New updates to Rivian's R1 EVs boost performance and efficiency, but a bouncy suspension in the R1S needs some work.
) updated “second generation” R1 vehicles are finally hitting showrooms. For a company with just two models — the R1T pickup and R1S SUV — these pricey products need to be nearly perfect to keep sales momentum going.So expectations were high when Rivian rolled out an SUV built on the same platform as the truck in August of 2022. But somehow, the magic was gone due to some ride and handling issues. The second-gen version out now gives Rivian a second chance to get it right.
But more importantly, Rivian said it was revising the suspension and handling setup of the R1S, which would result in “smoother ride quality.” More on that later.The Rivian R1S, though boxy in appearance, does have soft edges in the right places, and that gives the car an upscale, modern look. It’s not surprising Rivian didn’t feel it had to update the vehicle’s design after a little over two years on the market, at least for the R1S.
That amount of horsepower is prodigious, but for a vehicle weighing around 7,000 lbs, it needs every horse it can get. While the acceleration was swift, it wasn’t as otherworldly as the quad-motor R1T that Yahoo Finance tested a couple of years back . My guess is that, perhaps, the 22-inch wheels and the slimmer all-season performance tires didn’t help matters either. To be fair, European automakers have been making vehicles with sport or track suspension settings that are nearly undrivable. Nonetheless, going into a less aggressive setting typically gives users a more relaxed and composed ride.
The bottom line: While the Rivian experience is generally a positive one, the new R1S pales in comparison to its pickup truck brother from a vehicle dynamics perspective, making it a tougher sell in the competitive luxury EV SUV market.
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