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Tesla has been dominating the electric vehicle market for several years. Going a day without seeing a Model Y or Model 3 on the road is hard. Now other automakers are vying to give Tesla a run for its money and to challenge its dominance. One such company is Rivian, especially with its SUV, the R1S. Here are five reasons Tesla Model Y owners might want to switch to the Rivian R1S

1. The Rivian R1S has more cargo and passenger space

Comfort and capacity are two key features when buying a car. You want to be able to carry all your stuff while also carrying all your friends. Overall, the R1S is a larger vehicle with more capacity, making it a choice worth considering. 

According to U.S. News, the dimensions of the R1S are 77.3 in (H) x 200.8 in (L) x 81.8 in (W). The Model Y is not far behind, with dimensions of 63.9 in (h) x 187 in (L) x 75.6 in (W). However, a little bit can make a world of difference. 

Everyone also wants decent head and legroom, especially on long trips. Even with a passenger capacity of seven, the R1S still offers decent space for all. It provides 41.1 in. of front headroom, 54.9 in. of front hip room, 60.6 in. of shoulder room, and 41.4 in. of front legroom. In the second row, there is 39.7 in. of headroom, 54.2 in. of hip room, 36.6 in. of legroom, and 58.9 in. of shoulder room. The standard third row even offers  32.8 inches of legroom. 

The Model Y offers a standard five-passenger capacity within the front row, 41 in. of headroom, 53.8 in. of hip room, 41.8 in. of legroom, and 56.4 in. of shoulder room. In the second row, there is 39.4 in. of headroom, 50.6 in. of hip room, 40.5 in. of legroom, and 54 in. of shoulder room. A third row is not standard in the Model Y but is optional. 

Finally, the cargo capacity is worth considering here. The Tesla Model Y has 76 cubic feet of cargo space. The Rivian R1S, on the other hand, boasts 104 cubic feet of cargo space. 

2. The R1S has a membership program 

A yellow Rivian R1S full-size electric SUV model parked outside the Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference
A Rivian R1S SUV | Kevin Dietsch via Getty Images

Another way the Rivian R1S can squeeze the Tesla Model Y is its generous membership program. There are multiple benefits to this program, such as: 

  • Charge Assurance: Rivian will send out someone to charge your SUV if you run out of battery power. 
  • Free Unlimited Charging through the Rivian network and Waypoint Chargers.
  • Unlimited access to 4G LTE
  • Rivian Off-Road Assistance: Rivian will send out a rescue vehicle to assist any R1S owner who gets stuck off-road
  • Rivian Mile Matching: Rivian will make contributions to sustainable energy options for every mile R1S owners drive
  • Rivian Adventures: Rivian-led adventures, educational programs, unique gatherings, and more. 

3. The offers voice commands through Alexa 

Neither the Tesla Model Y nor the Rivian R1S offers standard Apple CarPlay or Android Auto integration. However, what sets the Rivian R1S apart is that it provides voice commands through Amazon Alexa.

4. The Rivian R1S can tow more than the Tesla Model Y

Towing may not be the first thing on your mind regarding an electric vehicle. However, with EVs becoming much more mainstream, towing must be discussed and accommodated much more. 

If you want to go camping or tow your fishing boat behind your EV, you definitely want to get the Rivian R1S. The R1S has a standard towing capacity of 7,700 pounds. The towing hitch receiver also comes standard for the R1S. In contrast, the Tesla Model Y has a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 pounds. 

5. The R1S has more range

One of the consumers’ primary questions about buying an electric vehicle is, what is the range of the car? How long can the driver go before needing to recharge? 

The Rivian R1S boasts a 390-mile range, while the Tesla Model Y has an estimated EPA range of 330 miles. While the difference between the R1S and the Model Y is not huge, it could still mean one less stop to charge on a long road trip if using the R1S. You may want to switch to the R1S if you don’t like waiting for your car to charge. 

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