Top Safety Pick +Top Safety Pick criteria

2023 Rivian R1S

large SUV / 4-door SUV

Award applies only to vehicles built after January 2023

Fully electric
2023 Rivian R1S 4-door SUV

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Small overlap front: driver-side
Small overlap front: passenger-side
Moderate overlap front: original test
Moderate overlap front: updated test
Side: original test
Side: updated test
Head restraints & seats

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Headlights
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle
Standard system
Superior
Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)
Standard system
Superior
Front crash prevention: pedestrian (night)
Standard system
Advanced

Seat belts & child restraints

Seat belt reminders
LATCH ease of use

Other available safety features

  • Standard blind spot detection
  • Standard lane departure warning & prevention

Key

  • G
    Good
  • A
    Acceptable
  • M
    Marginal
  • P
    Poor
  • Superior
  • Advanced
  • Basic

Some ratings use a scale of Poor to Good. Others range from Basic to Superior.

Small overlap front: driver-side

Rating applies to 2022-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2022 Rivian R1S EV Launch Edition 4-door 4wd

The Rivian R1S, an all-new electric SUV, was introduced in the 2022 model year.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics

Action shot taken during the driver-side small overlap frontal crash test.

The dummy's position in relation to the door frame, steering wheel, and instrument panel after the crash test indicates that the driver's survival space was maintained very well.

The frontal and side curtain airbags worked well together to keep the head from coming close to any stiff structure or outside objects that could cause injury.

The driver's space was maintained well, and risk of injuries to the dummy's legs and feet was low.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CEN2210
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 3
Footrest (cm) 3
Left toepan (cm) 2
Brake pedal (cm) 2
Parking brake (cm)
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 1
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column 2
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 2
Upper dash (cm) 3
Lower instrument panel (cm) 3

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEN2210
Head
HIC-15 91
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.8
Extension bending moment (Nm) 20
Maximum Nij 0.20
Chest maximum compression (mm) 31
Femur (kN)
Left 1.0
Right 0.8
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 1
Right 2
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.46
Right 0.42
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 2.1
Right 1.3
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 52
Right 45

About the small overlap front test

Small overlap front: passenger-side

Rating applies to 2022-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2022 Rivian R1S EV Adventure 4-door 4wd

The Rivian R1S, an all-new electric SUV, was introduced in the 2022 model year. Passenger-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2022 R1S conducted by Rivian.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on passenger side

Test ID VTP2222
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 6
Footrest (cm) 5
Right toepan (cm) 2
Center toepan (cm) 1
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 1
Upper occupant compartment
Center dash (cm) 1
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 4
Upper dash (cm) 3
Right lower dash (cm) 2

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTP2222
Head
HIC-15 88
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.0
Extension bending moment (Nm) 25
Maximum Nij 0.25
Chest maximum compression (mm) 30
Femur (kN)
Left 1.0
Right 1.0
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 0
Right 1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.52
Right 0.33
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 2.1
Right 2.4
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 29
Right 51

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTP2222
Head
HIC-15 59
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.0
Extension bending moment (Nm) 21
Maximum Nij 0.25
Chest maximum compression (mm) 39
Femur (kN)
Left 0.8
Right 0.3
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 1
Right 0
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.29
Right 0.33
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 0.2
Right 0.7
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 23
Right 27

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2023-24 models built after January 2023

Tested vehicle: 2023 Rivian R1S EV Adventure Edition 4-door 4wd

The Rivian R1S, an all-new electric SUV, was introduced in the 2022 model year. Beginning with 2023 R1S models built after January 2023, Rivian implemented countermeasures to the driver-side floor pan to improve occupant safety in front crashes. (Information about when a specific vehicle was manufactured is on the certification label typically affixed to the driver door or adjacent B-pillar.)

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Leg/foot, left
Leg/foot, right
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics

Action shot taken during the moderate overlap frontal crash test.

The dummy's position in relation to the steering wheel and instrument panel after the crash test indicates that the driver's survival space was maintained very well.

Smeared greasepaint indicates where the dummy's head contacted the side curtain airbag during rebound.

Intrusion into the driver's space was minimal, and all leg and foot injury measures were low.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CEF2314
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 3
Left (cm) 5
Center (cm) 6
Right (cm) 6
Brake pedal (cm) 2
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) 0
Right (cm) 0
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) -2
Rearward (cm) -4
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 0

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEF2314
Head
HIC-15 216
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.2
Extension bending moment (Nm) 12
Maximum Nij 0.21
Chest maximum compression (mm) 33
Legs
Femur force - left (kN) 1.8
Femur force - right (kN) 1.1
Knee displacement - left (mm) 2
Knee displacement - right (mm) 1
Maximum tibia index - left 0.47
Maximum tibia index - right 0.40
Tibia axial force - left (kN) 3.8
Tibia axial force - right (kN) 2.1
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 57
Right 91

Rating applies to 2022-23 models built before February 2023

Tested vehicle: 2022 Rivian R1S EV Launch Edition 4-door 4wd

The Rivian R1S, an all-new electric SUV, was introduced in the 2022 model year.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Leg/foot, left
Leg/foot, right
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics

Action shot taken during the moderate overlap frontal crash test.

