Rivian is finally getting a long-requested feature — and no, it's not CarPlay
Rivian is adding optional second-row captain's chairs to the R1S SUV as part of its 2027 model year refresh, ending years of owner complaints about the three-row seating layout.
Intelligence analysis by Llama
Rivian is finally giving R1S buyers what they've been asking for: second-row captain's chairs. The optional seats will cost up to $4,500 and come bundled with a premium package, arriving as part of the 2027 R1 lineup refresh that also introduces new trim tiers and higher base prices.
Rivian makes big electric SUVs, and for years people who bought the three-row R1S complained that the middle row was a long bench that made it hard to reach the back seats, kind of like trying to climb over a row of pillows. Now Rivian is finally selling two standalone chairs for the middle row, though you'll have to pay up to $4,500 extra to get them as part of a special package.
Analysis
Sound and Vision package
The new captain's chairs won't be a standalone option. Rivian has bundled them inside a $2,500 Sound and Vision package that also includes a glass roof and audio system. On top of that base price, the chairs themselves add either $1,500 with the Black Mountain interior theme or $2,000 with the Ocean theme, pushing the total premium to as much as $4,500. This packaging strategy reflects Rivian's effort to push average transaction prices higher on the R1S while still giving owners the long-requested standalone second-row seating. The chairs themselves are heated, fold flat, retain full car seat tie-downs, and include stowaway armrests and push-to-release cupholders, while a passthrough between the second and third rows enables stowing long gear like surfboards and skis. Buyers who still want to seat seven passengers can keep the classic second-row bench.
Quad and the new trim strategy
Rivian is also moving away from its motor-count naming scheme — Dual, Tri, Quad — in favor of three curated tiers: Premium, Performance, and the halo Quad. The change aligns the R1 with the smaller, more affordable R2 and signals the company's intent to present a unified brand architecture as it scales. Performance figures including range, horsepower, torque, and 0–60 acceleration remain unchanged, suggesting the revisions are about packaging and positioning rather than mechanical overhaul. The R1T pickup gets a new 20-inch Goodyear Adventure All-Season wheel and tire combination as standard on Premium and a no-cost option on Performance, aimed at improving off-road traction without sacrificing range. Both R1S and R1T gain a new paint option, Esker Silver, a liquid-metal finish first introduced on the R2.
$79,990 and $83,990 starting prices
With Rivian having discontinued the entry-level Dual Standard trims earlier this summer — which had started at $72,990 (R1T) and $76,990 (R1S) — the 2027 lineup now begins at $79,990 for the R1T and $83,990 for the R1S, both before fees. That represents a meaningful price increase on the base end, reflecting both the removal of the smaller-battery standard pack options and the broader upward drift of the EV market. The R1 vehicles remain strategically important for Rivian even as the R2 reaches more customers. The R2 is the company's mass-market play, but the R1S and R1T deliver high-end revenue, anchor the brand's luxury reputation, and serve as the testbed for Rivian's advanced in-house autonomy technology. Captain's chairs may seem trivial, but the R1 lineup's commercial health is what funds that autonomy work.
Key points
- Rivian is adding optional second-row captain's chairs to the R1S as part of the 2027 model year refresh
- The chairs cost up to $4,500 and require the $2,500 Sound and Vision package plus a $1,500–$2,000 seat upgrade
- Rivian is replacing its Dual, Tri, Quad motor-count names with Premium, Performance, and Quad trim tiers
- The R1T gets a new 20-inch Goodyear Adventure All-Season wheel and tire set as standard on Premium
- Both R1S and R1T gain a new Esker Silver paint finish first introduced on the R2
- 2027 base prices rise to $79,990 (R1T) and $83,990 (R1S) after Rivian discontinued the cheaper Dual Standard trims
- The R1 lineup remains central to Rivian's high-end revenue and its in-house autonomous-driving technology program
The captain's chairs directly address a long-standing owner pain point, which could lift R1S customer satisfaction and order conversion at a time when EV loyalty matters. Higher base prices on the 2027 lineup also expand per-unit revenue, and a healthier R1 business gives Rivian more runway to develop and validate its in-house autonomy stack before it trickles down to the mass-market R2.
The up-to-$4,500 add-on cost for a feature many owners consider basic may frustrate early adopters and feed a perception that Rivian nickel-and-dimes its customers. The removal of the entry-level Dual Standard trims raises the base price by roughly $7,000, which could narrow the addressable market for the R1 lineup just as competition in the premium three-row EV segment intensifies.
Market signals
- RIVN Higher base prices on the 2027 R1 lineup and discontinuation of the cheaper Dual Standard trims lift average selling prices, a marginal revenue tailwind for the publicly listed EV maker.
AI-generated analysis of potential market relevance. Not financial advice.
