The most useful change to the 2027 Rivian R1S may be the space between its second-row seats. Optional captain’s chairs turn it into a six-seat SUV with an aisle to the third row. The R1T gets a new standard wheel and tire combination, while both vehicles move to Premium, Performance and Quad trim names and get Esker Silver as the included paint.
Rivian announced these changes on August 13, then explained the choices in its 2027 R1 questions and answers. This is a guide to that order sheet, not a new vehicle reveal this weekend. Rivian says the underlying vehicle carries over.
Six seats buy an aisle, not an extra passenger space
The captain’s-chair layout trades the second-row bench’s middle seat for a pass-through. Rivian says passengers can reach the third row without folding a second-row seat or unbuckling an installed child seat. Both individual chairs are heated, fold flat and retain child-seat attachment points. Each has a stowable armrest and a fold-down cup holder.
For a household that regularly uses the third row, access may matter more than having a seventh seating position. If seven people need to travel together, the aisle cannot replace the missing seat. Try the access route with the seats and child restraints you actually expect to use.
The seven-seat bench remains available with either Premium interior. On Performance and Quad, Rivian lists the bench with Black Mountain Signature. That makes the interior selection part of the seating decision, not just a color choice.
Rivian’s current R1S FAQ also says the 2027 captain’s chairs cannot be retrofitted to earlier R1S models. Check the seating choice and its total price in the configurator before ordering.
Premium replaces the motor-count shopping shorthand
The new names do not mean every R1 has the same drivetrain. Rivian’s model-year announcement maps the lineup this way:
| 2027 trim | Motor layout | Rivian-rated output |
|---|---|---|
| Premium | Dual-motor all-wheel drive | 533 hp; optional Power Upgrade raises it to 665 hp |
| Performance | Tri-motor all-wheel drive | 850 hp |
| Quad | Four-motor all-wheel drive | 1,025 hp |
Premium also offers a Long Range choice. The battery selection and the Power Upgrade answer different questions: how much energy the vehicle carries and how much power it delivers. Do not assume the Premium badge alone identifies both.
Performance and Quad offer Slate Sky Signature, Black Mountain Signature and Ocean Coast Signature interiors. Premium offers Black Mountain and Ocean Coast without the Signature designation. If seating is the priority, choose the layout first, then compare the interiors and drivetrain you need.
R1T wheels change the range comparison
Rivian’s 20-inch Adventure All-Season wheel and Goodyear tire combination is standard on R1T Premium and a no-cost option on Performance. Rivian reports EPA-estimated ranges of 300 miles for Premium, 380 miles for Premium Long Range and 348 miles for Performance with that wheel and tire setup.
Those are manufacturer-reported estimates for those configurations, not our road-test results. Other R1 range headlines use different wheels, so the larger number is not automatically the rating for the truck on your order sheet. Weather, speed, accessories and driving mode can also change real-world range.
Pick the tire setup for the conditions you expect to drive in, then compare the range for that build. Buying a wheel package and borrowing another configuration’s range figure will not make the trip any shorter.
Esker Silver is the included paint
Esker Silver replaces LA Silver as the included color across the 2027 R1S and R1T lineup. Rivian says it is offered across trims and interiors, while noting that availability can vary by configuration. Paying for a different color is a separate choice from moving up a drivetrain trim.
Start with the build, then compare the deal
As checked November 6, Rivian’s R1T page lists a starting price of $79,990, and its R1S page lists $83,990. Those starting figures are not quotes for a Long Range build, a Power Upgrade or a six-seat configuration. Confirm destination, options, taxes and the final total on the actual order.
For financing, use our separate November R1 rate guide. Hardware eligibility is covered in our LiDAR and RAP1 availability guide. Neither a promotional rate nor a model-year badge replaces checking the vehicle’s own equipment.
For the R1S, decide whether the aisle or the seventh seat matters more. For the R1T, choose the wheel and battery combination that fits your routes. The new trim names make the menu shorter, but the seating and tire choices still deserve a line-by-line look before you order.