Rivian R1S vs. Scout EV SUV: What We Know

Key Points

• The Rivian R1S is one of the most off-road capable electric SUVs with the ability to climb vertical walls and impressive range and acceleration.
• The upcoming Scout EV SUV, manufactured by Volkswagen, poses a threat to the Rivian R1S as a direct competitor.
• The Rivian R1S offers powerful performance with up to 835 horsepower and 0-60 mph acceleration in 3.0 seconds, while the Scout EV SUV’s performance details are still unknown.
• The Rivian R1S has a range of up to 390 miles per charge, while the Scout EV SUV is expected to have a range of at least 300 miles per charge.
• The Rivian R1S has a starting price of $78,000, while the Scout EV SUV is expected to start at around $40,000.

Back in 2022, when it was first launched, the Rivian R1S became one of the most off-road capable electric vehicles. This SUV has the ability to climb vertical walls, and it impresses with an outstanding range and lightning-fast acceleration. However, its position on the market is now threatened by the upcoming Scout EV SUV.

Manufactured by Volkswagen, the newcomer proposes itself as a direct competitor of the Rivian R1S. It is too soon to say whether it will live up to expectations, but this in-depth comparison analyzes what we know so far.

Let’s dive right in!

Rivian R1S vs. Scout EV SUV: Side-by-Side Comparison

Rivian R1S vs Scout EV SUV: What’s the Difference?

Headquartered in Irvine, California, Rivian is an electric vehicle manufacturer and automotive technology company founded in 2009. The automaker initially focused on the production of a mid-range hybrid coupe, dubbed the R1. This first model, intended to be a sports car, was never released as the company switched gears and turned its focus on electric autonomous vehicles.

Almost a decade later, in 2017, Rivian announced its first two products — an electric five-passenger pickup truck (R1T) and an electric seven-passenger SUV (R1S). The truck hit the roads in 2021 and became the first fully electric pickup released to the consumer market.

The brand’s electric SUV was released one year later, in 2022. What makes it different from all other electric SUVs is the rugged construction developed specifically for unparalleled off-road performance. The R1S shares most of its components and the iconic skateboard platform with its truck sibling and is one of the largest and most off-road capable electric SUVs on the market.

Currently, no other electric car can match Rivian’s performance. However, its position on the market has recently become threatened by Scout. Acquired by Volkswagen, the Scout EV brand plans to launch an electric pickup truck and an electric SUV by 2026.

The company hasn’t revealed much about the upcoming EVs, but will they really be a threat to Rivian? Let’s compare what we know so far.

Performance

The Rivian R1S is the first electric SUV designed specifically for the off-road. It comes in three all-wheel drive trims, all of which output impressive performance.

The most affordable trim is the Rivian R1S Dual-Motor. As its name suggests, it has two motors that output 533 horsepower combined. With so much power, you can tackle most terrains with all peace of mind, not to mention the outstanding acceleration — the SUV goes from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 4.5 seconds.

That’s not as fast as an Italian supercar, but you can get faster acceleration and higher power from the R1S Performance Dual-Motor. This trim outputs 655 horsepower and up to 829 pounds per foot of torque. If that’s still not enough, you can upgrade to the Quad-Motor trim.

It is easy to understand that this trim comes with four motors, each controlling its own wheel. This translates to a better grip on all kinds of terrains. A power of 835 horsepower and 908 pounds per foot of torque ensure unrivaled performance. Add 10 driving modes, including Rock Crawl, and you can basically use this car to climb vertical walls.

In addition to outstanding torque and power, you also get Ferrari-fast acceleration, as the Rivian R1S Quad Motor can get to 60 miles per hour in a whopping 3.0 seconds.

Volkswagen hasn’t yet released a prototype of its Scout EV SUV, and details about its performance are scarce. Considering the other electric vehicles from the brand — and the fact that the Scout SUV is supposed to compete directly with Rivian — we can expect at least a dual-motor setup and around 300 horsepower.

Battery and Range

The Rivian R1S is a big and powerful car that needs a powerful battery to operate. The Dual-Motor trim’s standard battery pack has a capacity of 105 kWh and a range of around 260 miles.

If that’s not enough, you can upgrade to a large battery pack with a capacity of 135 kWh or a max pack with a capacity of 180 kWh. The large battery brings the range up to 340 miles, while the max adds extra mileage for a total range of around 390 miles.

The Performance Dual-Motor trim offers only two battery configuration options — you can pick either the large or the max battery pack. Despite the more powerful motors, the range remains the same, between 340 and 390 miles.

