2027 Rivian R1T and R1S gain premium, performance and quad trims with price hikes in tow

Rivian has finally given upcoming customers and fans of its EV truck and SUV a host of features they had been asking for, including captain’s chairs. The adventure EV truck and SUV company has announced its latest models: the 2027 R1T and R1S.

Rivian has finally retired motor-based trim naming; it now offers Premium, Performance, and Quad trims, and the R1S now seats six passengers. Rivian announced the 2027 R1T and R1S on August 13 and has retired the Dual and Tri naming convention, replacing it with Premium and Performance. The company also opened orders the same day.

Currently, the Quad features a four-motor drivetrain that delivers a combined 1,025 hp and 1,198 lb-ft of torque. The Performance package produces a slightly lower but still beefy 850 hp and 1,103 lb-ft of torque. Last but not least, the entry-level Premium trim, featuring a dual-motor setup, delivers a respectable 533 hp and 610 lb-ft of torque.

Second-row captain's chairs in play

For the first time, Rivian R1S owners will get second-row captain’s chairs, starting at $1,500 on both the Performance and Quad trims. However, Premium R1S customers will have to pay a “premium” of $4,000. This is because this configuration requires adding the Sound + Vision package to the base cost of the captain’s chairs, i.e., $1,500. Unfortunately, the R1T doesn’t get the highly requested second-row captain’s chairs.

Adding second-row captain’s chairs to Rivian’s lineup took several years, which is ironic given the company and its vehicles have long prided themselves on comfort and capability.

As for the restructured trim lineup, Rivian describes it as a change in what the customer is being asked at the top of the order flow: instead of “How many motors?” it is now “How does the vehicle fit my life?”

The powertrain specs and configurations are, however, unchanged from the 2026 variants. Premium, with 533 hp, can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds. Performance, with its tri-motor 850 hp configuration, does it in 2.9 seconds. The Quad maintains its name as the halo trim with 1,025 hp and 1,198 lb-ft of torque, clocking a 0-to-60 mph time of 2.6 seconds, a fraction of a second slower than the R1T Quad, mostly due to the R1S’s extra weight, different aerodynamics, and, of course, the add-on second-row captain’s chairs. 

The captain’s seats may have been worth the wait for enthusiasts. Rivian calls them a “gear-friendly pass-through”, as owners can now fit long equipment straight through the center of the cabin, including skis, surfboards, and longboards, without having to readjust the second-row seats. Each captain’s chair folds flat, is heated, and comes with full car-seat tie-downs.

Inconsistent pricing, as some models take a bigger hit

The pricing model, however, isn’t consistent across the R1S Premium and Premium Long Range. Captain’s chairs, as previously mentioned, require the Sound + Vision package, and the combo runs $4,000 with the Black Mountain interior colorway and $6,000 with the Ocean Coast interior trim.

Sound + Vision is standard on the R1S Performance and Quad, with the bench available in both body styles across every trim. Nevertheless, customers will still have to fork over an additional $1,500 for the Black Mountain Signature colorway on every trim and more for Sky Ocean.

The R1T doesn’t get the captain’s chairs upgrade but still gets a meaningful update in the form of fresh 20-inch Adventure All-Season wheels and Goodyear tires, which are standard on Premium and a no-cost option for the Performance trim.

The trade-off is clear: Premium buyers give up nearly 20 miles of EPA range with the 20-inch package compared to the 329 miles quoted for 22-inch road wheels. EPA-estimated range on the 20-inch combo is 300 miles on Premium, 380 miles on Premium Long Range, and 348 miles on Performance.

Pricing has also shifted upwards, with the R1S now starting at $83,990 and the R1T at $79,990. That is a substantial bump from 2026 models, with the R1S getting a flat $7,000 increase and the R1T a slightly larger $9,000 bump as EV makers, including Rivian, navigate a post-tax-credit world.