The 2027 Rivian R1S Starts at $83,990. Here’s the One Worth Buying.
The trail hardware carries over, the trims get plainer names, and a new six seat layout means nobody has to climb past a car seat to reach the back.
Families with a three row SUV know the routine. Somebody wants the way back, so the second row seat tips forward, the car seat in it has to come out or get climbed over, and a teenager folds into the third row like a camping chair. Then you do it all again at the next stop.
For 2027, the R1S doesn’t have to work that way. The big change is a pair of second row captain’s chairs with an open aisle between them, so people walk to the third row instead of crawling. Rivian calls them the most requested interior feature it has ever had.
Around those chairs sits the same off road capable family SUV, still offered with up to 1,025 horsepower, now with simpler trim names, fewer battery choices, and a starting price of $83,990 before the $1,895 destination fee. The question is which version earns your money, and whether the six seat layout should be on your order.
What Changed for 2027?
Rivian swapped motor counts for trim names. Dual is now Premium, Tri is now Performance, and Quad keeps its name as the top of the range. The new names match the R2, and nobody has to do arithmetic at the dealership anymore.
Beyond the names, the changes are the captain’s chairs, a new included paint called Esker Silver that replaces LA Silver, and new interior names. Premium offers Black Mountain and Ocean Coast. Performance and Quad get three Signature interiors called Slate Sky, Black Mountain, and Ocean Coast.
Underneath, little changed. In Rivian’s own words, “The vehicle underneath is the R1 you know.” The motors, the biggest battery, the air suspension, and the towing hardware all carry over. The battery menu is shorter, though. The smaller Standard and Large Plus packs from 2026 are gone, so the lineup now starts with the 329 mile Premium. If you’re shopping a leftover 2026 instead, our 2026 Rivian R1S review covers that model.
What Does Each Version Cost?
| Version | Motors | Horsepower | 0 to 60 mph | EPA range | Price before destination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premium | Two | 533 | 4.5 seconds | 329 miles | $83,990 |
| Premium Long Range | Two | 533 | 4.5 seconds | 410 miles | $90,990 |
| Performance | Three | 850 | 2.9 seconds | 371 miles | $106,990 |
| Quad | Four | 1,025 | 2.6 seconds | 338 to 374 miles | $121,990 |
Prices come from the Rivian configurator, range from the EPA, and power and acceleration from Rivian. The range figures are with 22 inch wheels. The Quad’s 2.6 second time needs its standard 22 inch Super Sport tires and Launch Mode, and those tires are why its range drops to 338 miles. Switch to the 22 inch Range wheels and the EPA rates it at 374.
The Premium has two useful add ons. Long Range costs $7,000 and lifts the range from 329 to 410 miles. The Power Upgrade costs $5,000 and raises output to 665 horsepower, cutting the 0 to 60 time to 3.4 seconds. Both can go on the same car.
Are the Captain’s Chairs Worth It?
For a lot of families, yes. The aisle between the chairs lets anyone walk into the third row without folding a seat or unbuckling a car seat. Both chairs are heated and fold flat, and Rivian says they keep full car seat tie downs. Each one has an armrest that stows flush into the seat and a cup holder that folds down from the inside edge. Skis and surfboards can also slide through the middle of the cabin while second row passengers stay seated.
The trade is one seat, so the R1S becomes a six seater. How much the chairs cost depends on the trim. On Performance and Quad, they’re a $1,500 option. On Premium, they come bundled with the Sound + Vision package, which adds the Dynamic Glass Roof and Rivian Premium Audio, for $4,000 together. Sound + Vision costs $2,500 by itself, so if you wanted that package anyway, the chairs add $1,500 on Premium too.
The seven seat bench is still available, with one catch on the pricier trims. On Premium, you can have it with either interior. On Performance and Quad, it comes only with the Black Mountain Signature interior. Fall for Slate Sky or Ocean Coast on those trims, and you’re a captain’s chair family.
My rule of thumb is simple. If the third row gets used every week, or there’s a car seat in the second row, get the chairs. If the third row is for the occasional carpool, keep the bench and the extra seat.
How Far Does It Go, and How Fast Does It Charge?
The EPA rates the Premium at 329 miles and the Premium Long Range at 410, the most in the lineup. Those numbers assume the 22 inch Range wheels. On 20 inch wheels, the EPA rates the Premium at 300 miles and the Long Range at 380, and the all terrain tires take off another 10 or 11 miles.
Efficiency is the R1S’s weak spot. The EPA rates the Premium at 85 MPGe combined, while a Lucid Gravity Touring is rated at 111. A tall, square SUV built to wade through rivers was never going to slice through the air, and the R1S makes up for it with big batteries rather than slippery styling.
On the road, the 2027 R1S has a NACS charge port, so it plugs straight into Tesla Superchargers. Rivian counts more than 21,500 of them, and it says the R1S can reach more than 50,000 public fast chargers with an adapter. Rivian sells a CCS1 DC adapter for $200, and a J1772 adapter for Level 2 chargers is included. Rivian quotes up to 150 miles of range in 20 minutes on its own Rivian Adventure Network. At home, its Wall Charger adds up to 25 miles of range per hour.
