2026 Rivian R1S All-Terrain Dual Large
20in
Luxury Electric SUV · AWD
Based on battery health, build quality, owner data, EPA range, and market pricing
Above average for 2026 EV SUVs (class avg 66 · top 37%)
Personalize this scoreIs a low score bad?
Last scanned 25 days ago
The 2026 Rivian R1S All-Terrain Dual Large (20in) packs 665 hp, 289 miles of EPA range and a 129 kWh battery, and the score gets it into the conversation; battery and service records decide whether to make an offer.
Score read
A 68/100 makes this a paperwork-and-test-drive decision. Do not let the composite hide this split: build quality score is 93/100, while range and efficiency score is 37/100. Reddit owners keep flagging owner satisfaction — check it against the service history. Documented completion matters more than the recall count itself.
Price context
This trim started from $83,990 new. Used examples have come down since launch, but pricing varies by miles, condition, and how the model is moving right now; pull a current KBB Fair Purchase, an Edmunds True Market Value, or an active dealer listing for this exact trim, and anchor your offer there. Walk if the seller will not move off new-car-style pricing.
Who this is for
✓ Good for
- ⏱ Daily commuter ≤50 mi/day, predictable charging
✗ Avoid if you are a
- $ Bargain hunter Best TCO, reliability + low depreciation
Gotchas
- Serviceable Recall paperwork has to match the exact VIN.
Mitigation Use NHTSA and the automaker lookup, then require repair records instead of a verbal promise.
- Built in Range is the easy place to overbuy this trim (37/100).
Mitigation Check your commute, winter margin, and fast-charge plan before you assume the EPA number fits your use.
- Verify Current market pricing is not confirmed well enough for this trim.
Mitigation Compare KBB, J.D. Power, and live listings for the same trim before treating price as a buying signal.
Pre-purchase inspection
- 1 Run the exact VIN through NHTSA and the automaker recall lookup before discussing price.
- 2 Compare the dashboard range estimate with the EPA 289-mile rating after a full charge.
- 3 Confirm how much of the 8-year/175,000-mile battery warranty remains and whether it transfers.
- 4 If road trips matter, run a short DC fast-charge session and watch whether speed tapers normally.
- 5 Map your normal highway route and winter margin against the EPA range before you treat it as a road-trip car.
VIN status first This model has 1 NHTSA recall record. The exact VIN lookup decides whether the car in front of you is clear.
Complaint context This scan found 7 NHTSA complaint records (2.3 per 10K VINs, low for any vehicle class). Read the themes below before treating the raw count as the verdict.
Price needs outside confirmation Current market pricing is incomplete, so MSRP should not be used as the deal signal. Compare KBB, J.D. Power, and live listings for this exact trim.
Pricing & Market Value
Score Breakdown
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Vehicle Specifications
The federal $4,000 used-EV credit ended Sept 30, 2025.
But 10 states still run their own used-EV rebate programs — some up to $5,000. Pick your state to see what's available for this trim.
Source & disclaimer
Dealers make ~$3,575 on the average car loan.
After the price is set, the finance manager runs four plays to rebuild margin. Every buyer without a pre-approval is a target. Here's exactly what they run — and what stops each one.
78% of dealer loans carry a hidden +1.13% markup above what the lender actually charges. You never see it — it's buried in the contract. · CFPB
Dealer must match or beat your lender — they can't add margin invisibly. The markup play is dead on arrival.
Once you answer, they stretch the term to hit your number. Median result: $4K less off the price, 12 more months on the loan. · Industry avg
Financing is done. Only the sale price is on the table — and the dealer knows it.
Back-office F&I profit averages $1,975/vehicle, up 8.5% YoY. These products exist — but dealer markup is 4–10x what you'd pay elsewhere. · Dealership Guy
Dealer GAP runs $500–1K. Your insurer sells the same coverage for $100–250 over 5 years. Now you know.