The dummy's position in relation to the steering wheel and instrument panel after the crash test indicates that the driver's survival space was maintained very well.

Smeared greasepaint indicates where the dummy's head contacted the side curtain airbag during rebound.

During the crash, deformation in the driver-side floor pan contributed to high forces on the right lower leg which indicates a likely risk of injury.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CEF2229
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 3
Left (cm) 6
Center (cm) 8
Right (cm) 7
Brake pedal (cm) 7
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) 0
Right (cm) 0
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) -1
Rearward (cm) -4
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 0

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEF2229
Head
HIC-15 246
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.3
Extension bending moment (Nm) 12
Maximum Nij 0.21
Chest maximum compression (mm) 35
Legs
Femur force - left (kN) 1.7
Femur force - right (kN) 3.2
Knee displacement - left (mm) 1
Knee displacement - right (mm) 6
Maximum tibia index - left 0.32
Maximum tibia index - right 1.91
Tibia axial force - left (kN) 4.0
Tibia axial force - right (kN) 4.6
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 79
Right 104

About the original moderate overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: updated test

Rating applies to 2023-24 models built after January 2023

Tested vehicle: 2023 Rivian R1S EV Adventure Edition 4-door 4wd

The Rivian R1S, an all-new electric SUV, was introduced in the 2022 model year. Beginning with 2023 R1S models built after January 2023, Rivian implemented countermeasures to the driver-side floor pan to improve occupant safety in front crashes. (Information about when a specific vehicle was manufactured is on the certification label typically affixed to the driver door or adjacent B-pillar.)

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Thigh/hip
Leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Thigh
Rear passenger restraints and dummy kinematics

View of the vehicle after the crash showing the airbags and damage to the occupant compartment.

The rear passenger dummy's head approached the front seatback, which increases the risk of head injuries.

Rear passenger dummy injury values indicate a moderate risk of injury to the chest. During the crash, the shoulder belt remained in an ideal position on the dummy’s chest.

The rear passenger dummy's lap belt moved from the ideal position on the pelvis onto the abdomen, increasing the risk of abdominal injuries.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CEF2314
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 3
Left (cm) 5
Center (cm) 6
Right (cm) 6
Brake pedal (cm) 2
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) 0
Right (cm) 0
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) -2
Rearward (cm) -4
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 0

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEF2314
Head
HIC-15 216
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.2
Extension bending moment (Nm) 12
Maximum Nij 0.21
Chest maximum compression (mm) 33
Femur (kN)
Left 1.8
Right 1.1
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 2
Right 1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.47
Right 0.40
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 3.8
Right 2.1
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 57
Right 91

Rear passenger injury measures

Test ID CEF2314
Head
HIC-15 for head contact during forward excursion
no contact
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 2.0
Compression (kN) 0.1
Maximum Nij for head contact during forward excursion
no contact
Chest
Chest index 43
Shoulder belt tension (kN) 5.1
Thigh (kN)
Left femur compression 0.1
Right femur compression 0.1

About the moderate overlap front test

February 2024 adjustment to rating criteria

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2022-23 models

Tested vehicle: 2022 Rivian R1S EV Adventure 4-door 4wd

The Rivian R1S, an all-new electric SUV, was introduced in the 2022 model year. Side ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2022 R1S conducted by Rivian.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Driver head protection
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Rear passenger head protection
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTS2229
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -26.5
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTS2229
Head HIC-15 72
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.7
Compression (kN) 0.5
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 20
Lateral force (kN) 0.7
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 25
Average deflection (mm) 21
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 2.57
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.19
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 0.7
Acetabulum force (kN) 1.1
Combined force (kN) 1.7
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.6
L-M moment (Nm) 77
A-P moment (Nm) 20

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTS2229
Head HIC-15 23
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.3
Compression (kN) 0.4
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 11
Lateral force (kN) 0.1
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 15
Average deflection (mm) 12
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 1.83
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.08
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 0.4
Acetabulum force (kN) 0.8
Combined force (kN) 0.9
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.4
L-M moment (Nm) 60
A-P moment (Nm) -17

About the original side crash test

Side: updated test

Rating applies to 2022-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2022 Rivian R1S EV Launch Edition 4-door 4wd

The Rivian R1S, an all-new electric SUV, was introduced in the 2022 model year.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis
Driver head protection
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis
Rear passenger head protection

View of the vehicle just after the crash test.

View of the vehicle after the crash with doors removed, showing the side airbags and damage to the occupant compartment.

Smeared greasepaint shows where the driver dummy's head was protected from being hit by hard structures by the side airbags.