The Trail Hardware Didn’t Go Anywhere
This is still the family SUV that can embarrass a lot of dedicated off roaders. Rivian lists up to 14.7 inches of ground clearance from the air suspension and a water fording height of 39.4 inches, both depending on the suspension setting and wheel size. It rates towing at up to 7,700 pounds and payload at 1,764 pounds, depending on options and trim.
Where the trims differ is in the drive modes. Performance adds three more than Premium, called Drift, Rock Crawl, and Conserve. Rock Crawl is the one Rivian says can climb a 100 percent grade, and Conserve automatically switches between all wheel and front wheel drive to stretch the range. Rivian says the Performance can reach up to 405 miles in Conserve mode. That’s Rivian’s figure, not the EPA’s, and the official rating stays at 371.
The Quad goes further still, with a motor at each wheel and torque control at every corner. It’s the version for people who see a boulder field as an invitation.
How Much Room Is There?
The R1S is a true three row SUV. With the bench, Rivian says it has room for seven people and space for five car seats. Cargo space starts at 17.6 cubic feet behind the third row, grows to 48.6 with the third row folded, and reaches 90.7 with both rear rows down. The front trunk adds 9.9 cubic feet, enough for a full size golf bag or six grocery bags.
The rear opening is a split design. A power liftgate opens the top half for quick access, and a manual tailgate below folds down into a bench for lunch at the trailhead. Rear passengers get their own screen for climate, seating, and music, and the third row has cubbies with USB-C ports.
Is It Safe?
The 2027 R1S is an IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK+, the institute’s highest award. It earned Good ratings in all three crash tests and in pedestrian front crash prevention, with Acceptable ratings for its headlights and its vehicle to vehicle front crash prevention. For parents, it also earned Good ratings for its seat belt reminders and for how easy its LATCH child seat anchors are to use.
Rivian lists more than 20 safety and driver assistance features, including automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, and Highway Assist. Its Autonomy+ package of added driver assistance features is a $2,500 one time purchase.
How Does It Compare With the Lucid Gravity?
The Lucid Gravity is the closest rival, another American three row EV in the same price range. The Gravity Touring starts at $79,900 before destination, $4,090 less than an R1S Premium, and the EPA rates it at 337 miles. At the top of the range, the Gravity Grand Touring starts at $98,900 and is rated at up to 437 miles as a three row SUV, more than any R1S.
So the Lucid wins on efficiency and range. The Rivian answers with the off road hardware, the towing, and a front trunk with a drain in the floor, so the sand from the beach trip can be rinsed straight out. Our R1S vs Gravity comparison goes through them category by category.
If you need three rows but never leave the pavement, the 2026 Kia EV9 starts at $54,900, about $29,000 less than the R1S. For the full field, see our guide to the best three row electric SUVs.
My Take
The 2027 R1S is the same brilliant, slightly ridiculous family SUV it was last year, with one change that makes daily life easier. The captain’s chairs fix the most annoying part of owning a three row SUV, and the new trim names make the lineup easier to understand.
My pick is the Premium Long Range at $90,990 before destination. It has the most range in the lineup, 533 horsepower is plenty for a family SUV, and it keeps the trail hardware that makes an R1S an R1S. The $7,000 buys 81 more EPA miles, which matters most on road trips and towing weekends. If your driving is mostly school runs and errands, the regular Premium’s 329 miles is plenty, and the savings cover a lot of charging. If your third row gets used every week, add the captain’s chairs for $4,000, which also gets you the Dynamic Glass Roof and the better sound system. That makes my ideal R1S $94,990, or $96,885 with destination. If you want Rock Crawl mode or the Signature interiors, the Performance at $106,990 is the next step, and its chairs cost only $1,500.
The biggest weakness is efficiency. The R1S Premium is rated at 85 MPGe against 111 for a Gravity Touring, so it uses about 30 percent more energy per mile. The price climbs quickly too. My ideal R1S lands about $3,100 short of $100,000 with destination.
The R1S could always climb a mountain, and now the kids can walk to the back.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the 2027 Rivian R1S cost?
The R1S Premium starts at $83,990 before the $1,895 destination fee. The Premium Long Range is $90,990, the Performance is $106,990, and the Quad is $121,990.
What is the range of the 2027 Rivian R1S?
The EPA rates the R1S at 329 miles for the Premium, 410 for the Premium Long Range, 371 for the Performance, and up to 374 for the Quad, all with 22 inch Range wheels. Other choices cost range, including 20 inch wheels, all terrain tires, and the Quad’s standard Super Sport tires, which drop it to 338 miles.
How much do the R1S captain’s chairs cost?
They’re a $1,500 option on the Performance and Quad. On the Premium, they come with the Sound + Vision package for $4,000 together.
Does the 2027 R1S still come with seven seats?
Yes. The seven seat bench is available with both interiors on the Premium, and with the Black Mountain Signature interior on the Performance and Quad.
Can the 2027 Rivian R1S use Tesla Superchargers?
Yes. It has a NACS charge port, so it plugs straight into Tesla Superchargers. A CCS1 adapter for other fast chargers is a $200 accessory.
What’s the difference between the R1S Premium and Performance?
The Premium has two motors and 533 horsepower, or 665 with the Power Upgrade. The Performance has three motors and 850 horsepower, adds the Drift, Rock Crawl, and Conserve drive modes, and comes with Signature interiors.
