Rivian is finally getting a long-requested feature — and no, it’s not CarPlay

Rivian R1S owners, rejoice. Rivian has heard your pleas for second-row captain’s chairs.

For years, Rivian owners have lamented the absence of captain’s chairs in the R1S, noting that the three-row SUV would be much improved with standalone seats instead of a bench in the second row. Parents groused that loading and unloading kids in the R1S could be a headache, especially with a child’s seat in the second row. And some owners have even contemplated going so far as to rip out the second-row bench seat and replace it with aftermarket chairs — so desperate were they for an accessible path to the third row.

Fortunately for them, Rivian announced today that the much-requested captain’s chairs will be coming to the R1S as part of the 2027 model year refresh for the whole R1 lineup.

But the chairs won’t come cheap. Interested buyers will need to shell out $2,500 for Rivian’s Sound and Vision package, which includes a glass roof and audio system, in order to get the captain’s chairs. Even then, the chairs will be $1,500 with the Black Mountain interior theme, and $2,000 with the Ocean theme. So R1S buyers will be looking at an extra bill for as much as $4,500 for the new seating configuration.

Each captain’s chair has stowaway armrests and push-to-release cupholders. They’re also heated, fold flat, and retain full car seat tie-downs. Rivian theorizes that the added passthrough between the second and third rows will make it easier to stow long gear, like surfboards and skis. And if you’d prefer to seat seven passengers in your R1S, the classic second-row bench seat remains an option.

There are some other updates too, but the inclusion of optional captain chairs will certainly be the one most celebrated among Rivian fans. The company said it would also be transitioning away from a motor-count naming scheme (Dual, Tri, Quad) to align the R1 with the more affordable R2 and promote consistency across the lineup. For the 2027 model year, Rivian will instead use three curated trim tiers: Premium, Performance, and the halo Quad. All the performance figures, including range, horsepower, torque, and 0–60 acceleration, remain the same for the 2027 R1s.

The R1T truck is getting new 20-inch Adventure All-Season wheel and tire combination for better off-road traction that doesn’t sacrifice range. The new Goodyear wheel and tire set will come as standard on R1T Premium and as a no-cost option for the Performance trim. And both the R1S and R1T will be getting a new paint option, Esker Silver, a liquid-metal finish first introduced on the R2.

Earlier this summer, Rivian discontinued the entry-level Dual Motor Standard Pack options for the R1s, which had smaller batteries and less range than some of the other trims. But they also had some of the less expensive starting prices: $76,990 (before fees) for the Dual Standard R1S and $72,990 for the Dual Standard R1T. The 2027 R1s will be pricier, with the R1T now starting at $79,990 and the R1S starting at $83,990, both before fees.

The R1 lineup remains crucial for Rivian’s business, even as the R2 continues to reach more customers. While that model — smaller and cheaper than the R1s — represents Rivian’s big play for mass-market customers, the R1 vehicles provide crucial high-end revenue, proves out advanced in-house autonomy tech, and essentially anchors the brand’s luxury reputation.