUV.

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How much does Rivian R1S cost and when will it be delivered?

The Rivian R1S is available for sale in the form of two trims - Explore Package priced at $70,000 and Adventure Package that has an MSRP of $75,500. Apart from this, there were limited-run Launch Edition models priced at $75,500.

The options available on the 2022 R1S include 9 exterior colors, 5 wheel options, a compact spare tire, and an Off-road Upgrade costing $2,000 additional. Rivian has announced that the R1S will be delivered around January 2022. Expected delivery dates will be told to the customers that have preordered the Launch Edition by November this year.

Verdict

Reservations for both the 2022 R1T pickup and 2022 R1S SUV can be placed on the official website using configurators. Rivian is also planning demo drives and events starting from cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York. That said, we are as excited as you to get our hands behind the wheel of these Rivians. So we shall keep you in the loop as soon as we hear something from Rivian.