Rivian R1S Cargo Test: How Much Fits in the Frunk and Behind the Third Row?

• The Rivian R1S electric SUV has 17.7 cubic feet behind its raised third row of seats.
• The R1S' frunk has 11.1 cubic feet of volume.
• This real-world test shows how much you can fit inside with all the seats in use.

The Rivian R1S is a three-row SUV with official dimensions that show it having 17.7 cubic feet behind its third row. That's one of the smaller volumes you'll find among three-row SUVs, but in case you haven't noticed, the Rivian SUV is pretty boxy. I've found time and again that boxy vehicles tend to exceed their on-paper expectations when it comes to carrying baggage. (Go figure, rectangles fit better in rectangles.)

The R1S has another cargo-carrying ace up its sleeve: a frunk. Not every EV has one, but the Rivian sure does. The R1S' frunk measures 11.1 cubic feet, which is bigger than the trunks of some cars. In this cargo test, I'll be seeing how many of the bags from my garage (and one bonus item) can fit behind the Rivian's third row and inside the frunk. I'll also be comparing it to other three-row SUVs. Why only behind the third row and not behind the second or first? Simple: I don't have enough stuff in my garage. For what it's worth, Rivian says a 7-foot ladder, several large house plants and "at least two large dogs" can fit inside. I only have two small dogs, so I cannot back up that claim. But I do have six suitcases. Let's go.

I must warn you right now, there's a lot to unpack with this cargo test (pun unintended), so settle in. Here is the R1S' cargo area behind the third row. You will note that it's indeed quite boxy, but there's a lot more going on here to address.

First, note that this is the rare SUV with a split lift/tailgate design. The Land Rover Range Rover and BMW X5, as well as the new Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator, are others. I owned a second-generation X5 and can attest that this is a fantastic feature. First, you can sit on the thing without getting your pants dirty (the Rivian's holds 500 pounds). Second, with it closed, you can load loose items inside (especially groceries) and not worry about a watermelon or bowling ball rolling out and crashing on the ground. Third, you can change a baby's diaper on the tailgate without unloading anything from the cargo area. The specificity of that example should indicate personal experience.

This is what it looks like with the liftgate open but the tailgate closed.

Moving on, the cargo floor is at an uphill angle. I don't recall seeing something like this before. It's quite obviously done because the folded third row is higher than the lowered tailgate. Spoiler alert: This didn't seem to affect the result.

Some three-row SUVs come with an underfloor storage area to expand the amount of cargo space. The Honda Pilot and Kia Telluride are two examples. The Rivian R1S is not. There are just some indentations perfectly sized for some included essentials.

OK, now before stuffing some bags in there, here's some nice boilerplate information about the bags I use and their dimensions. There are two bags you'd definitely have to check at the airport: Big Gray (26 inches long x 16.5 inches wide x 12 inches deep) and Big Blue (26 x 16.5 x 10). There are three roll-aboards that usually fit as carry-on: Medium Tall (24 x 14 x 9), Medium Wide (23 x 15 x 9) and the smaller Green Bag (21 x 14 x 9.5). Finally, there's everyone's favorite Fancy Bag (21 x 12 x 11), a medium-sized duffle.

This would be the biggest bag, the two medium bags and (duh) the Green Bag. The Big Blue bag could actually fit where the Green Bag is and would be safe from flying into the cabin, but it seriously compromised rear visibility. That's a safety no-no here at Cargo Test HQ. If the Rivian offered a rearview camera mirror, I'd allow it, but it doesn't, so the above Tetris formation is the official result.

Now, that official result isn't quite as good as what the Kia EV9 could manage: it swapped Medium Skinny for Big Blue. (The Rivian's unofficial result described above would be superior.) The difference seems to be that the Kia is wider, allowing for the rare feat of my two biggest bags fitting end-to-end width-wise. The Toyota Grand Highlander and Lexus TX are other rare examples. Speaking of the TX, that would be the current Cargo Test leader for luxury three-row crossover space behind the third row. It can fit all my bags. Most three-row SUVs, however, are closer to the R1S.

But remember, we're not done yet.

It's the frunk. Actually, it's only part of the frunk, because like the Lucid Air, the Rivian R1S has a floor panel that sacrifices total volume to provide a flatter, wider area.

Here is the frunk with the floor propped open. Points for that feature, too, since you don't need to take it out of the R1S in order to take advantage of maximum frunkage. It also means I don't need to test with and without the floor.

Oh hey, these are the very bags that did not fit behind the third row. As such, all of my bags fit inside the R1S.

This result puts it in rare company with just the Grand Highlander and TX managing the same feat among crossovers I've tested, along with the Jeep Wagoneer and various Suburban-style extended-length body-on-frame SUVs (the Tahoe and previous-generation Expedition could not). The EV9's frunk couldn't fit any of my bags, so Rivian FTW among electrics I've tested.

And I'm not done yet.

This is a 38-quart cooler measuring 23 inches long, 16 inches wide and 13 inches deep. And it fits in the frunk. Wow.

So yeah, the Rivian R1S is definitely a cargo-carrying champ.