A year is long enough to stop being dazzled and start being honest. In this video, Out of Spec Reviews host Scott looks back on twelve months and roughly 25,000 miles in a Gen 2 Rivian R1S dual-motor with the performance package, joined by co-host Kyle, and asks the only question that matters: would he do it again. Having since driven most of the R1S rivals, he says he now has the context to answer it. The verdict is mostly yes, with caveats. He praises the storage, the towing capability and the way the truck has handled a year of real farm use, while flagging early build quality and the car's autonomy as the weak spots. It is the rare ownership video that spends as much time on what annoys as on what delights.
One thing that makes the R1S story different from most luxury SUVs is how you buy and live with it, and it is worth spelling out for anyone cross-shopping. Rivian sells direct, with no dealership in the middle, which the hosts call a genuine advantage over the traditional franchise experience. It also means the car is a software-defined vehicle that changes after you own it: the video notes that charging, thermal management and the sound system have all improved over the lease through over-the-air updates, while driver assistance has seen both gains and regressions. That cuts both ways. Features can arrive after purchase, but promised ones, like the point-to-point autonomy Rivian has said is coming, are not guaranteed to land on the timeline buyers hope for. The conversation also sizes up the newer, cheaper R2, which the hosts describe as a smaller five-seater with a smaller battery and lower towing limit. For a buyer who actually tows and hauls, that context matters. Treat the spec sheet as a starting point, not a fixed contract.
On the positives, Scott says he uses the front trunk and every other storage cubby constantly, tows with the R1S at least once a week, and rates the easy-clean interior for farm duty. The hosts cite a towing capacity of 7,700 pounds and a 140 kWh battery that he says removes any range anxiety. The complaints are specific rather than vague. He describes an early service visit to sort out a strut and alignment, plus a later wheel-speed-sensor fault, and says quality control is his main reservation about the brand. He is also frustrated that rear climate settings do not hold for passengers or a dog, calling it a software fix Rivian could make. On rivals, the hosts rate the Volvo EX90 sound system and the Cadillac Escalade IQ as a road-tripper, but flag the EX90's dealership purchase and rocky launch. They are also unimpressed by the current state of Rivian's hands-free driving compared with the Tesla system Scott also runs. Asked how he would spec another R1S, he lands on the Max Pack battery and dual-motor setup, saying the tires need no more power than that.
Bottom line: If you want one vehicle that genuinely does everything, from towing a horse trailer to looking good outside a restaurant, the R1S still has almost no direct competition, and a year of hard use has not changed that. But go in clear-eyed. Check the car carefully at delivery, because the hosts are not the only owners who have flagged early quality issues, and do not buy it for autonomy that is not here yet. The cheaper R2 is coming, but the hosts doubt it will match the R1S for towing and outright space. Bought for what it is today rather than what the software might become, the R1S is an easy car to recommend. As a bet on future features, it is a riskier one.
Commentary on a third-party video. Figures and claims are as presented in the source and have not been independently verified. Spotted an error? Tell us and we will correct it.