Smeared greasepaint shows where the rear passenger dummy’s head was protected by the side airbag.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CES2240
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -35.0
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID CES2240
Head
HIC-15 11
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.6
Compression (kN) 0.4
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 7
Lateral force (kN) 0.5
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 11
Average deflection (mm) 9
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 1.89
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.07
Pelvis
Combined force (kN) 0.5

Passenger injury measures

Test ID CES2240
Head
HIC-15 70
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.6
Compression (kN) 0.2
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 13
Lateral force (kN) 0.9
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 21
Average deflection (mm) 14
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 2.28
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.24
Pelvis
Combined force (kN) 3.1

About the side crash test

Head restraints & seats

Seat type: Power leather seat

Overall evaluation
Dynamic rating
Seat/head restraint geometry
Technical measurements for this test
Seat type Power leather seat
Geometry
Backset (mm) 15
Distance below top of head (mm) 10
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail Pass
Max T1 acceleration (g) 11.8
Head contact time (ms) 63
Force rating 1
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N) 19
Max neck tension (N) 443

About the head restraint & seat test
Currently, IIHS tests apply only to front seats.

Headlights

Trim level(s)

  • All trims
Low-beam headlight typeLED projector
High-beam headlight typeLED projector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination High-beam assist credit

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good on both right curves and fair on both left curves.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good in all 4 tests.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway and on both left curves.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • All trims
Low-beam headlight type LED projector
High-beam headlight type LED projector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2022-24 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 100.0 m None
Straightaway left edge 60.9 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 81.7 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 57.0 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 62.2 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 50.1 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 180.6 m
Straightaway left edge 155.2 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 95.9 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 82.6 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 69.3 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 66.5 m

About the headlight evaluation

Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle

System details

  • Standard Forward Collision Avoidance Support

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2022-23 models

Superior
Superior
  • This system meets the requirements for forward collision warning.
  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

About the original front crash prevention test

Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)

System details

  • standard Forward Collision Avoidance Support

Overall evaluation

This rating applies to all 2022-24 models

Superior
Superior

Crossing child

  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 22 mph.

Crossing adult

  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

Parallel adult

  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 37 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 31 mph. A warning was issued 1.9 seconds before impact.

About the pedestrian front crash prevention test

Front crash prevention: pedestrian (night)

Night

System details

  • standard Forward Collision Avoidance Support

Overall evaluation

Includes high-beam assist credit

This rating applies to all 2022-24 models
Advanced
Advanced

Crossing adult

  • In the 12 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 10 mph when using its high beams. When using its low beams, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 21 mph when using its high beams. When using its low beams, this vehicle avoided a collision.

Parallel adult

  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision when using its high beams. When using its low beams, impact speed was reduced by 18 mph.
  • In the 37 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 35 mph when using its high beams and a warning was issued 1.7 seconds before impact. When using its low beams, impact speed was reduced by 36 mph and a warning was issued 1.4 seconds before impact.

About pedestrian front crash prevention test

Seat belt reminders

Rating applies to 2022-24 models

Overall evaluation
Front row
Unbelted occupant alert (audible & visual)
Initiation time
DurationNegligible (under 8 seconds)
Volume
Audio frequency
Second row
Startup status alert (visual)
None
Technical measurements for this test
Background cabin sound pressure level at 24 km/h 48 dB
Audible signal sound pressure level at 24 km/h 56 dB
Difference between background and signal 7.8 dB
Background cabin sound pressure level at 40 km/h 53 dB
Audible signal sound pressure level at 40 km/h 55 dB
Difference between background and signal 2.4 dB
Dominant audio frequency 1180 Hz

About the seat belt reminder evaluation

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2022-24 models

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trimLaunch Edition
Seat type leather

This vehicle has 4 rear seating positions with complete child seat attachment (LATCH) hardware.

It has 1 additional seating position with a tether anchor only.

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trimLaunch Edition
Seat type leather
1 2 3 6 4
GGood
AAcceptable
MMarginal
PPoor
Seating positions that rely on borrowed lower anchors or have only a tether anchor available are not rated.
thether anchor symbol
Tether anchor
lower anchor symbol
Lower anchors
shared lower achors symbol
Lower anchor(s) can be borrowed from adjacent positions(s)
No hardware available

Details by seating position

1
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
not too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
2
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
none available
3
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
not too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
4
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
not too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
difficult to maneuver around anchors
6
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
not too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
difficult to maneuver around anchors
Technical measurements for this test

Seat position 21

3

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 10
Clearance angle (degrees) 78
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) -2-0
Force (lbs) 9
Clearance angle (degrees) 84
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present No
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 22

2

Lower anchor A
No lower latch for this seat position
Lower anchor B
No lower latch for this seat position
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present No
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 23

1

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) -2-0
Force (lbs) 12
Clearance angle (degrees) 85
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 10
Clearance angle (degrees) 83
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present No
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 31

6

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) -2-0
Force (lbs) 13
Clearance angle (degrees) 51
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) -2-0
Force (lbs) 12
Clearance angle (degrees) 50
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 33

4

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) -2-0
Force (lbs) 14
Clearance angle (degrees) 47
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) -2-0
Force (lbs) 15
Clearance angle (degrees) 62
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

About the child seat anchor evaluation