Tour the electric Rivian R1S SUV's versatile cargo area that has hidden cubbies and is big enough to sleep in

Tim LevinJul 16, 2022, 19:29 IST

The Rivian R1S.Tim Levin/Insider

I got up close and personal with the Rivian R1S, the startup's new electric SUV.
It has three rows and tons of storage space.

Startup automaker Rivian is about to drop the coolest new electric SUV on the market: the R1S.

The Rivian R1S.Tim Levin/Insider

The three-row SUV may not have a truck bed in back like Rivian's R1T pickup, but it's still super functional.

The Rivian R1S.Tim Levin/Insider

The R1S gets a vast cargo area that's way more versatile than your typical trunk.

The Rivian R1S.Tim Levin/Insider

I got to poke around the R1S and climb inside at a recent media event. Here's a full photo tour of the new vehicle's cargo area and everything it has to offer.

The Rivian R1S.Tim Levin/Insider

First, some quick background on the R1S.

The Rivian R1S.Tim Levin/Insider

It's Rivian's second consumer vehicle after the R1T pickup, which it started selling in September.

The Rivian R1S.Tim Levin/Insider

After some delays, it's set to ship to patient preorder holders in August.

The Rivian R1S.Tim Levin/Insider

The R1S will eventually start at $72,500 for a dual-motor base model. But at first, Rivian is focusing on top-tier versions that cost $90,000 and up.

The Rivian R1S.Tim Levin/Insider

Rivian's rugged truck and SUV take aim at outdoorsy consumers who want to get out into nature for things like biking, skiing, and camping.

The Rivian R1S.Tim Levin/Insider

And that shows through in the R1S's interior.

The Rivian R1S.Tim Levin/Insider

Behind the third row you get 17.6 cubic feet of storage.

The Rivian R1S.Tim Levin/Insider

Standing behind the SUV, you can open up more space by collapsing one or both rows of seats using two buttons.

The Rivian R1S.Tim Levin/Insider

Folding the third row bumps capacity to 46.7 cubic feet.

The Rivian R1S.Tim Levin/Insider

Collapsing the second row creates a simply massive 88.2 cubic-foot loading zone.

The Rivian R1S.Tim Levin/Insider

It's big enough for a twin bed, Rivian demonstrated.

The Rivian R1S.Tim Levin/Insider

At 6-foot-1, I could comfortably stretch out.

The Rivian R1S.Steve DaSilva

You can also fold the second row's middle seat to seat four people and still accommodate long items like skis.

The Rivian R1S.Tim Levin/Insider

Repositioning a panel makes the cargo area's floor nearly flat, which would come in handy for sliding in bulky items.

The Rivian R1S.Tim Levin/Insider

Rivian included movable tie-down points for securing cargo that owners don't want bouncing around.

The Rivian R1S.Tim Levin/Insider

Rivian envisions owners will use those tracks to mount their own accessories, like drawers, tool boxes, or camping kitchens.

The Rivian R1S.Tim Levin/Insider

Rivian hasn't officially announced any accessories of its own, but that seems likely.

The Rivian R1S.Tim Levin/Insider

The left wall of the Rivian has two electrical outlets behind a sliding plastic cover.

The Rivian R1S.Tim Levin/Insider

Below that there's a built-in air compressor that owners can use to inflate their tires after a day on the beach or off-road trails.

The Rivian R1S.Tim Levin/Insider

The compressor could also come in handy for filling bike tires, inflatable kayaks, or air beds.

The Rivian R1S.Tim Levin/Insider

Under the R1S's floor you'll find a few extra nooks.

The Rivian R1S.Tim Levin/Insider

There's an air hose for the compressor and a first-aid kit.

The Rivian R1S.Tim Levin/Insider

Below that, there's a spot for a spare tire or some extra luggage.

The Rivian R1S.Tim Levin/Insider

The R1S has a split liftgate. There's an upper hatch that swings upward …

The Rivian R1S.Tim Levin/Insider

… and a tailgate that opens downward.

The Rivian R1S.Tim Levin/Insider

The tailgate can hold up to 500 pounds. The R1S's chief engineer told me it was designed to support the weight of 2-3 adults.

The Rivian R1S.Tim Levin/Insider

The hatch has lights on it that point down at the tailgate, allowing owners to sit and read a book or use the surface to cook a meal at a dark campsite.

The Rivian R1S.Tim Levin/Insider

Rivian packed the R1S with bonus storage space. If you run out of space in the back, you can always put some bags in the frunk.

The Rivian R1S.Tim Levin/Insider

15 best back-to-school deals during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

Cookies on the Business Insider India website

Tour the electric Rivian R1S SUV's versatile cargo area that has hidden cubbies and is big enough to sleep in

Startup automaker Rivian is about to drop the coolest new electric SUV on the market: the R1S.

The three-row SUV may not have a truck bed in back like Rivian's R1T pickup, but it's still super functional.

The R1S gets a vast cargo area that's way more versatile than your typical trunk.

I got to poke around the R1S and climb inside at a recent media event. Here's a full photo tour of the new vehicle's cargo area and everything it has to offer.

First, some quick background on the R1S.

It's Rivian's second consumer vehicle after the R1T pickup, which it started selling in September.

After some delays, it's set to ship to patient preorder holders in August.

The R1S will eventually start at $72,500 for a dual-motor base model. But at first, Rivian is focusing on top-tier versions that cost $90,000 and up.

Rivian's rugged truck and SUV take aim at outdoorsy consumers who want to get out into nature for things like biking, skiing, and camping.

And that shows through in the R1S's interior.

Behind the third row you get 17.6 cubic feet of storage.

Standing behind the SUV, you can open up more space by collapsing one or both rows of seats using two buttons.

Folding the third row bumps capacity to 46.7 cubic feet.

Collapsing the second row creates a simply massive 88.2 cubic-foot loading zone.

It's big enough for a twin bed, Rivian demonstrated.

At 6-foot-1, I could comfortably stretch out.

You can also fold the second row's middle seat to seat four people and still accommodate long items like skis.

Repositioning a panel makes the cargo area's floor nearly flat, which would come in handy for sliding in bulky items.

Rivian included movable tie-down points for securing cargo that owners don't want bouncing around.

Rivian envisions owners will use those tracks to mount their own accessories, like drawers, tool boxes, or camping kitchens.

Rivian hasn't officially announced any accessories of its own, but that seems likely.

The left wall of the Rivian has two electrical outlets behind a sliding plastic cover.

Below that there's a built-in air compressor that owners can use to inflate their tires after a day on the beach or off-road trails.

The compressor could also come in handy for filling bike tires, inflatable kayaks, or air beds.

Under the R1S's floor you'll find a few extra nooks.

There's an air hose for the compressor and a first-aid kit.

Below that, there's a spot for a spare tire or some extra luggage.

The R1S has a split liftgate. There's an upper hatch that swings upward …

… and a tailgate that opens downward.

The tailgate can hold up to 500 pounds. The R1S's chief engineer told me it was designed to support the weight of 2-3 adults.

The hatch has lights on it that point down at the tailgate, allowing owners to sit and read a book or use the surface to cook a meal at a dark campsite.

Rivian packed the R1S with bonus storage space. If you run out of space in the back, you can always put some bags in the frunk.