"Your loan fell through — come re-sign." This pulls your APR up +5% on average. It's legal. It works because you've already driven the car home. · Ctr for Responsible Lending
A lender commitment letter means the deal is final. "Pending dealer approval" doesn't apply. You can't be yo-yo'd.
Margin handed to the dealer's finance department — for nothing.
Takes 2 minutes. No obligation to use it — but you'll walk in with all the leverage.
Pre-approval is a soft credit inquiry — no score impact. FICO treats all auto-loan hard pulls within 14 days as one, so you can still shop rates at the dealer.
NHTSA Recalls (1)
Rivian Automotive, LLC (Rivian) is recalling certain 2022-2025 R1T and 2022-2026 R1S vehicles. The bolts that secure the second-row driver and passenger side seat belt retractor assemblies may be improperly tightened.
An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not adequately restrain the seat occupant, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Check VIN status at NHTSA.govNHTSA Complaints (7 total · 2.3 per 10K US vehicles · low for any vehicle class)
I was involved in an incident where the vehicle (R1S 2026) accelerated unexpectedly, struck the car in front of me and the brakes were unresponsive at the time. The car only stopped after crashing.
I was involved in an incident where the vehicle (R1S 2026) accelerated unexpectedly, struck the car in front of me and the brakes were unresponsive at the time. The car only stopped after crashing.
The contact owned a 2026 Rivian R1S. The contact stated that while at a red light and idled, the vehicle accelerated violently, and the vehicle was uncontrollable. The contact depressed the brake pedal; however, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. The contact's vehicle crashed into another vehicle and damaged the rear corner bumper of the other vehicle. The vehicle then crashed into a median strip where there was a 5-foot boulder. The contact stated that the vehicle crashed into a five-foot boulder, and the vehicle was damaged. In addition, the contact stated that the failure occurred when the accelerator pedal was depressed while leaving from a red light stop sign. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. The contact sustained bumps and bruises. In addition, the contact received whiplash to the right side of her neck and scratches from the air bag deploying. The contact's six-year-old granddaughter, who was seated in the rear seat, received no injuries. A Police report was filed. The contact stated that the failure was very scary, and the only thing that worked in the vehicle was the steering wheel. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was informed that the information retrieved from the computer system indicated that the accelerator pedal was activated, and the brake pedal was depressed for six seconds. The failure mileage was approximately 977.
The contact owned a 2026 Rivian R1S. The contact stated that while at a red light and idled, the vehicle accelerated violently, and the vehicle was uncontrollable. The contact depressed the brake pedal; however, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. The contact's vehicle crashed into another vehicle and damaged the rear corner bumper of the other vehicle. The vehicle then crashed into a median strip where there was a 5-foot boulder. The contact stated that the vehicle crashed into a five-foot boulder, and the vehicle was damaged. In addition, the contact stated that the failure occurred when the accelerator pedal was depressed while leaving from a red light stop sign. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. The contact sustained bumps and bruises. In addition, the contact received whiplash to the right side of her neck and scratches from the air bag deploying. The contact's six-year-old granddaughter, who was seated in the rear seat, received no injuries. A Police report was filed. The contact stated that the failure was very scary, and the only thing that worked in the vehicle was the steering wheel. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was informed that the information retrieved from the computer system indicated that the accelerator pedal was activated, and the brake pedal was depressed for six seconds. The failure mileage was approximately 977.
I have had siginificant issues with my new 2026 rivian R1S specifically based around two key areas: 1. inaccurate battery range reporting/capacity below 20% charge 2. inaccurate mapbox navigation. Those two issues combine to create a dangerous situation in extreme conditions for a vehicle specifically designed and marketed for off-road adventure (snow, rain, below freezing temperatures) and for large capacity (7 passengers). These two issues have left me and my family stranded three different times in remote locations in spite of our best efforts to keep the vehicle well charged and cross referencing navigation with other apps. I have taken the vehicle to Rivian service twice already and I was assured that the software update 38.30, but that is not the case. This left me stranded in Lone Pine, California where I had to abandon the vehicle and have it towed back to the Burbank service center and again near Mt. Shasta, California. Both were in December 2025, in sub-freezing conditions at night after repeated charging attempts. This created additional issues where the 12V battery charge ran down, the vehicle couldn’t get into Neutral to be towed and in all cases, Rivian roadside assistance was not able help beyond scheduling a service appointment.
