2023 Rivian R1S Review

Name: 2023 Rivian R1S Review
Brand: Rivian
Price: 61063 USD

Price Estimate: $64,995 - $75,590

2023 Rivian R1S Launch Edition 4dr SUV Exterior Shown

There are plenty of off-road-capable SUVs, three-row SUVs and even electric SUVs, but there's nothing that shines in all three areas like the 2023 Rivian R1S. It's quick on the street and capable on a trail. We're also impressed how the R1S beat its EPA electric range estimate in our real-world testing. Comfort and tech refinement are a bit lacking, but there's so much to like that it's easy to look past the faults.

See all features & specs

Oops, we can’t seem to locate you.

Please enter U.S. ZIP code to see vehicles for sale

Rivian R1S model years

Rivian R1S for Sale

2023 Rivian R1S Review

by the Edmunds Experts

What's new

New performance version of the dual-motor powertrain with more horsepower
Max battery pack will become available late in the model year
Part of the first R1S generation introduced for 2022

2023 Rivian R1S EV Insights

Trim:

R1S Adventure

Estimated Range Based on Age

309 miles^{The range for a used 2023 Rivian R1S is estimated to be 309 miles because electric cars typically experience 1-2% of range loss per year, with slightly faster degradation over the first 50,000 miles as the car settles into its long term state, according to Recurrent's study of 15,000 EVs.}

EV batteries lose 1-2% of range per year. Est. range for this car is 309 miles.^{Electric cars typically experience 1-2% of range loss per year with slightly faster degradation over the first 50,000 miles as the car settles into its long term state, according to Recurrent's study of 15,000 EVs.}

Estimated range map^{This map is a visual representation of the possible one-way and round-trips by this vehicle (on a full charge) from the geometric center of Rutland, North Dakota. The depicted ranges are based on the estimated new vehicle range value provided by the EPA, rounded down to miles for one-way and miles for round-trip. Actual range will vary depending on the condition of this vehicle’s battery pack, how you drive, driving conditions and other factors.Map display generated using: © openrouteservice.org by HeiGIT | Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors | Leaflet} from

Charging

SAE Combo^{Standard port for most electric models. Supports Level 1, Level 2, and DC Fast charging.}

Plug Type

13 hrs

240V Home Charging^{Estimated total charging time when using a 240V outlet. This is either a 3-prong or 4-prong outlet used for appliances, for example a clothes dryer.}

43 min

DC Fast Charging^{This is the time needed to charge the vehicle's battery from a 10% to an 80% charge level, employing a fast charger at the maximum power the vehicle can accept. To optimize charging speed, we activate the vehicle's battery preconditioning feature, if it has one. In the absence of a preconditioning feature, we drive a sufficient amount to ensure the battery pack is warm and ready for charging.}

edmunds TESTED

EV batteries should be kept at 30-80% charged to extend battery life.

When can I use NACS/Tesla charging stations?

EV Battery Warranty

8 yrs or 175,000 miles^{The federal government requires that EV batteries be warrantied for a minimum of eight years or 100,000 miles. The EV battery warranty includes replacement if your battery capacity drops below a certain percentage of the original capacity.}

According to GeoTab’s data, if the observed degradation rates are maintained, the vast majority of batteries will outlast the usable life of the vehicle.

Estimated battery warranty remaining is 6 years or 147,000 miles for this car.^{Warranty remaining value is based on the vehicle year, and on driving 14,000 miles per year. Confirm exact warranty coverage for each vehicle with the dealers and the manufacturer before purchasing.}

EV Tax Credits & Rebates

$4,500

Available Rebates. Restrictions apply.

Restrictions:
Under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) offers taxpayers a Used Clean Vehicle Tax Credit equal to 30% of the sale price up to a maximum credit of $4,000 for the purchase of a used plug-in electric or hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. Beginning January 1, 2024, Clean Vehicle Tax Credits may be initiated and approved at the point of sale at participating dealerships registered with the IRS. Dealers will be responsible for submitting Clean Vehicle Tax Credit information to the IRS. Buyers are advised to obtain a copy of an IRS "time of sale" report, confirming it was submitted successfully by the dealer. Not every version of the vehicle models will necessarily qualify. Please check with the dealer/seller to determine the eligibility of your specific vehicle.

