The Rivian R1S so far attracts less attention than the R1T. The latter sells as the company's pick-up truck to rival the likes of the Ford F-150 Lightning and Chevrolet Silverado EV. The R1S enters a more complicated and competitive market, large SUVs. With every brand entering including Kia, Range Rover, and BMW, the Rivian R1S needs to offer everything and more for a reasonable price. The EV manufacturer just revealed extra details about their trunk.Rivian's trunk has exciting details that the competition may have missed.
What's Special About The Rivian R1S' Trunk
Featuring in a video on RJ Scaringe's, the company's CEO, Twitter account the R1S offers an unparalleled level of usability. Taking inspiration from the Range Rover, the Rivian has a split tailgate. Scaringe suggests that an owner could sit and read a book here. The tailgate of the Range Rover offers an excellent spot to eat lunch or change into and out of dirty shoes. The Rivian offers this functionality but takes it one further, with an overhead light. Illuminating whatever goes on beneath it the car offers the same functionality at night as during the day.
To the side of the loading bay are two rails that have sliding mounts. These are like tie points in the back of a pickup truck. Once more this exceptional functionality makes the SUV a little more functional. Whatever an owner decides to transport they'll not live with luggage rolling around in the trunk.
In the video on Scaringe's Twitter at first, the trunk seems considerably smaller than the loading bay in the R1T which shares the same platform. However, folding down the third row of seats opens up a cavernous trunk fit for transporting a wardrobe. This third row folds flat as it does on the competing seven-seat SUVs. Yet the Rivian has another trick up its sleeve. With the push of a button in the trunk, the second row folds flat as well. Quite frankly, the Rivian R1S almost looks like a van in this state. Not only could an individual use this to move house but also sleep incredibly comfortably. Possibly at the same time. Scaringe easily steps into the car and lays flat just to show how much space the R1S has to offer.
Will The Rivian's Trunk Hold Up?
According to Rivian, the R1S launches as "The world's first Electric Adventure Vehicle". Not marketed as a lifestyle SUV, the Rivian takes aim more so at the Land Rover Defender than the true luxury cars of the world. However, in practice, this is where the Rivian R1S falls down. Fully carpeted the Rivian's trunk seems like it would disintegrate under heavy use. A muddy dog could cause quite the mess, along with outdoor equipment. The waterproof credentials of the brand go unproven as well. However, the EV claims to have the ability to drive through 3 feet of water. With the asking price starting at $72,500, it might take a while for a brave soul to see how far they can push the adventure vehicle before it breaks.
Yet, Rivian clearly have the confidence in their vehicle. The company offers a 5-year or 60,000-mile warranty on everything. Their batteries and drivetrain have a longer 8-year or 175,000-mile warranty.
How Does The Rivian's Trunk Compare To The Competition?
If an individual has their heart set on a Rivian for their outdoor adventuring perhaps the R1T makes more sense. The rear bed of the pickup truck offers an equal amount of space but also the ability to hose it down after a dirty day. The R1T even offers secure storage between the bed and passenger cabin if an owner wants a more conventional trunk. This takes the form of a tube running along the width of the car.
The adventure SUV market is smaller. Perhaps Rivian's only true contenders come in the form of the Jeep Wrangler and the Toyota Land Cruiser. Obviously, neither have electric versions yet. The Wrangler's loading area while perhaps longer lasting than the Rivian without the extra electronics to break. However, the space offers less space. Furthermore, with a hinged door, the Wrangler seems less practical in real life presenting issues when parked. Turning to the Land Cruiser, it left production in 2021. Toyota offers their Tundra, 4Runner, and Sequoia vehicles as alternatives. All of these are a distinct move-down market from the Land Cruiser which had an air of subtle luxury to it, just like the Rivian. The Lexus LX570 still sells. Only with an 8.9 inches ground clearance the Lexus falls short of the Rivian by 5 inches. Also, quite frankly nobody will take a Lexus on an off-road adventure.
More direct competition comes from the Ford F150 Lightning, which balances being an EV with the luxury elements of a lifestyle truck. Yet with an open bed, it has its drawbacks. Once the motoring giants of Ford and General Motors fully electrify their luxury SUVs like the Explorer and Suburbans then the Rivian R1S electric SUV will have some direct rivals.