I have had siginificant issues with my new 2026 rivian R1S specifically based around two key areas: 1. inaccurate battery range reporting/capacity below 20% charge 2. inaccurate mapbox navigation. Those two issues combine to create a dangerous situation in extreme conditions for a vehicle specifically designed and marketed for off-road adventure (snow, rain, below freezing temperatures) and for large capacity (7 passengers). These two issues have left me and my family stranded three different times in remote locations in spite of our best efforts to keep the vehicle well charged and cross referencing navigation with other apps. I have taken the vehicle to Rivian service twice already and I was assured that the software update 38.30, but that is not the case. This left me stranded in Lone Pine, California where I had to abandon the vehicle and have it towed back to the Burbank service center and again near Mt. Shasta, California. Both were in December 2025, in sub-freezing conditions at night after repeated charging attempts. This created additional issues where the 12V battery charge ran down, the vehicle couldn’t get into Neutral to be towed and in all cases, Rivian roadside assistance was not able help beyond scheduling a service appointment.
I am writing to report a serious safety incident involving my 2026 Rivian R1S. While I was slowly parking the vehicle, it suddenly experienced what appears to be unintended acceleration, causing the car to lunge forward uncontrollably and crash directly into my home. This resulted in significant property damage as well as injuries to the passengers inside the vehicle. Earlier in the drive, I had also reported experiencing electronic and system irregularities, which now seem potentially related to this failure. Given the severity of the incident and the concerning sequence of events
I am writing to report a serious safety incident involving my 2026 Rivian R1S. While I was slowly parking the vehicle, it suddenly experienced what appears to be unintended acceleration, causing the car to lunge forward uncontrollably and crash directly into my home. This resulted in significant property damage as well as injuries to the passengers inside the vehicle. Earlier in the drive, I had also reported experiencing electronic and system irregularities, which now seem potentially related to this failure. Given the severity of the incident and the concerning sequence of events
Summary of the problem: The rear liftgate on my Rivian failed to detect an obstruction while closing and continued to close despite contact with a person. What happened: While the rear liftgate was automatically closing, I was unaware it was coming down and walked into it. The liftgate made contact with my upper body/face and did not stop or reverse as expected. Instead, it continued closing and forced me to the ground. Safety issue: The liftgate’s safety sensor failed to detect a human obstruction, creating a serious risk of injury. This is especially dangerous for children or shorter individuals who may be struck in the head or face. Injuries: I sustained bruising to my face and was knocked to the ground as a result of the liftgate continuing to close after impact. Why this is dangerous: A properly functioning power liftgate should stop and reverse when it encounters resistance. This system failed entirely, posing a significant safety hazard. There were no warnings or components that alerted before or after it failed to sense.
Summary of the problem: The rear liftgate on my Rivian failed to detect an obstruction while closing and continued to close despite contact with a person. What happened: While the rear liftgate was automatically closing, I was unaware it was coming down and walked into it. The liftgate made contact with my upper body/face and did not stop or reverse as expected. Instead, it continued closing and forced me to the ground. Safety issue: The liftgate’s safety sensor failed to detect a human obstruction, creating a serious risk of injury. This is especially dangerous for children or shorter individuals who may be struck in the head or face. Injuries: I sustained bruising to my face and was knocked to the ground as a result of the liftgate continuing to close after impact. Why this is dangerous: A properly functioning power liftgate should stop and reverse when it encounters resistance. This system failed entirely, posing a significant safety hazard. There were no warnings or components that alerted before or after it failed to sense.