For the vehicle to qualify:
- Price cannot exceed $25,000.
- Need to verify the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
- Must be at least two model years older than the current calendar year in which the vehicle was purchased.
- Must be sold through a dealership, private sales not permitted.
- Not have already been transferred after August 16, 2022, to a qualified buyer.
For individuals to qualify:
- Must meet income eligibility, depending on modified adjusted gross income (AGI) and tax filing status.
- Must not be the first owner of the qualifying vehicle.
- Has not been allowed a credit under this section for any sale during the 3-year period ending on the date of the sale of such vehicle.
- Purchased for personal use, not a business, corporation or for resale.
To learn more, visit https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/used-clean-vehicle-credit
Restrictions:
Otter Tail Power Co offers EV owners a rebate of up to $500 towards the installation and cost of a Level 2 charging station.

To qualify for this rebate, the customer and/or charging station must meet the following requirements:
- Receive electricity from Otter Tail Power Co.
- Have purchased or leased an electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle.
To learn more, visit https://www.otpco.com/ways-to-save/programs/electric-vehicle-rate/

See All EV incentives

Cost to Drive

$104/mo

R1S

$227/mo

SUV Avg.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

Am I Ready for an EV?

EV ownership works best if you can charge (240V) at home or at work ^{This typically means a 240V home installation, but you could also have a similar setup at your office or other places your car is already parked for several hours each day. Don't expect a regular household outlet (120V) to suffice unless you've got a plug-in hybrid, in which case overnight charging at home is feasible.}
If you can’t charge at home, charging at a charging station could take at least 10x longer than at a gas station ^{With public charging infrastructure still in its infancy, the user experience can be maddeningly inconsistent. Tesla owners tend to rave about the reliability and speed of the company's proprietary Supercharger stations, but rival DC fast options have thus far been plagued by technical issues and overcrowding. It's an evolving landscape and our best advice is to do your research on the available options for the EV you want to buy.}
Adding a 240V home charging system could cost up to $1,600 or more ^{If your existing electrical service can handle the additional demands of EV charging, you may be able to add Level 2 charging at home for less than a grand, including installation. But your costs will multiply if you need to upgrade your electrical panel or add a dedicated circuit.}

Learn more about EV charging

See All EV Insights

See Edmunds pricing data

Has Your Car's Value Changed?

Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.

See pricing history

Rivian R1S Reviews

Owner Reviews

3.9

18 reviews

5(67%)

4(5%)

3(0%)

2(6%)

1(22%)

Write a vehicle review See all 18 reviews

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

Does most things well; a few things just bonkers

Rivian in NorCal, 10/13/2023

2023 Rivian R1S Launch Edition 4dr SUV AWD (electric DD)

There’s nothing else like this on the road. We wanted a 3 row electric SUV. Only other option right now is the Tesla X and its third row is too small for older kids and adults. So I test drove the Rivian. This is my first electric so there are a few things like the control center and regenerative braking that take a little time to get used to. Overall, while it’s not perfect, it does … so many things well. It’s fun to drive, it’s fast, comfortable you can still carry 7 people AND a bunch of luggage. If you want to, the off road and towing capabilities are nuts. It has shortcomings but if you put the whole package together I just don’t think there’s anything that competes. Pros: - a large SUV like this has NO business going as fast as it does. Tesla drivers get it. But coming from your usual 3 row SUV, your brain won’t compute. It’s like a roller coaster launch. - maybe because of its design (big battery along the bottom) - it handles well for a vehicle this size. You don’t feel like it’s going to lose control and roll over around a corner. - very easy and compelling to drive. You’ll be hunting for reasons to take it out. - seats are comfortable. They’re not Mercedes comfortable - but nice vegan leather and I feel great in them after 2 hours. - stereo is good but not great. Apparently they switched from Meridian to their own audio components. Base and highs are still good but it’s missing the mid range. - ton of storage room. The frunk, where your engine is normally, adds a ton of extra space. Solid cargo space behind the third row. - I really like the tech. Good integration of Spotify, tunein and tidal, which gets you almost anything you’ll want to hear. And FM radio if you don’t have internet for some reason. - ton of room in the front row. Great driver comfort. Just feels good behind the wheel. - AC is super powerful. Car cools down in 30 seconds no matter how hot. It’s insane. Things to consider - not cons but mixed: - a good but not great ride - as with Tesla, almost all controls are in the center touch screen. - yes, it’s electric but it’s also 7,000 lbs - so it’s not so efficient. The bigger battery helps but ultimately it gets fewer miles per kilowatt hour. - service - at least in these early days, has some seriously long waits - like 2 months if it’s not an emergency. - no AM radio for you sports (etc) fans - no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Same as Tesla and now GM. But still may be an issue for some. - middle row not as spacious as I hoped. It’s fine. It works for average adults but if you have a full house of 7 adults then it can be a little cramped. - you have to pay for whichever music service or tunein. It’s par for the course these days but might be annoying to some. - it’s expensive. I mean, if you’re looking at this you know that. But if you’re comparing to a combustion car - Mercedes GL, BMW X7, Audi Q7 and similar sized cars — it’s a step below in comfort and ride quality. It’s way better than most cars. But that’s probably not your comparison so just keep it in mind. Overall it’s been a joy to drive this car. If you want 3 row electric that does most things well and a few things batsh*t crazy, you’ll love it.

