Our Honest Review After 6 Months with a Rivian R1S Tri Motor

Our Honest Review After 6 Months with a Rivian R1S Tri Motor

When we decided to purchase our very first electric vehicle, we knew we wanted something practical, powerful, and unique. After doing a lot of research on EVs, we decided to test drive the Rivian R1S — and honestly, that was all it took. We immediately fell in love with the design, the technology, the performance, and the overall feel of the SUV.

We ultimately purchased the Rivian R1S Tri Motor in Forest Green — partly because green is my favorite color, but also because the Rivian design simply stood out from everything else on the road.

We specifically chose the Tri Motor version because it offered more range than the Dual Motor option, and honestly… I loved the yellow accents that come with the Tri Motor package. They give the SUV a sporty and distinctive look without being over the top.

After six months of ownership, we can honestly say this has been one of the coolest vehicles we’ve ever owned. But like any car, especially an EV, there are definitely pros and cons. So if you’re considering buying a Rivian R1S, here’s our real-world experience so far.

Why We Chose the Rivian R1S Tri Motor

The Rivian R1S checked a lot of boxes for us:

• 7-seat SUV
• Tons of storage
• Luxury feel
• Incredible horsepower
• Off-road capability
• Long EV range
• Hands-free driving technology
• Unique styling

Plus, the buying experience was completely different from a traditional dealership. We purchased the vehicle entirely online after doing a test drive beforehand, and honestly, it was one of the best car-buying experiences we’ve ever had. No sitting at a dealership for hours negotiating back and forth. The delivery experience and customer service were exceptional from start to finish.

Now let’s get into the real PROS & CONS after actually living with the Rivian every day.

PROS OF OWNING A RIVIAN R1S TRI MOTOR

1. Never Going to the Gas Station Again

This is hands-down one of our favorite things about owning an EV. We charge our Rivian at home, and our electric rate is only $0.11822 per kWh. On average, we charge around 90 kWh, which comes out to about $10.64 for a full charge.

Compare that to our old gas vehicle that cost well over $100 to fill up, and the savings are massive. Even better, we have solar panels with 2 Tesla Powerwalls at our home, so most of the time it essentially feels free to charge our Rivian. Not dealing with gas stations anymore has honestly been a game changer.

2. The Size of the SUV

The Rivian R1S is the perfect size for us. Even though it’s technically a 7-seater SUV, we rarely use all the seats. What we do love is the amount of cargo space and overall practicality. Grocery runs are easy and there’s plenty of room for larger items in the back. The SUV feels spacious without feeling overly massive while driving.

3. The Horsepower is Wild

The Tri Motor version has around 850 horsepower… and yes, it is ridiculously fun.

The acceleration is instant. You can take off incredibly fast, merge onto freeways effortlessly, and honestly, it makes driving exciting again. For an SUV this size to move this quickly is pretty crazy.

4. The Hands-Free Autonomy Feature

One of the coolest features on the Rivian has been the hands-free freeway driving system.

During the first four months of ownership, we had a free trial where the vehicle could drive hands-free on compatible freeways and even perform lane changes automatically without touching the steering wheel. It genuinely worked really well.

The only downside is that after the trial ends, the feature costs $2,500 for lifetime access. We haven’t purchased it yet, but we probably will because we enjoyed using it that much.

5. The Frunk

The front trunk — or “frunk” — is another great feature. Honestly, we rarely use it, but it’s nice knowing we have all that extra storage space available whenever we need it.

6. The Elevated Driving Height

This one is kind of a love/hate feature, but overall we love it.

The Rivian sits higher than most vehicles on the road, and we really enjoy having that elevated driving position. You can see traffic better, visibility feels great, and it gives the SUV a commanding presence on the road.

7. Built-In Air Compressor

One underrated feature is the built-in air compressor located in the back of the vehicle. It’s one of those things you may not use every day, but when you need it, you’re really glad it’s there.

8. No Oil Changes or Smog Tests

No oil changes. No smog checks. Less maintenance overall. Coming from gas-powered vehicles, this has been amazing. It simplifies ownership quite a bit.