The access to open the rear doors in case of a power failure is complex and not practical or safe.
The access to open the rear doors in case of a power failure is complex and not practical or safe.
I would like to file a safety concern regarding the vehicles rear doors. The manual latch is covered by a strong piece of plastic that cannot be opened in a quick emergency. I am very worried as I drive with family and I don’t want them to potentially be stuck. The front doors have an easy manual latch right next to the electric door open button, and I would like to report this concern as the back doors should also have a manual latch just like the front. The current latches genuinely are difficult to open.
I would like to file a safety concern regarding the vehicles rear doors. The manual latch is covered by a strong piece of plastic that cannot be opened in a quick emergency. I am very worried as I drive with family and I don’t want them to potentially be stuck. The front doors have an easy manual latch right next to the electric door open button, and I would like to report this concern as the back doors should also have a manual latch just like the front. The current latches genuinely are difficult to open.
What Owners Are Saying
"New R1S owner! I posted here three weeks ago asking if I should go for the R1S. After reading all your comments and thinking, I pulled the trigger. I ordered a 2026 Rivian R1S and sold my Porsche Macan S. I do miss the Macan S, but I have no desire to go back. As someone who usually doesn't care about tech stuff in cars, I’m honestly surprised by how well Rivian designed everything. They’ve made the driving experience so much more intuitive. I was worried about the size, but once I got behind the wheel, it didn't feel too big for city driving. Parallel parking is not bad. I had a 360 degree camera in the Porsche, but the Rivian’s camera quality is significantly better. I get carsick when sitting in the back with my toddler, and the R1S gives me about the same level of motion sickness as other cars. Also, my child complains much less now! We think it’s because the visibility is so much better, my child tells me if signals are green or red colors lol she keeps saying that “I’m high in the car”, and I’m like 😅🤣 please don’t say that to your teachers or friends without any context (she just turned 3). Overall, I’m very happy!"
"Why the 2026 Rivian R1S is a great family SUV — real-world car-seat experience Took the R1S out for a family run the other day and came away impressed. We have one child now and another on the way, and we drove three toddlers (plus adults) to the symphony with zero stress. Here’s what stood out from that trip. Car seats used - Graco SlimFit3™ LX 3-in-1 Car Seat What worked on the trip • Seating capacity and layout — We had two child seats installed and a third child seat behind the driver; the third row was easy to access and still comfortable for kids. • Room for adults — With the three toddlers and their seats in place, there was still space for another adult if needed. • Cargo and storage — The frunk is genuinely useful; I sometimes forget it’s there because the rear cargo area still has ample space even with the third row up. • Overall comfort — Long-ish drive to the symphony felt relaxed for both kids and adults; the interior layout makes loading and unloading straightforward. Practical takeaways for prospective buyers • Child-seat compatibility — The R1S handles multiple child seats well; you can fit two across and a third behind the driver without crowding the cabin. • Third-row usability — The third row is easy to access for toddlers and small children, making it practical for family outings. • Adult seating flexibility — Even with three child seats, there’s room for an extra adult, which is great for carpooling or multi-family trips. • Storage balance — The frunk adds useful storage without sacrificing rear cargo space when the third row is in use. Quick tips from our experience • Install the child seats and do a test run with all passengers before a long trip to confirm comfort and access. • Use the frunk for items you want quick access to (diaper bag, snacks) while keeping the rear cargo for larger gear. • If you expect to regularly carry three child seats, try different seating configurations at home to find the easiest loading pattern. Final thoughts Very happy with how the R1S handled a full family outing — roomy, practical, and surprisingly versatile. Excited for the many future trips ahead."
