Rivian continues to improve its off-road mode settings, offering more options for specific scenarios. RJ Scaringe recently confirmed that one of the recent improvements coming to the R1S and R1T Tri-motor (and likely the Quad motor trims too) is improved deep-sand performance.
Off-Roading in Sand
Driving on deep sand can be challenging for even adventurous vehicles like the R1T and R1S – and off-roading in sand requires some preparation from both the driver and the manufacturer. Otherwise, it's easy to begin digging your tires into the sand and sinking till you high-center your vehicle.
These deep-sand specific tunings will likely improve R1 model performance when traveling in sand in several ways. The first is likely that they’ll be better able to track wheel slippage – because once you start having a wheel slip, that means it's digging into the sand. Stopping slippage can be the difference between getting across that dune or getting stuck.
In addition, changes to how regenerative braking occurs will likely need to be fine-tuned for coming to a stop in the sand – lest you slide forward or dig in as the weight of the vehicle comes to a rest. This can be solved by slowing down deceleration and coming to a smooth and straight stop.
Sand also tends to form wakes, similar to a boat in water, as wheels tread through it at speed. Accounting for the wakes of the front wheels in the rear wheels will likely make the tri-motor variants even better off-road.
Sand Recovery
Finally, some vehicle manufacturers have also implemented sand-recovery modes on their off-roading vehicles. Rivian likely has or will look into adding a similar feature – especially given the air suspension on the R1T and R1S – which makes them ideal for bouncing the vehicle out of the sand.
We’re looking forward to Rivian’s improvements in the off-roading field – especially since Rivian provides such an eco-friendly way to take your vehicle off-road and into nature. That adventurous spirit that’s behind Rivian’s decisions is always good to see.
Our team is further developing the deep sand performance of the Tri-Motor R1! It’s incredible :) pic.twitter.com/DNzlGaSVAH
Rivian has been bringing a fun and unique ‘Halloween Mode’ to its vehicles every year since 2022, and 2024 isn’t going to be an exception.
Rivian’s Halloween Mode enables special features or themes, and you’re free to enable or disable them whenever you’d like, but they’re only available for a select time.
We’re excited to see what’s in store for 2024, and we have some predictions, but before we dive into 2024, let’s take a look at what Rivian’s Halloween Mode brought us in the past.
Halloween Mode 2022
Rivian’s 2022 Halloween Mode was the first Halloween Mode update and brought with it a slew of fun features. Locking and unlocking your vehicle would play an Owl’s hoot, and the interior lights were set to a bloody red. Gear Guard Garry got a make-over too! To celebrate the spookiness of Halloween, he donned a skeleton outfit. Best of all, pedestrians around your vehicle would be displayed as zombies, shambling their way through un-life around you.
You can see the blood-red interior lights, listen to the owl’s hoot and see Gear Guard Gary in the 2022 Halloween Mode below, which was added in update 2022.38:
Halloween Mode 2023
In 2023, Rivian brought a few additional changes to Halloween Mode to spice things up. Locking and unlocking the vehicle played the opening and closing notes of Dracula’s theme. This time, the interior lights were set to an evil green color, and Gear Guard Garry donned Dracula’s cape and some vampiric teeth. The pedestrians got some companions too, with bats now flying around the zombies. In addition to pedestrians being turned into zombies, motorcycles are now turned into witches flying on a broom.
There’s one more neat trick for 2023, too – when the vehicle doors open, a pumpkin will roll out of the door in the vehicle’s visualization. That occurred in both the vehicle and in the app.
Rivian’s 2023 Halloween Mode update was added in update 2023.38. The video below shows the full set of features and visualizations:
Halloween Mode 2024
We’re hoping that Halloween Mode 2024 comes with another bivy of spooky changes – maybe this time Rivian will double down on the zombie theme, and we’ll get a Gear Guard Zombie Garry. We’d love for Rivian to take advantage of the new charging indicator light bar in Gen 2 vehicles, so hopefully we’ll see that added as well.
This year will also be Rivian’s first Halloween with its new cell-shaded design in the app and in the vehicle, so expect some new visualization art.
Rivian’s 2024 Halloween Mode is expected to launch in Rivian’s next update, presumably update 2024.39.
The Rivian R1S and the Tesla Model X are two of the premiere choices when buying a large electric SUV. So, we put together a buyer’s guide to help customers search for their EV of choice.
Both the R1S and the Model X are fantastic vehicles, and we’re not here to put one up or the other down. Instead, we’ll be looking at the advantages each vehicle brings – everyone has different needs for their vehicle, and some may favor one over the other.
Price, Range, and Specs
The R1S and the Model X are both unique vehicles in their own right, but each has their own set of configurations that could work better for your family. The table below compares some of the basic specs of these vehicles.
