Back when Tesla founded the EV segment, its goal was to make its patents open for use by other manufacturers. Back in 2008, Tesla released its first car, the Roadster, and started the EV revolution. Fast-forward to nowadays, and we have start-up manufacturers like Rivian, which already has models that are easily rivaling the Tesla offerings. The Rivian R1S is the more practical sibling to the R1T pickup truck and it boasts some impressive figures. Can it live up to the factory-claimed figures though? YouTube channel The Fast Lane Car provides an answer.

You can already preorder a Rivian R1S, with the first batch of lucky customers taking delivery around December 2022. The all-electric SUV is powered by four electric motors, which combined produce 835 horsepower (614 kilowatts) and 900 pound-feet (1,224 Nm). The 135 kWh battery can provide up to 316 miles (509 km) of EPA range on a single charge, and thanks to 150 to 200 kWh fast-charging, you get from 10 to 80 percent charge in 42 minutes.

The estimated 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) time is around 3.2 seconds, but can the R1S really manage it? Tires are one of the variables here, and the Rivian R1S is available with three different sets of rubber. Pirelli developed versions of its Scorpion Verde All-Season, Scorpion Zero All-Season, and Scorpion All-Terrain tires specifically to meet Rivian’s requirements. The example tested by The Fast Lane Car is equipped with the third tire, which measures 275/65 R20 all around. Naturally, you shouldn’t expect levels of performance associated with a performance-oriented summer tire. It's also worth noting that, thanks to the adaptive suspension, the Rivian R1S offers up to 15.0 inches (381 mm) of ground clearance. In sport mode, it goes down to 8.0 inches (203 mm).

That said, the Rivian still did a sub-four-second 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) time, which is more than impressive for a three-row electric SUV that has a curb weight of 5,842 pounds (2,650 kg) and can tow up to 7,700 pounds (3,175 kg) of load. With that said, the host reckons that with a lowed street tire, the Rivian R1S can reach the predicted 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) time of around 3.2 seconds. Moreover, the tires on this one are “snowflake-rated”, which among other things, translates to a reduced range, by about 41 miles (66 km).

The video is more of an in-depth review, but it still prioritizes the 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) run, which is measured at the very beginning. The rest of the video is along the lines of a “quirks and features” video of the Rivian R1S, and there are plenty of those.