"Progressive offering $2k diminished value on repaired Rivian R1S - fair or low? Hey all - looking for a sanity check from other Rivian owners (especially anyone who’s dealt with DV after an accident). Vehicle: • 2025 Rivian R1S Dual Motor AWD (purchased Dec 2024) • Color: El Cap Granite • Interior: Black Mountain + Dark Ash Wood • Options: 22” Range wheels, Premium Audio, Dynamic Glass Roof • No prior accidents • Mileage: \~6,700 at time of accident, \~9,300 now • Location: Washington, DC Accident/repairs: • Not at fault (other driver insured by Progressive) • Date of loss: July 4, 2025 • No airbags deployed • Repairs totaled about $41,875 (Rosslyn Auto Body) • Major work included replacement/repair in the left rear quarter area (weld/structural procedures) + rear suspension components (control arms/knuckle/hub/strut/air suspension-related work), plus rear body parts (tailgate/bumper area). Basically a big hit with substantial body + suspension work, not just cosmetic. Diminished Value: Progressive just offered $2,000 DV. Their adjuster said they look at: • severity/structural (frame) damage • repair cost • and CARFAX pricing differences between comparable “clean” vs “accident history” vehicles with similar mileage Question: For a 2025 R1S with \~$42k in repairs (quarter + suspension work), does $2k DV sound reasonable, or does that feel low? If you’ve had DV paid out on an R1S/R1T, what range did you see and what factors mattered most? Appreciate any real-world numbers or advice on how you approached negotiation/appraisal."
"New Rivian R1S Owner TLDR: Rivian fix your Premium audio, its awful!! those that currently have, or have owned higher-end vehicles expect more from the sound system. Fix the rattles and cheap feeling trim and panel parts. Hey everyone, I’m a new R1S owner and wanted to share some early thoughts and experiences so far. My hope is that Rivian continues iterating in the right direction over time. I’m sure some of these points have already been mentioned by others, but I figured I’d add my perspective. Vehicle Specs * Model: 2026 Rivian R1S Dual Motor * Battery: Large Battery * Performance Upgrade: Yes * Exterior: El Cap Granite (absolutely love this color) * Interior: Ocean Coast + Dark Ash * Package: Darkout Package * Wheels: 22" Sport Rims * Options: Sound + Vision Package with Premium Audio * MSRP: $96K-ish What’s Great Design and Interior The R1S is a beautiful vehicle. I really like the boxy design and the interior is truly impressive. Small design details stand out in a good way: * Yellow accents throughout the vehicle * Real wood trim * Bronze/silver speaker grills These touches make the interior feel premium and well thought out. I also really like the two-screen layout. The screens are perfectly sized and the integrated dashboard design looks far better than the floating tablet style Tesla uses. Space and Practicality The space works perfectly for my family, wife, 2 kids and a large dog. I also own a 2022 Tesla Model Y Performance, and having a Level 2 Tesla charger in the garage that can charge both vehicles is fantastic. Range So far the range has been exactly what I need. Personally, I cannot imagine owning the standard battery. In my opinion, the Large or max battery is the way to go with a vehicle of this size. Build and Driving Experience A few standout positives: * The door closing sound feels solid and premium (kind of a Mercedes vibe here) * Road and wind noise are extremely low (far better than my Model Y Performance) * Camera quality is excellent * With the Performance upgrade, acceleration is surprisingly strong For something this large and heavy, it’s almost as quick as my Model Y Performance, which is genuinely impressive. Not So Great Premium Audio System This is my biggest disappointment. The premium audio system is honestly awful, and I don’t understand how Rivian shipped something this poor while charging extra for it. Something feels fundamentally wrong with the tuning. For context: * I am on the latest software * I’ve tried multiple EQ configurations * I’ve tested Apple Music (Dolby Atmos tracks sound pretty good) * I’ve tried Spotify on Very High quality * I’ve tested Bluetooth audio No matter what I do, it still sounds bad. The best way I can describe it: * Soulless sound * Muddy overall profile * Weak bass * Poor midrange * Highs that lack clarity It honestly feels like the system was not engineered by someone experienced in building a premium audio system. I’m hoping Rivian"
Showing 4 of 8 owner excerpts (sorted by sentiment strength)