CONS OF OWNING A RIVIAN R1S TRI MOTOR

1. The Real-World Milage Range Isn’t What’s Advertised

This is probably our biggest disappointment.

One of the main reasons we purchased the Tri Motor version was for the additional mileage. According to Rivian’s website, the R1S Tri Motor should get:

• 371 miles in regular drive mode
• 405 miles in conserve mode

But in reality, when we charge our Rivian to 100%, we only see around 346 miles of driving mileage. That’s about 25 miles less than advertised.

And since Rivian recommends only charging to around 85% for regular daily driving, that brings our usable mileage down to about 297 miles. That’s still ok, but definitely something buyers should know before purchasing.

2. You Have to Charge More Often Than You Think

Even though the Rivian gets decent mileage, we still find ourselves charging at least once a week — sometimes more depending on how much we drive.

For some people, that’s totally fine. But if you drive a lot throughout the week like we do for work, constantly being aware of your battery percentage and planning charging times is definitely an adjustment compared to simply filling up at a gas station whenever needed.

3. Charging Takes Time

Charging at home is convenient, but it definitely takes patience.

We use a Tesla Universal Wall Charger at home and typically try not to let the vehicle drop below 60 miles of remaining range. On average, charging takes around 5–7 hours at home depending on how low the battery is.

Now, if we use a Tesla Supercharger, charging is much faster — usually around 40 minutes. We actually enjoy doing this occasionally when we’re grocery shopping near a Supercharger station.

4. The Charging Port Placement

This is one of the strangest design choices Rivian made. The charging port is located on the driver-side front corner of the SUV, which can make charging at Tesla Superchargers awkward.

A lot of the times we end up taking up two charging spaces because the charging cables aren’t long enough to comfortably reach the port. It’s not a deal breaker, but it’s definitely annoying. Tesla owners are not always thrilled when Rivian owners have to take up two charging spots just to plug in. Hopefully future charging stations or longer cables eventually solve this issue.

5. No Glove Box

This feels like a huge miss. There is no traditional glove box in the Rivian R1S, and we honestly miss having that extra front storage. Ironically, Rivian added a glove box to the upcoming R2 models, which tells us we probably weren’t the only people wanting one.

6. The AC Vent Controls

The AC vent controls are entirely touchscreen controlled, and honestly… they can be frustrating.

Trying to electronically position the airflow exactly where you want it sometimes feels harder than it should be. I can never seem to get the air to hit my face perfectly, lol. It’s a small complaint, but definitely worth mentioning.

7. The Price Tag

Our Rivian R1S Tri Motor cost $122,284.93, making it the most expensive vehicle we’ve ever purchased.

Now obviously, not all Rivians cost this much. Pricing depends heavily on the motor configuration, battery size, upgrades, and options selected. But there’s no denying this is a luxury-priced SUV.

Final Thoughts – Would We Buy It Again?

Overall, absolutely yes.

Even with a few frustrations and adjustments that come with owning an EV, we genuinely love our Rivian R1S Tri Motor. It’s fast, comfortable, practical, unique, and incredibly fun to drive. The savings on gas, charging at home, lower maintenance, advanced technology, and overall driving experience have made this SUV feel like a major upgrade from anything we’ve owned before.

Of course, there are tradeoffs. Charging takes longer than filling up a gas tank, the real-world mileage isn’t quite what’s advertised, and the price tag is definitely steep. But for us, the positives far outweigh the negatives.

As first-time EV owners, our first six months with the Rivian have been a great experience, and if you can comfortably afford one and understand the lifestyle adjustments that come with EV ownership, we would absolutely recommend it.

If you’re interested in learning more about Cactus Bloom, joining the interest list, or receiving updates as floor plans, pricing, and lot releases become available, feel free to reach out. As new information is released, we’ll continue to provide updates on this highly anticipated community.

If you’re considering buying or selling a home in the Las Vegas Valley, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’ll get back to you personally and promptly. Thanks for visiting!

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel

Angela O’Hare
Favorite Las Vegas Realtor
Lic. #180246
702-370-5112
[email protected]
www.neighborhoodsinlasvegas.com