Marques Brownlee is a huge name in the automotive review space. The content creator has partnered with several major automakers to promote and review vehicles. As a result of his popularity, Brownlee has gotten to drive and experience some of the coolest vehicles on the planet. So, Marques’ Rivian R1S praises shouldn’t be taken lightly.

The Rivian R1S is something special

The Rivian R1S is the second electric vehicle from Rivian, a company that has become one of the biggest names in the electric vehicle space despite only producing two models. Rivian made major waves after investments and business dealings with companies like Amazon and Ford Motor Company.

Legacy automakers and some of America’s most successful companies clearly showed an interest in Rivian’s technology. It had a historic IPO price when the company first went public. The stock has taken a dive since it first became available, but that has little to do with the quality of the brand’s electric vehicles.

The 2023 Rivian R1S starts at $78,000. It uses a dual-motor powertrain setup to produce 600 horsepower. The R1S Launch Edition configuration makes 835 horsepower using four motors. The R1S Adventure gets 260 miles of standard driving range. Large battery pack models can achieve 321 miles of driving range.

The electric full-size luxury SUV has an impressive 14.9 inches of ground clearance. It’s an EV designed for off-roading enthusiasts that want to bring plenty of passengers along for the ride (three-row seating). The R1S is not the everyman’s electric family SUV, and frankly, its capabilities justify its high price in the eyes of many owners.

Marques Brownlee gives Rivian’s SUV his stamp of approval

Marques Brownlee regularly tests and reviews amazing vehicles, but his R1S praise is notable. The YouTube sensation thoroughly enjoyed his time with the innovative electric vehicle, which is no surprise considering its specs. Between the R1S’s power and off-roading capability, the electric SUV provides an enjoyable driving experience that few vehicles on the market can compete with, hence its high price.

The R1S can deal with treacherous terrain and climb steep inclines thanks to its design. In the intro to the video, Brownlee describes the 2023 Rivian R1S as the “best SUV that you can buy right now.” He goes on to acknowledge how controversial that statement is but makes a strong case for Rivian’s SUV. The R1S may not be the undisputed best SUV on the market in the eyes of auto enthusiasts and experts, but it’s tough to dispute that it has impressive and unordinary specs.

The future of Rivian electric vehicles

Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe recently teased upcoming additions to the brand’s lineup in a recent interview with Marques Brownlee. According to Car and Driver, the CEO claims that the company is working on smaller models. These smaller models will likely be more affordable and more easily accessible to the average consumer. Competitors like Tesla seem to be working on smaller more affordable models as well.

Rivian has made plenty of noise with its initial electric vehicle offerings. A more affordable smaller electric SUV could be exactly what it needs to increase sales and market share.