New Rivian R1S and R1T Outperform Older Models in Speed: Tested

The 2025 Rivian R1S Tri-Motor Max and R1T Tri-Motor Max are faster compared to their Quad-Motor counterparts.
On our testing facility, the R1S and R1T Tri-Motor models reached 60 mph three-tenths of a second faster than their previous Quad-Motor versions.
The benefit arises from Rivian's newly developed internal electric motors, providing the Tri-Motor versions with an additional 15 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque compared to the previous Quads.

Welcome to Car and Driver' s Testing Hub where we take a closer look at the test figures. Since 1956, we have been testing vehicles to their maximum capabilities to gather factual information that supports our personal evaluations (you can view how we conduct tests) here ).

With regard to electric vehicles, having more electric motors usually means greater power and faster acceleration. It seems logical, doesn’t it? However, this isn't true for Rivian’s latest triple-motor R1S and R1T models compared to their four-motor predecessors.

Three Greater Than Four?

What may not be instantly clear is that the The Rivian R1S sport utility vehicle and R1T pick-up truck are now in their second iteration. For the 2025 model year. Every model features enhanced batteries, and all electric motors are now produced internally by Rivian, with the Tri- and Quad-Motor setups no longer sourced from Bosch. These updated motors offer several advancements—including increased power density. This contributes to the fact that the latest R1S and R1T vehicles equipped with the optional Tri-Motor Max setup (with "Max" indicating larger battery capacity) accelerate faster in a straight line compared to their predecessors from before 2025. Let’s examine the figures.

At our testing facility, the 2025 R1S and R1T Tri-Motor versions achieved zero-to-60-mph accelerations that were 0.3 seconds faster than the original R1S and R1T Quad-Motor models. The latest R1S Tri reached 60 mph in 2.8 seconds, whereas the previous model had... Old R1S Quadrant's 3.1-second sprint The latest R1T model accelerated to 60 mph in 2.7 seconds, compared to the The previous R1T Launch Edition with four motors accelerated in exactly three seconds. .

Check out the technical details for the 2025 R1S and R1T, and you'll find that the Rivian-designed Triple Motor system delivers 850 horsepower along with 1103 pound-feet of torque. Although this represents just 15 additional horses compared to the earlier 835-horsepower Quadruple Motor versions, there’s significantly more pulling power—specifically 195 extra pound-feet (rising from 908).

Although increased power plays the biggest role in achieving better 60-mph performance, it isn't the sole contributing element. The latest Tri-Motor versions weigh less compared to the original Quads, as we observed—specifically, the R1T shed 168 pounds and the R1S lost 57 pounds according to our measurements. Part of this reduction comes from the redesigned die-cast carrier for the Max battery pack, which Rivian claims contributes to lower overall weight. Additionally, a newly introduced Launch Control feature enables the 2025 Tri models to assume a ready stance prior to accelerating rapidly down the track.

New Quad Models Will Move Faster

Certainly, the new Quad-Motor R1S and R1T will be even more powerful and faster, generating a total of 1025 horsepower and 1198 pound-feet of torque. While We have operated these powerful new electric vehicles. We have not yet attached our testing devices to either the R1S or R1T Quad-Motors. They are scheduled to be available for purchase this month. According to Rivian's statement, the improved Quads should reach 60 mph in 2.5 and 2.6 seconds, respectively. Therefore, keep an eye out for another report from our test hub to find out if we can match or exceed these figures.

Wanting to buy a vehicle? Discover your ideal choice at the MSN Autos Marketplace