Electric power has penetrated every segment of the automotive industry in 2024. Whether it is hybrid technology or fully electric, its advantages have become too attractive to ignore. While most mainstream manufacturers are leading this new technology, new independent brands have also become some of the best brands in the world in terms of maximizing the potential of the electric motor.
One such brand is Rivian, which was founded in 2009. Rivian released its first production model, the R1T in 2021, followed by the R1S SUV in 2022. This all-electric SUV has taken the American startup to new heights by excelling in one of the most competitive segments of the industry, managing to compete directly with companies like BMW and Tesla.
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One common thing with all-electric vehicles is that they are usually much more expensive than gas-powered models in the same segment. This is especially the case with luxury EVs, including the 2024 Rivian R1S. With a starting price of $74,900, the R1S can be made even more expensive when fully loaded with the performance and design options offered with the model. Here’s a look at the 2024 Rivian R1S with the most expensive features.
The Rivian R1S is an ambitious full-size electric SUV that prioritises off-road performance. It’s part of the EV start-up’s flagship range. For now, it’s one of the best options if you’re looking for a stylish and robust SUV that you can take anywhere without much hassle. Thankfully, the brand has kept the range’s specifications fairly simple and easy to understand, so it’s not too much of a challenge to know what exactly you get for your money.
The R1S is a fairly well-appointed EV that’s packed with comfort, convenience and entertainment features. Rivian fits most of these as standard, but there are a few optional extras that you’ll have to pay extra for. This feature covers everything you need to know about the Rivian R1S’s specifications and standard features To give you as up-to-date and accurate information as possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from Rivian’s websites and other official sources, including Car and Driver, the EPA and the IIHS.
Opting for the $79,900 Performance Dual-Motor AWD Drive System
When configuring the 2024 Rivian R1S, you’ll first be given the option of which drive system you want to fit in the electric SUV. With three different drive systems available, the starting price depends on which system you choose, but if you want to make the R1S as expensive as possible, you can’t actually choose the top-spec quad-motor AWD powertrain.
Instead, the middle-spec Performance Dual-Motor AWD drive system keeps the Max Battery Pack available, which then drives the price up as much as possible. The R1S starting price has been raised slightly to $79,900 for the Performance Dual-Motor AWD trim.
The only way to avoid these is to accept a downgrade from the 800+ hp four-motor powertrain and larger battery to the 600+ hp dual-motor setup, with the new standard battery pack expected to have a range of over 260 miles.
Since the EV startup has already implemented these changes in its online configurators, we wanted to see how much a fully loaded R1S electric SUV costs now, so we ticked all the available boxes.
Starting with the exterior, we opted for the Adventure package, which starts at $78,000, with the iconic Rivian Blue paint (a $2,500 option) and 22-inch Sport Dark rims ($3,500). For the interior, we opted for the optional Ocean Coast interior theme, which costs $2,000.
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2024 Rivian R1S Performance Dual-Motor AWD All-Terrain Max Battery Specifications
| Powertrain | Dual-Electric Motors with 149 kWh Battery Pack |
| Transmission | Single-Speed Automatic |
| Horsepower | 665 HP |
| Torque | 829 LB-FT |
| Driveline | AWD |
| 0-60 MPH | 3.5 Seconds |
| Top Speed | 110 MPH |
| EPA-Estimated Range | 355 Miles |
| Towing Capacity | 7,700 lbs |
| Payload Capacity | 1,764 lbs |
Then we chose the quad-motor AWD drive system, now a $6,000 option, and the larger battery pack, which also costs $6,000. After that, we spent our virtual money on all the accessories available for the R1S.
These included a Yakima three-person tent complete with cargo crossbars ($3,100), reinforced underbody shield ($2,000), compact spare tire ($550), all-weather floor mats ($225), off-road recovery kit ($600), and field kit ($150).
Finally, we spent $750 on the Rivian wall charger and all the available rooftop mounts ($1,140). The estimated cost of this financially irresponsible experiment was $106,515 — or $1,639 per month for a 72-month lease contract.
Interestingly, this is almost the same price as the 2024 GMC Hummer EV SUV Edition 1, which has a starting price of $105,595. Other EVs you can buy for this same price include the refreshed Tesla Model X ($110,490) and the Porsche Taycan 4S Cross Turismo ($111,650), though you should keep in mind that these prices do not include any options.
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