Vehicle
Price (USD)
Range
0-60 mph
Seats
Model X LR
$79,990
335mi
3.8s
5, 6, or 7*
Model X Plaid
$94,990
326mi
2.5s
6
R1S Standard
$75,900
270mi
4.5s
7
R1S Large
$82,900
330mi
3.4s
7
R1S Max
$89,900
410mi
3.4s
7
R1S Tri Max
$105,900
371mi
2.9s
7
R1S Quad Max**
TBC
350mi est.
2.6s
7
* The Model X LR can be equipped with 5, 6, or 7 seat interiors. ** The R1S Quad Max pricing and range are unavailable today, and deliveries will begin in 2025.
All the prices listed above are without considering any Federal, State, or Provincial EV Rebates you may qualify for.
Seating
Not a Tesla App
The Model X offers more flexibility in terms of seating, with buyers being able to pick from a 5-seat configuration with a bench seat in the second row and more cargo room or go up to a 6-seat layout with captain chairs and a center row. The 7-seat configuration keeps the bench seat in the second row and the two rear seats in the third row.
The R1S only has a single-seat configuration with a bench seat in the second row and two seats in the third row.
Not a Tesla App
Interior
When looking at the interiors of each vehicle, both are well-equipped and luxurious right off the bat. Both vehicles come in vegan leather alternatives, and the seats are well-designed and comfortable.
Rivian
Rivian and Tesla both have unique interior finishes – the R1S comes with the improved Ascend finish on the Tri-Max and the Quad Max, while the Model X Plaid comes with carbon fiber trim throughout the interior rather than the standard wooden finishes.
Both also have a set of unique internal finishes to choose from, all with high-quality materials. Tesla, for its part, focuses on black, white, and beige, while Rivian offers a wider range of colors. We suggest looking at both interiors online, and in person if you have the opportunity to.
Not a Tesla App
Road Tripping & Families
Both vehicles have some fantastic advantages for both road-tripping, as well as every day errands with the family.
In terms of interior access, the Model X, with its 6-seat layout, offers better access to and from the third row. The falcon wing doors also make it easier for passengers to get in and out of any of the rear seats. Since they’re automated doors and require very little space to open, it’s also easier for kids to get in and out of the vehicle. If your child is in a car seat, the falcon wing doors also provide a significant advantage when putting your child into the car seat since the doors open up over your head instead of swinging outward.
Not a Tesla App
On the flip side, the R1S is a larger vehicle all around, and the 7-seat configuration leaves you with plenty of space for a large family. However, third-row access will be more difficult since it requires you to flip down one of the second-row seats. The middle row leaves plenty of space for even taller people to get into. In fact, with three people in the back, you’ll find a considerably larger amount of shoulder room and foot room than in the Model X. If you’ve got a big family or find yourself driving around lots of people, the R1S offers a definite advantage in this area.
Rear Screen
Tesla / Rivian
The Model X comes with a fully capable rear display measuring almost 9 inches, which passengers can use for a wide variety of things, including playing games, watching videos on Netflix, YouTube, or other services, in addition to controlling parts of the vehicle such as seat heaters and the rear climate.
The R1S 6.8-inch rear display is aimed more at being a utility instead of offering entertainment benefits. It’ll let passengers control music, adjust the climate, and see your trip’s progress, but currently doesn’t offer the ability to watch any video content.
Both screens are placed directly behind the center armrest of the front seats, which gives an adequate view for passengers in the second row, but not the third.
Tesla has the advantages hands-down on this one, with the rear screen not only supporting video streaming while the vehicle is moving but also supporting a second channel of Bluetooth audio so that passengers in the back can listen to different content than the front passengers.
Rivian may add video capability to their rear screen in the future. However, it’s not clear whether they’ll support separate audio for the rear display. The Rivian display is also much smaller and has a non-standard ratio, meaning that video content won’t fill the whole screen.
Tesla also provides passengers in the front the ability to control the rear screen. If you have young kids, you can actually bring up the rear screen on the main display in the front and load up a video for your kids.
Storage Space
While both vehicles are considered “SUVs”, the R1S is the clear taker in terms of available storage space, both up front in the frunk, and cargo space in the back. However, the Model X does offer a fairly large amount of storage, and that may be good enough for most people.
Let’s take a look at the overall storage space capabilities of each vehicle.
Model X
R1S
Frunk
6.5 cu ft
11.1 cu ft
Trunk*
33.8 cu ft
46.7 cu ft
Roof Rack
Not Capable
Capable
Towing**
Up to 5000lb
Up to 7700lb
Vehicle Height
66”
77”
Vehicle Width
79”
82”
Vehicle Length
198”
201”
* This is cubic feet of space, with the third row folded flat in either vehicle.
