Have you ever wondered why the Rivian R1S is touted as the ultimate electric SUV for families? The answer lies in its perfect blend of high performance, modern design, exceptional safety features, and eco-friendly approach. In this comprehensive review, we’ll dive headfirst into the reasons why the Rivian R1S: The Ultimate Electric SUV for Families is causing a buzz in the automobile world.
Rivian, the American automaker and automotive technology company, is revolutionizing the SUV market with its groundbreaking all-electric SUV, the Rivian R1S. This vehicle isn’t just an electric SUV; it’s a bold statement of what future family vehicles will look like. This titan of a vehicle dares to defy conventions, blending functionality with innovation, and sustainability with high performance.
Have you Ever wondered how an electric SUV could compete with its gas-guzzling counterparts? The typical Tahoe’s, Escalades, Expeditions, X7’s, and GLS’s in the school pickup line have nothing on the Rivian R1S. The R1s has the cool off-road performance and capabilities of a Range Rover with height-adjustable air suspension that can safely clear any curb at Starbucks.
Equipped with four independent motors, one at each wheel, the Rivian R1S provides breathtaking acceleration, taking you from 0 to 60 mph in as little as 3 seconds. Even the slowest dual-motor Rivian R1S hits 60 mph in only 4.5 seconds. That gives any Rivian R1S trim you choose the ability to safely accelerate out of danger and quickly merge into traffic. But the Rivian R1S isn’t all about speed; it’s also about control and efficiency.
The quad-motor system delivers precise torque to each wheel enabling superior control off-road and on slippery surfaces. Moreover, with a whopping range of over 300 miles on a single charge, this SUV ensures you won’t be hunting for charging stations during your family road trip.
When it comes to family vehicles, it’s crucial to ensure that the ride is as safe as it is enjoyable. With the Rivian R1S, safety isn’t something that’s been tacked on as an afterthought—it’s woven into the very fabric of the vehicle’s design and functionality. The R1S was even rated as a 2023 Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS in crash testing. So, how does the Rivian R1S ensure you and your family’s safety?
The Rivian R1S boasts a highly robust and sturdy structural design, created with safety in mind. The vehicle’s ‘skateboard’ platform incorporates the battery pack, drive units, suspension, braking, and thermal system all below the height of the wheel, resulting in a low center of gravity. The Rivian’s structure includes a combination of materials designed to maximise safety such as aluminum, high strength steel, and even carbon fiber.
This structural choice not only enhances the vehicle’s stability but also improves its performance and safety during potential collision scenarios by evenly distributing crash forces away from the cabin. Having such a low center of gravity is also crucial in preventing rollover accidents on and off-road.
The Rivian R1S is equipped with the Driver+ system, an advanced suite of driver-assist features that are standard on every vehicle. This system includes a comprehensive sensor package, with cameras, radar, ultrasonic sensors, and high-precision GPS coupled with high-definition maps. In total the R1S has 11 cameras, 12 sensors, and 5 radars committed to keeping you and your little ones safe.
From lane keeping and automatic emergency braking to detecting pedestrians and other vehicles, the Driver+ system helps reduce the potential for collisions and assists in making driving safer and more comfortable. As a mother, there’s nothing more important than knowing your children are safe during every journey, no matter how short or long.
The Rivian R1S has all the modern car seat ready features you can expect from a safety focused SUV. All three of the second row seats feature seatback car seat anchors. The two outboard second row seats also have LATCH/ISOFIX anchors. When it comes to the third row occupants, they are not forgotten when in terms of safety. Both third row seats feature seatback car seat anchors and LATCH/ISOFIX anchors built in.
As a mom, it’s essential to have a vehicle that’s not only safe and reliable, but also makes daily tasks easier and more convenient. After all, life with little ones is always an adventure! The Rivian R1S shines in this respect, making it an excellent daily driver for mothers. Below are just a few of the reasons.
One aspect of the Rivian R1S that moms will truly appreciate is its spacious and comfortable interior. The vehicle comfortably seats up to seven people, providing ample room for the whole family and then some. The panoramic all-glass roof also makes for a more open, airy feel – a bonus when dealing with fussy toddlers!
The interior of the Rivian R1S is crafted using easy-to-clean, sustainably-sourced materials. The seats are all upholstered in a vegan leather that has been specifically tested and engineered to be simple to wipe clean. This is a godsend for mothers, given the spills and messes that are all too common when you have small children in tow.
As an electric vehicle, the Rivian R1S offers a smoother, quieter ride compared to traditional gas-powered cars. It has no engine so no engine noise or vibraton. This can be a blessing, especially when you’re trying to get a restless baby to sleep during a drive. We have even found our dog who is normally nervous in the car to be much calmer when riding in an EV.
The R1S has the perfect amount of cabin insulation to prevent road noise from the tires and wind noise from disturbing your little passengers even in the third row. The expertly engineered standard air suspension is also also responsible for the surprisingly smooth ride given the Rivian’s monumantal performance. The combination of near silence and smoothness makes the Rivian R1S a great family SUV.
The Rivian R1S is packed with user-friendly technology, making your daily driving experience more convenient. From a large customizable dashboard touchscreen that can easily navigate to your kids’ favorite songs, to a hands-free driving option for highway use, these features can make a mom’s life much easier.
When it comes to efficiant use of space and family friendly cargo solutions electric vehicles offer unique benefits. Without the packaging restraints of traditional cars with piston engines, electric cars the Rivian R1S can offer more cargo space. If there is one thing we have learned from hauling kids and their gear around it’s that you can never have too much storage space.
The Rivian R1S doesn’t just have the typical rear cargo area of an SUV. The R1S has a trunk (subtrunk) below the rear cargo floor. The subtrunk can hold a compact spare tire, first aid kit, charging cables or whatever you like. It also has a large front trunk where the Range Rovers and Escalades of the school pickup line have an engine.
We are huge fans of front trunks. They are perfect for storing anything that is dirty or tht you dont want the smell to permeate the interior cabin air when driving. We have used frunks for everything from pizza, sports gear, and soiled baby clothes. If it gets really dirty, the Rivian R1S has a drain plug at the bottom of the front trunk that allows you to hose it out and drain the water. The drain plug feature and plastic lining also allow you to easily use the R1S front trunk as a cooler that you can fill with ice for soccer practice tailgates.
The rear seats of the Rivian R1S have armrests that double as covered storage cubbies that include USB-C charging ports! The storage is practical because it doesn’t take up any more space than the armrest would have anyway and it also allows the kids (or adults) in the rear to charge devices. The location of thre USB-C ports means that you can either safely store your device when charging or use it without having to lean forward because the port is in a far location like the back of the front center console.
We think that when it’s all said and done the Rivian R1S is currently the ultimate electric SUV for family life. The R1S is more than capable when performing any daily task and is also the most rugged and off-road capable electric kid hauling machine on the market. It is designed for active families with a sense of adventure.
Unlike electric vehicles of the past, the Rivian R1S demonstrates that an electric SUV can deliver on all the things demanding families require of a real SUV. Being a true adventure vehicle, the Rivian R1S is a trusty sidekick for mothers navigating the adventure of raising children.
If you are looking for the ultimate gifts for a future or current Rivian owner, head over to our friends at Gearhead Gift List. They have the best curated list of gifts for a person who loves all things Rivian. Check out the Rivian Gift Guide HERE.