R1S & R1T owner

Early Adopter Denver, CO, 04/07/2024

2023 Rivian R1S Adventure 4dr SUV AWD (electric DD)

In a world of love it or hate it (5 star or 1 star) here is a bit of truth without the drama. We have had the R1T for 2 years and the R1S for about 7 months before we sold it a couple of weeks ago. Material quality if great, beautiful vehicles, stellar engineering and thought went into Rivian's 1st offerings. So why the 4 star rating you ask, there are a few things they did better with …

Ultimate EV SUV

MDB, 01/09/2024

2023 Rivian R1S Adventure 4dr SUV AWD (electric DD)

This was our first EV and the RS1 is a fantastic and very well engineered SUV. Adjusting to the 1 pedal driving (the regenerative braking is not subtle) takes about a day. The center console with the infotainment system and Amazon Alexa takes a bit to get used to coming from BMWs with Apple Carplay but it is much more comprehensive and controls nearly every aspect of the vehicle in a …

Best vehicle I’ve owned

Green Lantern Riv, 09/26/2023

2023 Rivian R1S Launch Edition 4dr SUV AWD (electric DD)

For being a brand new auto manufacturer, Rivian really hit it out of the park with this one. I waited almost 3 years and it was well worth the wait. In a sea of egg shaped electric “SUVs” the R1S is the first real electric SUV. It’s big with not feeling too big. The surround view cameras are nice. The highway assist is what I need, although I’m sure there will be future updates. I love …

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2023 Rivian R1S, so we've included reviews for other years of the R1S since its last redesign.

See all 18 reviews of the Rivian R1S

Write a vehicle review

2023 R1S Highlights

Trim:

Adventure

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$78,000
EV Tax Credits & Rebates	$4,500 Based on income
Engine Type	Electric
EPA Electric Range	321 miles
Cost to Drive	$104/month
Total Charging Time (240V)	13 hours
Seating	7 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	17.7 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	5 years / 60,000 miles
EV Battery Warranty	8 years / 175,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the R1S models:

Adaptive Cruise Control: Maintains a driver-set distance between the Rivian and the car in front.
Highway Assist: Automatically steers, brakes and accelerates on select highways while it's engaged.
Surround Sensors: Help alert you of objects around the car when you're parking or in tight spaces.

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Not Tested
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Not Tested
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Acceptable
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Not Tested
Roof Strength Test
Not Tested
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Not Tested

People who viewed this also viewed

Rivian R1T
3.0 average Rating out of 1 reviews.
Starting at $69,900

See Rivian R1T Inventory

BMW iX
4.7 average Rating out of 6 reviews.
Starting at $87,250

See BMW iX Inventory

Kia EV9
5.0 average Rating out of 1 reviews.
Starting at $54,900

See Kia EV9 Inventory

2023 Rivian R1S Review

2023 Rivian R1S Review

What's new

2023 Rivian R1S EV Insights

Estimated Range Based on Age

Charging

EV Battery Warranty

EV Tax Credits & Rebates

Cost to Drive

Am I Ready for an EV?

Rivian R1S Reviews

Owner Reviews

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

Trending topics

Does most things well; a few things just bonkers

R1S & R1T owner

Ultimate EV SUV

Best vehicle I’ve owned

2023 R1S Highlights

Safety

People who viewed this also viewed

Related Used 2023 Rivian R1S info

Vehicle reviews of used models

Shop similar models

Shop used vehicles in your area

Popular new car reviews and ratings

Research other models of Rivian

Research similar vehicles

Other models

Join Edmunds