Rivian's New Tri-Motor Models Are Quicker Than Old Quads: Tested

Car and Driver

6 hours ago

The 2025 Rivian R1S Tri-Motor Max and R1T Tri-Motor Max are quicker than their Quad-Motor predecessors.
At our test track, the R1S and R1T Tri-Motor were three-tenths quicker to 60 mph than their old Quad-Motor counterparts.
The advantage comes from Rivian's new in-house electric motors, which give the Tri-Motor models an extra 15 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque versus the outgoing Quads.
Welcome to Car and Driver's Testing Hub, where we zoom in on the test numbers. We've been pushing vehicles to their limits since 1956 to provide objective data to bolster our subjective impressions (you can see how we test here).
When it comes to EVs, more electric motors typically translate to more power and quicker acceleration. Makes sense, right? That's not the case with Rivian's new triple-motor R1S and R1T models, at least when comparing them with their quadruple-motor predecessors.
Three Greater Than Four?
What's not immediately obvious is that the Rivian R1S SUV and R1T pickup truck have entered their second generation for the 2025 model year. All models have improved batteries, and all electric motors are now built in-house by Rivian, with the Tri- and Quad-Motor configurations no longer supplied by Bosch. The newer motors bring various improvements—namely, they're more power-dense. That's partly why the new R1S and R1T with the available Tri-Motor Max configuration (Max referring to the battery size) are quicker in a straight line than their pre-2025 Quad-Motor counterparts. Now, let's look at the numbers.
View Exterior Photos
Andi Hendrick
|
Car and Driver
At our test track, the 2025 R1S and R1T Tri-Motor models both managed zero-to-60-mph times that were three-tenths quicker than the first-gen R1S and R1T Quad-Motors. The new R1S Tri posted a 60-mph sprint of 2.8 seconds compared with the old R1S Quad's 3.1-second run. The new R1T Tri ripped to 60 mph in 2.7 seconds, whereas the previous R1T Launch Edition Quad-Motor took three seconds flat.
Take a peek at the tech specs for the 2025 R1S and R1T, and you'll see the Rivian-built Tri-Motor setup is good for 850 horsepower and 1103 pound-feet of torque. While that's only 15 more ponies than the previous 835-hp Quad-Motor models, there's a lot more stump-pulling torque, 195 pound-feet to be exact (up from 908).
View Exterior Photos
Michael Simari
|
Car and Driver
While the extra power is the most significant factor in the improved 60-mph times, it's not the only force at play. The new Tri-Motor siblings also weighed less than the first-gen Quads, with the R1T losing 168 pounds and the R1S dropping 57 pounds based on our scales. Some of that weight loss can be attributed to the Max battery pack's reengineered die-cast carrier, which Rivian said helps reduce mass. There's also a new Launch Control mode that puts the 2025 Tri models into a prepared squat before shooting them down the line.
The New Quads Will Be Even Quicker
Of course, the new Quad-Motor R1S and R1T will be even mightier and quicker, summoning a combined 1025 horses and 1198 pound-feet. While we've driven these almighty new EVs, we haven't yet strapped our testing equipment to either the R1S or R1T Quad-Motors. They're set to go on sale this month. By Rivian's own account, the updated Quads should hit 60 mph in 2.5 and 2.6 seconds, respectively. So, stay tuned for another testing-hub story to see if we can meet or beat those claims.
Jack Fitzgerald
Associate News Editor
Jack Fitzgerald's love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1.
After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn't afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf. Read full bio