Rivian R1 Dual-Motor First Drive: Cheaper R1S And R1T Are Only The Start – SlashGear

For now, though, it’s hard not to conclude that the R1 Dual-Motor versions are the pick of Rivian’s current line-up. Sure, power may be down versus the Quad-Motor configuration, but the only real sacrifice there is to bragging rights. Range is up (battery-depending), meanwhile, and though the delivery feels different, the off-road performance isn’t really lacking in comparison.

Even the visual differences are fairly negligible: look for black badge accents and silver brake calipers, versus the Quad-Motor’s bright yellow. Beyond that, though, there’s the same high-quality interior, the same big touchscreen dashboard (which, depending on your stance, may rely on that touchscreen too much and not have enough physical controls), and the same 200+ kW DC fast charging support.

Clearly, even this more efficient, more affordable R1 Dual-Motor series is still out of the reach of many would-be EV owners. The R1T and R1S remain a luxury pickup and SUV pair, regardless of whether they have two motors or four. All the same, Enduro’s recipe for more efficiency with less bulk and lower costs leaves the R1 feeling less like a lucky fluke and more the sign of an automaker with strategy, even if we’ll still need to be patient to see that play out on the road.