Rivian's 2027 changes include its No. 1 most-requested feature

Pricing hasn’t changed, and now you can get captain’s chairs for the R1S. It’s time for Rivian’s changeover from model year 2026 to 2027, and the electric vehicle startup has decided to take a page from its recently released R2 SUV and apply it to the company’s larger, more expensive R1 line. The changes aren’t massive—the R1 got a refresh in 2024 that saw the R1S SUV and R1T pickup each get some comprehensive re-engineering with new powertrain options, a new electronic architecture, and new batteries. But among them is the No. 1 most requested feature by Rivian R1S customers, the automaker told Ars: captain’s chairs for the second row. The six-seat interior is an alternative to a middle bench, and the Rivian captain’s chair looks thoughtfully designed, with a hidden cupholder that I’m not sure I’ve seen on any other SUV before. The chairs are also spaced so it’s easy to get to the third row, or use that volume between them for skis, snowboards, or surfboards. Rivian has also changed the trims, bringing them into line with the offer structure on the recently released R2. Instead of choosing from Dual, Tri, or R1s, Rivian is now calling them Premium and Performance; Quad stays Quad.