Surprisingly, the Quad-Motor trim is the only one that offers no battery configuration options. This version comes with a large pack as standard, and you can’t upgrade to a max pack. You get around 321 miles of range, but that’s a small price to pay for all the extra power.

Rather disappointing is the charge time. The SUV needs around 27 minutes to go from 20 to 80 percent of charge (around 140 miles in 20 minutes) when connected to a Level 3 DC fast charger. Compared to other electric SUVs, that’s a lot of time to sit and wait for the battery to replenish. At Level 2 chargers, the battery charges at a speed of around 25 miles per hour.

Volkswagen released no official information about the Scout’s battery capacity and range. However, we expect a range of at least 300 miles per charge. We have to wait and see whether the battery will be able to charge faster than Rivian’s.

Infotainment

Less exciting than the ride is the Rivian R1S’ infotainment system. This SUV comes with a 16-inch main touchscreen from where you can monitor non-essential car functions and stream music. Overall, the panel is very well organized and easy to navigate.

However, the proprietary system is incompatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. This means that you’ll have to rely on the preloaded navigation software, and you might not be able to connect your phone to the car for hands-free calls while driving.

On the bright side, the infotainment comes with built-in Alexa, so voice control is an option. In addition to the main control screen, the SUV also boasts a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a jaw-dropping sound system consisting of 22 Meridian Audio speakers strategically placed throughout the cabin.

With no official prototype, it is too early to tell what infotainment system the Scout EV SUV will have. Currently, the VW ID.4 comes with a 12-inch touchscreen compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a standard 6-speaker audio system. Considering the announced starting price of the upcoming Scout SUV, we’ll likely see a similar configuration as standard.

Comfort

Beyond performance, the Rivian R1S is designed for comfort. The exterior might not be a crowd-pleaser, but the interior manages to impress with cushy seats and sufficient legroom for all passengers — including the ones sitting in the third row.

There is plenty of headroom, too, regardless of where you sit. A panoramic sunroof increases brightness and adds airiness to the cabin. As you’d expect from a car built for adventure, you also get plenty of cargo space.

With all three rows in use, you get around 7.1 cubic feet of space. You can easily increase the cargo capacity by folding the third row. The second row also folds flat, providing you with a more-than-generous space for hauling large items. There are also lots of cubbies scattered throughout the cabin for small-item storage.

Another highlight is the outstanding 14.9-inch of ground clearance, so you can ride over all kinds of terrains without worries.

With most details about the Scout EV SUV still under wraps, we can’t say how comfortable this car will be. The certain thing is that it’ll have at least five seats and plenty of in-cabin storage. There should also be plenty of cargo space in the trunk.

Price

Volkswagen has a long way to go if it wants to outclass the Rivian R1S, but it does win in the price department. In an interview with TechCrunch, Scout CEO Scott Keogh confirmed that the expected SUV will have a starting price of around $40,000.

That’s about $38,000 cheaper than the Rivian R1S, which has a starting price of $78,000. Currently, the R1S is eligible for a tax credit of up to $3,750. The Scout SUV will be designed, developed, and manufactured in America, so it will likely be eligible for tax credits, too.

Rivian R1S vs. Scout EV SUV: 5 Must-Know Facts

• The Rivian R1S is one of the most off-road capable electric SUVs on the market. It is developed on the same platform as the R1T.
• The Scout EV SUV is a project in the making. This vehicle will be manufactured by VW under the Scout brand name.
• All Scout vehicles will be designed, developed, and manufactured in the U.S., so they will likely be eligible for tax credits.
• Currently, the Rivian R1S is eligible for up to 3,750 in tax credits.
• VW plans to launch the Scout EV SUV sometime in 2026. A prototype is expected to be presented in 2024.

Rivian R1S vs Scout EV SUV: Which One Should You Buy?

If you need a new electric SUV right now, the Rivian R1S is your only option. The Scout EV SUV is a car in the making, with an expected launch in 2026. Meanwhile, the R1S delivers outstanding performance and an impressive range.

Depending on the trim, you get up to 10 driving modes, unrivaled ground clearance, and sufficient power and torque to tackle all terrains and climb vertical walls. Throw in the fact that it has enough room for seven passengers plus cargo, and you’ve got one of the best electric SUVs on the market. That said, if you don’t mind waiting, you can save almost $40,000 if you decide to buy the Scout.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©Mike Mareen/Shutterstock.com.