Rivian's second-generation R1S has arrived with a substantial performance upgrade, and the numbers are genuinely startling for a three-row family SUV. Here's how the updated Quad-motor flagship stacks up against its newest rivals.
1,025 Horsepower in a Three-Row SUV
The updated Quad-motor R1S produces 1,025 horsepower and 1,198 lb-ft of torque - figures that would have been considered supercar territory just a few years ago, now available in a vehicle with genuine three-row family-hauling capability.
How It Compares to New Rivals
In independent testing, the second-generation Quad-motor R1S has been benchmarked directly against the Lucid Gravity Dream Edition (1,070 hp, 909 lb-ft) and the Porsche Macan Turbo Electric - both new entrants in the increasingly competitive electric performance SUV space. The comparison also extended to combustion and hybrid rivals like the Audi RS Q8 Performance and Land Rover Range Rover SV, reflecting just how broad the competitive set has become for high-performance SUVs, regardless of powertrain.
A Crowded, Rapidly Advancing Segment
The current wave of ultra-high-performance SUVs - spanning the Rivian R1S, Lucid Gravity, Porsche Macan Turbo Electric, and Cadillac Escalade IQ - represents one of the fastest-moving corners of the auto industry right now, with each new model pushing power and performance figures that would have seemed implausible in this vehicle category even five years ago.
What This Means for Rivian Buyers
For existing and prospective R1S owners, the second-generation Quad-motor update represents a genuine leap forward in outright performance, while retaining the model's core value proposition: three-row seating, genuine off-road capability, and Rivian's distinctive design language, now paired with genuinely supercar-adjacent acceleration.
Looking Ahead
As Rivian continues to iterate on the R1S and R1T lineup, the brand's ability to keep pace with - and in some metrics exceed - established luxury and performance rivals suggests it has moved well past its early-stage startup phase into a genuine competitor in the premium EV space.
