I‘ve spent months closely analyzing and comparing the all-new Rivian R1S electric SUV to better understand if it truly delivers on its promises. Unfortunately, my extensive research reveals the R1S has 5 major flaws that are difficult to overlook given its extremely high $78,000 starting price. Allow me to walk you through them so you can determine if an R1S fits your needs or if you are better served looking at alternatives.
Overview of the R1S‘s 5 Fatal Flaws
Before we dive into the specifics on each, here is a high-level overview of the main reasons to steer clear of the 2023 Rivian R1S at present:
- Pricing Premium: Requires paying $20K+ more than rivals without providing equivalent value
- Limited Availability: Inventory remains critically low nationwide with 12+ month order delays
- Slow DC Charging: Adds only 140 miles in 20 minutes versus 200+ miles for Teslas
- Missing Tech Features: No CarPlay, Android Auto, or large touchscreens offered
- Uncompetitive Cargo Room: Far less space than rivals behind 3rd row seating
I‘ll now cover each downside in detail, providing supporting data and how the R1S compares poorly against alternatives like the Model Y, Mach E and others in each area.
#1: The R1S Commands a Major Pricing Premium
The R1S starts at a shockingly high $78,000 before any options, upgrades, fees or tax credits. That requires buyers to pay a massive premium over key rivals:
| Vehicle | Base Price |
|---|---|
| Rivian R1S | $78,000 |
| Ford Mustang Mach E | $47,000 |
| Tesla Model Y AWD | $55,000 |
You would expect the R1S to deliver vastly superior performance, charging, tech and utility over those competitors to justify such aggressive pricing. Unfortunately, as I‘ll outline in the next sections, the R1S falls short in almost all respects versus those vehicles despite costing $20K+ more upfront.
As Ryan Zummallen, Managing Editor at Autolist, states: "The R1S doesn’t yet offer enough advantages over less-expensive alternatives to make it a slam-dunk choice over options like the Model Y or Mustang Mach-E for most buyers."
#2: The R1S Faces Extremely Limited Nationwide Availability
Rivian simply cannot manufacture enough R1S vehicles to meet demand, with supply constraints and parts shortages crippling inventory. As of mid-2023, you‘d likely wait at least 12-18 months from order date until delivery given their massive pre-order backlog.
To provide perspective on just how limited availability is, only 502 R1S SUVs managed to be registered across the entire US during 2022 per Experian data. Rivals like the Model Y (over 100,000 sold last year) can be purchased and driven home almost immediately with no wait.
This extremely tight inventory makes purchasing an R1S within the next 2 years impractical at best. Additionally, Rivian-specific service centers remain few and far between across most states, posing hassles for any repairs.
#3: Slow DC Fast Charging Cripples Road Trip Appeal
On paper, the R1S touts up to 316 miles of driving range courtesy of its large 135 kWh battery pack. Impressive right?
Unfortunately, realizing that max range is nearly impossible in reality due to charging-related challenges. Even using DC fast chargers, charging times lag well behind rival EVs. Just take a look:
| Vehicle | Battery Size | Miles Added in 20 Mins on DCFC |
|---|---|---|
| Rivian R1S | 135 kWh | 140 miles |
| Ford Mustang Mach E | 98 kWh | 119 miles |
| Tesla Model X | 100 kWh | 200+ miles |
Spending 40-60 minutes recharging every 200 miles makes longer road trips arduous. This stands worse when you consider Rivian‘s very small charging network offers limited DC fast charger availability outside major cities. By comparison, Tesla‘s 25,000+ dedicated Superchargers worldwide enable true long-distance usability.
"Rivian’s spotty DC fast charging infrastructure could dampen your road trip plans in the near term," writes CNET road test editor Emme Hall.
#4: Missing Modern Tech Features Expected at This Price
The R1S touts an impressive 15.6 inch central touchscreen display and sophisticated connected services…on paper. Dig deeper, and you quickly notice missing features flagrantly standard on vehicles costing tens of thousands less:
No Apple CarPlay / Android Auto Support
That means you cannot connect your smartphone to access apps like Spotify or Google Maps. Instead, you are confined to Rivian‘s dated navigation software and limited phone mirroring.
This stands severely lacking compared to essentially all major automakers supporting CarPlay and Android Auto by default across vehicle lineups.
No Large Panoramic Central Display
While a 15.6 inch touchscreen seems reasonably sized, owners of SUVs like the Mercedes EQS (56 inches), Lincoln Navigator (38 inches) and Cadillac Escalade (38 inches) enjoy far more impressive displays.
You‘d expect more for $20K+ beyond base versions of those luxury competitors at this price point.
#5: Surprisingly Limited Cargo Space
The R1S markets itself as the ultimate adventure-mobiles thanks to off-road prowess and storage galore for your gear. Fold all rear seats down, and you get a great 104 cubic feet of total capacity.
But oddly, leave the third row upright, and you have a shockingly small 17.6 cubic feet left to work with. For quick day trips or around-town use with passengers, available room lags well behind competitors focused on families and utility:
| Vehicle | Cargo Room Behind 3rd Row | Total Cargo Room |
|---|---|---|
| Rivian R1S | 17.6 cubic feet | 104 cubic feet |
| Tesla Model X | 33 cubic feet | 88 cubic feet |
| Lincoln Navigator L | 42 cubic feet | 103 cubic feet |
Rivian clearly prioritized range over practical interior space based on those numbers. That seriously dampens the everyday and road trip flexibility families expect in a $78K+ luxury SUV.
The Rivian R1S stays saddled with several inherent flaws that position the vehicle poorly against mainstream EV rivals like the Model Y, Mustang Mach E and Model X until resolved. From charging woes to missing tech and stingy cargo allowances, early adopters experience notable compromises unmatched by the lofty pricing.
I‘d recommend postponing an R1S purchase for at least 12-24 months until Rivian scales production and charging infrastructure significantly. At that point, revisiting the R1S merits could make sense once availability opens up nationally.
In the meantime, sharply more affordable and well-rounded options exist like Ford‘s F-150 Lightning, the Tesla Model 3 Performance and Cadillac Lyriq. Each deliver superior real-world usability that better justify current EV pricing.
Hopefully you‘ve found my first-hand research and recommendations useful. Let me know if you have any other questions!