** Towing specifications depend on tire size and motor options for each vehicle, and a proper weight-distributing hitch may be required. Consult the service manuals for exact details.
Charging
Both the R1S and the Model X are top-of-the-line electric vehicles, and both offer fantastic charging speeds and range.
The R1S offers a maximum charging speed of 220kW, while the Model X offers a maximum charging speed of 250kW. Overall, both vehicles, when pre-conditioned and at a low state of charge, will charge fairly quickly, making them both great choices for road-tripping. Of course, you can also use slower AC charging for either vehicle.
The largest difference in terms of charging is that the Model X is supported at every Tesla Supercharger - the largest and most reliable charging network in North America. The R1S can also be charged at some Tesla Superchargers, but it’ll need to be a V4 Supercharger that has a built-in adapter referred to as the “Magic Dock,” or you’ll need to have a NACS to CSS adapter.
Both vehicles are capable of charging at third-party CCS stations like Electrify America, but the Model X will require a CCS to NACS adapter. The R1S also supports charging at Rivian’s excellent Rivian Adventure Network (RAN) chargers, which are currently limited to Rivian vehicles. These chargers are typically located in adventuring hotspots throughout the continental United States.
Autonomy
On the autonomy front, Tesla is a clear winner – especially if you want a vehicle that can mostly drive itself today with minimal interventions. FSD is an exceptional software package that sees continuous OTA improvements, and for many subscribers and owners of the software – it’s a service that they couldn’t live without.
FSD Supervised today is a fantastic system able to route itself through city streets and highways, and get you from point A to point B, provided you’re paying attention and can intervene if the system can’t handle a situation.
And if you don’t want to use FSD, the Model X comes equipped with Basic Autopilot, which can provide adaptive cruise control and lane assist, as well as all the safety features that come standard on every Tesla.
Rivian, on the other hand, doesn’t offer a full autonomy package, but on their newer Generation 2 vehicles, it does offer some autonomy features that are similar to Tesla’s Basic Autopilot. Rivian is actively working on improving its autonomy software and promises to expand its functionality in the future. Rivian’s Driver+ on their Gen 1 vehicles (2024 and older) provides highway assist on select highways, as well as adaptive cruise control, lane assist, and lane change assist, alongside all of Rivian’s standard safety features.
Overall, Rivian’s package is less capable than Tesla’s today, but it still offers some driver-assist features on the highway.
Comfort & Luxury
When it comes to big SUVs, and especially luxury vehicle purchases in general, comfort is a big aspect in terms of the purchase. Both the R1S and the Model X bring adaptive air suspension, which means both vehicles ride more comfortably than most cars. The R1S does offer a few more adjustable comfort-focused options for its air suspension than the Model X, such as different drive modes, but the difference between the vehicles is remarkably close.
In terms of seat comfort, both the R1S and the Model X have spectacularly comfortable seats. The front seats on both vehicles are heated and cooled, while the second and third rows are limited to heated seats that can be controlled through the rear screen. Neither vehicle brings massage seats to the table, but if that’s a dealbreaker, we suggest waiting for Lucid’s upcoming Gravity SUV.
While the Model X has luxurious additions like auto-opening front doors as you approach, the amazing falcon-wing doors, and the ability to automatically open the frunk or trunk hands-free, the Rivian also has some of its own luxuries.
The Rivian R1S features a powered frunk which can be opened or closed from inside the vehicle or from the Rivian app. It also features some nice additions, such as the built-in flashlight, the optional built-in air compressor, or a dynamic glass roof that can be dimmed at the touch of a button. The R1S also includes customizable ambient lighting and support for surround sound using Dolby Atmos (requires a subscription to Connect+).
Rivian Wave
Software & Software Updates
Both brands offer very software-focused vehicles that receive software updates several times per year, roughly once per month. Both of these vehicles are constantly getting better and will receive new features that keep the vehicle feeling new and exciting. While the software user interface will be a personal preference, Tesla currently has more software features and entertainment options. However, both vehicles include features like Dog Mode / Pet Comfort, Sentry Mode / Gear Guard, Camp Mode, and Launch Mode for performance variants. Tesla and Rivian both like to toss in the occasional easter egg as well.
Summary
Both the Tesla Model X and the Rivian R1S are excellent vehicles in their own right, and each offers a unique and fresh take on the SUV experience. They’re both fantastic EVs, with some of the best battery and motor technology in the business, and you can’t go wrong selecting either one. In general, the Riviam R1S offers a more spacious interior with more cargo room with finer materials, while the Model X offers a more robust driver-assist system, a better charging network, more entertainment options, and a superior seat layout.
We highly recommend you head over to a Tesla Showroom and to a Rivian Space to get acquainted with both vehicles in person.
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