The R1S and R1T are close mechanical twins, sharing the vast majority of their parts, the same skateboard chassis, identical drive-unit and battery options, and the same software. What separates them is body and purpose. The R1S is an enclosed three-row SUV seating up to seven; the R1T is a five-seat crew-cab pickup with an open bed. If you carry people and want weather-protected cargo, the R1S is the natural choice.
On storage, the R1S offers large enclosed cargo volume behind its folding second and third rows, plus a lockable frunk and a small under-floor compartment. What it gives up versus the R1T is the open bed, the full-width Gear Tunnel, and the truck's under-bed storage. Both can tow heavily for EVs, but the R1T's longer wheelbase and bed make it the better hauler, while the R1S's shorter wheelbase yields a tighter turning circle and slightly better departure and breakover angles on the trail.
The seating math is the deciding factor for many shoppers. The R1S's third row is genuinely usable but tight for adults, with a low seat cushion; still, it makes the R1S a true family vehicle in a way the five-seat R1T is not. Beyond seating and body style, the two are remarkably similar in trims, features, drive modes, and creature comforts.
For context, Rivian's range is expanding downward. The mid-size five-seat R2 and the smaller R3 are newer, more affordable models aimed below the R1 line — worth knowing if a used R1S strains the budget but you want a Rivian. Rivian also builds commercial Electric Delivery Vans (EDVs), widely seen in Amazon's fleet; those are purpose-built work vehicles, not cross-shopped with the R1S. Among the consumer models, the R1S and R1T sit at the top for capability and price, with the R1S being the family-oriented flagship.
