Modern-day culture seems to reward flashiness, crudeness and design vulgarity over taste, refinement and elegance, something that can be seen in the vehicles we choose to drive. Never mind that most buyers never use their SUV’s capabilities. One supposes they like their size, step-in height and station wagon-like utility. But taste? They are merely boxes, tarted up with aggressive grilles and engineered as if civilization had come to an end. Really, do we need this to schlep the rug rats to school and toddle off to Costco?

And yet, whatever you might think of SUVs, and the stultifying sameness of their design, there are a handful that stand apart, that rise above middle-class aspirations to become true modern design statements. In particular, that would be the 2025 Rivian R1S, the battery-electric SUV rendition of the Rivian R1T pickup truck. If you’re not familiar with Rivian, it’s an electric vehicle startup established in 2009 by RJ Scaringe in Irvine, California. The company went public in 2021, and has a manufacturing plant in Normal, Illinois, previously owned by Mitsubishi Motors.

The neophyte electric automaker quickly made its mark in automotive history, becoming the first car manufacturer to build a battery-electric pickup, the R1T. It’s been followed by the R1S, a gently rounded box that literally takes the edge off of SUV design, lending it a handsome design gentility that’s welcoming. Then comes its detailing, including Rivian’s distinctive vertical LED headlights, a modern design knock-off of 1920s-era Woodlites. There’s a subtle sophistication to this SUV’s appearance and surface treatments, a knowing dollop of good taste in a vehicle segment where a design’s tastelessness is usually mistaken for ruggedness.

That sublime quality continues inside.

Its roof is glass, with an electrochromic feature that reduces incoming sunlight should it not be welcome. The cabin is sumptuously trimmed, with a richness that reinforces why the car costs what it does — something that’s not always apparent in this class. Unlike too many SUVs, wood and vegan leather trim lend the requisite visual warmth and comfort. It’s simple and eloquent. Getting in is easy, as the doors open wide to ease entry and exit, although accessing the third row is tight. Once you're there, it’s every bit as welcoming as the other two rows. Overall, there’s 160 cubic feet of interior volume, quite impressive for a midsize, three-row, seven-passenger SUV. Should you opt to put all of that space to use, there’s still an 11 cubic-foot front trunk and some space underneath the rear floor next to a space saver spare tire.

When it comes to tech, you’ll find neither Apple CarPlay nor Android Auto on its 15.6-inch infotainment touchscreen. Instead, there's Rivian's Connect+ subscription service, which streams Google Cast and accesses numerous apps, including Spotify and Alexa. And its Wi-Fi hotspot can handle up to eight devices. And yes, there’s a wireless smartphone charger and eight USB-C ports.

And the Rivian R1S runs as good as it looks. Starting at $75,900, you’ll get two permanent-magnet synchronous AC motors, one on each axle, delivering 553 horsepower and 610 pound-feet of torque, although opting for the Performance Dual-Motor upgrade increases that to 665 horsepower 829 pound-feet. All-wheel drive is standard. The test vehicle was the Tri-Motor Max, with one front motor and two in the rear generating 850 horses and 1,103 pound-feet of torque. Still not enough? Go for the Quad-Motor model, with 1,050 horsepower and 1,198 pound-feet of torque. Along with all of this power comes a revised suspension that firms things up in the rear and subdues ride motions for a more refined and controlled driving experience. Rivian says that our vehicle should deliver up to 405 miles of range in its most conservative drivetrain setting, although the EPA says 371 miles. We’d believe the feds first. Recharging on a DC fast charger from 20% to 80% takes as little as 30 minutes, according to Rivian.

It's formidably fast, yet enthrallingly comfortable, a spacious all-weather companion that makes for a truly remarkable luxury SUV. It looks like none of its competition, with a striking design that stands apart from the crowd. Certainly, you won’t see one commonly, particularly the Tri-Motor Max, given its $107,700 starting price. Then again, rarity is one of the criteria of true luxury. One suspects that, like other sought-after indulgences, such as a Hermes Birkin bag or a Rolex Daytona, the exquisite Rivian R1S is about to become a highly sought-after luxury icon.

Larry Printz is an automotive journalist based in South Florida. He can be reached at TheDrivingPrintz@gmail.com.

2025 Rivian R1S Tri-Motor Max

Base price: $107,700

Motors: Three permanent-magnet synchronous AC

Horsepower/Torque: 850/1,103 pound-feet

EPA range: 371 miles

Recharge time (10%-80%): 30-41 minutes (DC fast charger)

Length/Width/Height: 201/79/77 inches

Ground clearance: 7.9-14.7 inches

Payload: 1,764 pounds

Cargo capacity: 18-91 cubic feet, plus an 11 cubic-foot front trunk

Towing capacity: 7,700 pounds

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