The Most Versatile Electric SUV For 2025

Electric SUVs and crossovers are all the rave in the global new vehicle market at the moment. In terms of overall sales, they aren’t the most popular product as yet because they remain niche and aspirational options. However, their popularity continues to rapidly increase with each sales quarter that passes. The increasing overall popularity means that the competition has become increasingly aggressive as brands put their best foot forward to

deliver some accomplished electrified SUVs and crossovers
. At the moment, there seems to be a dramatic focus on creating road-biased high-riding options, as most SUV owners appear not to engage in adventurous driving conditions.

There is a decent selection of compelling and versatile

SUVs that can conquer multiple surfaces
, but there’s one particular option from a relatively young brand that has taken the industry by storm. The large EV SUV option has been enjoying immense success ever since its launch a few years ago, with no signs of slowing down. Thanks to a fresh set of alterations for the 2025 model year, it’s an even more convincing offering than ever. The specialized EV manufacturer emphasizes off-roading prowess more than anything else, without compromising its abilities on the road or in urban areas. It does come at a fairly hefty cost, but we think it’s fairly good value when you consider what you’re getting for your money.

In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from Rivian’s and other authoritative sources, including the EPA, Consumer Reports, and J.D. Power.

The Rivian R1S Is The Most Versatile Electric SUV For 2025

There’s no denying that the

2025 Rivian R1S
is the best electric SUV you can consider if you’re in the market for a versatile vehicle that can tackle multiple environments with ease. The range starts with the base $75,900 Dual Motor configuration with the standard 106 kWh battery pack. This produces 533 horsepower and 610 pound-feet to all four wheels, resulting in a 4.5-second 0-60 MPH time and 110 MPH top speed.

The EPA indicates that this will only cover 270 miles on a single charge because of the large curb weight that the system has to lug around. You also have to deal with a relatively heavy 45 kWh per 100 miles combined energy consumption average. Upgrading to the 131 kWh Large battery increases the price to $82,900, but you get to enjoy a 330-mile range and 43 kWh per 100 miles combined energy consumption.

2025 Rivian R1S Performance Specifications

The 141 kWh Max battery pack
is the largest option you can consider and increases the dual-motor’s price to $89,990. This affords you an increased 410-mile EPA estimated range and 41 kWh per 100 miles combined energy consumption average. The top speed limit also increases from 110 MPH to 130 MPH. This is the only battery pack option available for the Triple and Quad motor options.

Rivian is yet to announce pricing for the former, but we know that the latter costs $105,900. This example produces 850 horsepower and 1,103 pound-feet, which gets you from 0-60 MPH in 2.9 seconds. Unfortunately, this comes at the cost of a lower 380-mile range claim. The flagship quad-motor configuration produces an earth-shattering 1,025 horsepower and 1,198 pound-feet, launching the R1S from 0-60 MPH in a mere 2.6 seconds. Rivian confirms that all derivatives will tow up to 7,700 pounds.

The R1S’s Advanced And Spacious Interior

If you’re looking for an SUV with plenty of interior space, the Rivian R1S will perfectly suit your needs. The driver and front passenger benefit from 41.1 inches of headroom and 41.4 inches of legroom, while the second row features 39.7 inches of headroom and 36.6 inches of legroom.

The third row offers 38.6 inches of headroom space and 32.8 inches of legroom, which isn’t the most spacious, but still more than enough to accommodate children. In this configuration, you get an

impressive 17.7 cubic-feet of trunk space
, but by folding the third row down, this increases to 46.7 cubic-feet. You also have access to an 11.1 cubic-feet frunk at the front of the SUV. There’s also a 5.1 cubic-feet rear storage bin located beneath the trunk.

Interior Dimensions

There is no shortage of standard features

when you step inside the Rivian R1S
. These include eight-way electrically adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, a heated steering wheel, quad-zone climate control with vents for the third-row, and a plethora of storage facilities. Black Mountain is the standard interior theme, which consists of black vegan leather seats with patterned stitching, Compass Yellow details, and vegan leather accents. Dark Ash Wood trimmings are standard, but the white Ocean Coast theme with Dark or Warm Ash Wood trimmings adds another $2,000 to the price.

On the instrumentation front, Rivian includes a 15.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring navigation, but the system, like Tesla’s, is

completely void of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
. Rivian hooks this system up to its Meridian Elevation sound system, consisting of 22 strategically placed speakers, powered by a 1,100-Watt amplifier.

2025 Rivian R1S Key Interior Features

• 15.6-inch central touchscreen infotainment system
• Electrically adjustable and heated front seats
• Wireless smartphone charger
• Synthetic leather upholstery
• 18-speaker Rivian audio system

Accessories are a big deal for any SUV client, and with the Rivian R1S, there is a broad selection of pieces you can choose from. These

are all focused on adventuring, light overlanding, and off-roading
. A highlight add-on is Rivian’s three-person tent and cargo crossbar package, priced at $3,425. This Yakima-developed tent is available in Pewter or Yellow “ripstop” polyester fabric with waterproof PU coating.

All-Terrain accessories consist of $550 recovery boards and a $625 off-road recovery kit. Rivian offers a host of cargo solutions, including bike, kayak, snowboard, and ski mounts. You can also get specialized first aid kits for you and your pet, all-weather protective mats, and a cargo cover for the trunk.

There are also some exterior options you can consider if you want a more unique specification. You have to pay $1,750 if you want your EV painted in Glacier White, Limestone, or Forest Green. The Red Canyon, Midnight, Rivian Blue, and El Cap Granite shades cost $2,500. 21-inch wheels with road tires are standard. The 22-inch Sport Bright wheels cost $2,500, and the Sport Dark set, $3,500. If you spend $3,600, you get access to the All-Terrain upgrade, which includes 20-inch wheels with all-terrain tires, but you can specify 20-inch All-Terrain Dark wheels. This isn’t available with the standard battery pack.

The Rivian R1S’s Off-Roading Abilities

Before anything else, the

Rivian R1S is an electrified off-roader
with some of the best mechanical and software equipment that you can find in the market. The SUV sits on a front and rear multilink air suspension setup, affording it a 35.6-degree approach angle, 33.4-degree departure angle, and 29.7 breakover angle, with a 14.9-inch ground clearance.

The Rivian R1S boasts advanced off-roading systems designed for tackling rugged terrains with ease. Its quad-motor all-wheel-drive system delivers precise torque control to each wheel, providing unmatched traction on challenging surfaces. This includes a wading depth of over three feet, making it capable of handling water crossings confidently. Its terrain response system includes selectable drive modes like Rock Crawl, Snow, and Sand, which optimize performance for specific conditions by adjusting power delivery, suspension height, and throttle response.

It also excels at providing you with a great ownership experience, on and off the beaten path. Unfortunately, Consumer Reports does slap it with an alarmingly low 9/100 predicted reliability rating, but you do get to enjoy a 5/5 predicted owner satisfaction rating and 72/100 road test score. J.D. Power hands it a 72/100 grade for quality and reliability and an 88/100 mark for driving experience.