Rivian Drive Modes and Suspension Heights

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Rivian offers a massive suite of drive modes for its R1T and R1S vehicles. These modes are designed to conquer both paved roads and rugged off-road trails. The available drive modes vary depending on which motor package you choose, but every setup is engineered to handle a wide variety of scenarios with ease.

Let us break down exactly what Rivian offers and dive into the specifics of each drive mode.

Drive Modes

Rivian’s Dual-Motor AWD vehicles come with four primary modes: All-Purpose, Snow, Tow, and All-Terrain. If you add the All-Terrain Upgrade package, you also unlock the Soft Sand mode.

*Only available with the All-Terrain Upgrade Installed.

Stepping up to the Performance Dual-Motor AWD variant adds a dedicated Sport mode for maximum acceleration and road feel.

For those who opt for the Tri-Motor AWD or Quad-Motor AWD variants, Rivian unlocks the ultimate toolkit. These top-tier configurations include everything from the Dual-Motor variants while adding Conserve, Rock Crawl, Rally, and Drift modes.

Suspension Heights

Rivian offers four default air suspension heights across its lineup: Max, High, Standard, and Low.

However, vehicles equipped with the Performance Dual-Motor, Tri-Motor, or Quad-Motor configurations gain access to a fifth setting. This exclusive "Lowest" height setting is designed to maximize aerodynamic efficiency and handling at high speeds.

*This includes the Performance Dual-Motor AWD, Quad and Tri-Motor AWD (Gen2), and Quad-Motor AWD (Gen1) vehicles.

All-Purpose

All-Purpose is designed to maximize comfort for daily driving. It is the default and most versatile mode, and Rivian recommends it for all on-road conditions. This mode keeps the ride height at Standard when driving at city speeds. It then automatically drops to Low at highway speeds for better aerodynamics and increased range.

Snow

Snow mode increases vehicle control on roads covered in snow, slush, or ice. It utilizes a relaxed pedal response and reduced regenerative braking for simpler and more precise control. Like All-Purpose, this mode keeps the ride height at Standard at lower speeds and lowers it on the highway. If you plan to take your Rivian off-road in deep snow, Rivian actually recommends switching to All-Terrain mode instead.

All-Terrain

All-Terrain mode prioritizes traction and performance for moderate off-road conditions. Rivian intends this mode to be your go-to choice for most standard off-roading. This setting automatically raises the suspension to High and softens the dampers for a much smoother ride over rocks and ruts.

Soft Sand

Soft Sand mode is specifically engineered to prevent the heavy vehicle from getting trapped in deep, loose sand. It uses a unique set of traction control parameters, minimal stability control support, and reduced regenerative braking to optimize momentum. The ride height automatically defaults to High. If you are venturing into deep sand, Rivian also recommends airing down your tires significantly to maximize your footprint.

Sport

Sport mode is built for carving canyon roads or taking your truck to the track. It reduces stability control and provides maximum power to all available motors instantly. It also drops the vehicle down to the Lowest ride height setting for a highly planted feel. Rivian does warn that using this mode frequently will accelerate both tire and suspension wear.

Conserve

Conserve mode is exclusively available on Tri-Motor and Quad-Motor vehicles. Dual-Motor vehicles automatically decouple the rear axle to maximize range when cruising. However, the Tri-Motor and Quad-Motor setups require the driver to manually engage Conserve mode. This setting actively saves energy and maximizes highway range by strictly using the front axle to propel the vehicle.

Rock Crawl

Rock Crawl is intended for high-friction and high-articulation environments like steep, rocky inclines. It focuses entirely on low-speed driving with ultra-precise throttle control for careful wheel placement. Rivian warns that motor temperatures can rise quickly when crawling up steep obstacles, so the user interface puts motor temperatures front and center. The ride height defaults to High, and it is crucial to keep it there to maintain proper vehicle balance and avoid tipping.

Rally

Rally mode is designed for high-speed off-road driving on loose gravel and dirt. It removes the power restrictions found in other off-road modes and significantly reduces stability control. This gives the driver a much greater sense of manual control and allows the vehicle to slide through corners. The ride height defaults to High in this mode.

Drift

Drift mode shifts the power bias heavily toward the rear of the vehicle. It entirely disables stability control and massively reduces traction control to allow for sustained off-road drifting. Rivian explicitly states that this mode is not intended for paved roads. If you want to experience dynamic handling on asphalt, Sport mode is the correct choice. The ride height defaults to High for Drift mode.

Ride Feel Settings

Rivian allows owners to customize the suspension damping through three specific Ride Feel settings: Soft, Moderate, and Firm.

Soft is designed to maximize comfort when traveling over uneven terrain or rough city streets. Moderate offers a balanced, everyday feel. Firm provides a highly connected driving experience, allowing you to feel every curve on a winding road or track.

The availability of these settings depends entirely on your selected drive mode. For example, All-Purpose and Snow modes default to Soft, but allow you to select Moderate or Firm. Sport and Drift modes default to Firm, but allow you to switch to Soft. Moderate is disabled entirely in Sport, Drift, All-Terrain, and Soft Sand to prevent compromised handling dynamics.

*Includes Rally and Rock Crawl

Stability Settings

Finally, Rivian offers a full suite of stability control settings tied directly to the drive modes. There are three primary options: On, Reduced, and Off.

All-Purpose, Snow, and All-Terrain default to On, but allow the driver to manually switch to Reduced or Off. Sport mode defaults to On, but features inherently relaxed parameters compared to All-Purpose. Soft Sand completely disables stability control by default to maintain wheel momentum in deep sediment. Meanwhile, specialized modes like Rally lock the system into Reduced stability, and Rock Crawl utilizes a unique, always-on stability logic.

*Drift Mode has reduced stability.

**Rally has Reduced Stability, and Rock Crawl has a unique, always-on stability.

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Rivian: Where Did the Name Come From?

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Every car company has an origin story, but few are as tied to the landscape as Rivian. As the brand prepares to shift from a niche adventure-truck maker to a household name with its upcoming R2 midsize SUV, many are asking a simple question: Where did the name actually come from?

The answer lies in the childhood of the company’s founder, RJ Scaringe. According to a recent post on Threads, the name is a portmanteau derived from the “Indian River,” the wild estuary in Florida where Scaringe spent his youth exploring in a rowboat.

From the Indian River to MIT

The journey from a Florida rowboat to a global EV powerhouse wasn't a straight line. As Scaringe grew up, he found himself torn between two deep loves: cars and nature. He spent his time restoring iconic Porsches in a neighbor’s garage, but as his rowboat explorations taught him more about the environment, he began to see the conflict between his passion for speed and his desire to protect the wild.

This internal tug-of-war followed him to MIT. While earning his PhD in engineering and lean manufacturing, he became hyper-aware of his environmental footprint. He began drying laundry on clotheslines in his apartment and biking to class in the middle of New England winters. Eventually, he realized that he could do more by changing the industry itself.

"RJ recognized the power of the automotive industry to shape the way people live, work and play for the better," the company’s official story states. After graduation, he hand-picked a team of designers and engineers to build a new kind of car company — one that didn't just make cars, but encouraged people to "stay adventurous forever."

The Mission Behind the Badge

Rivian chose to start with trucks and SUVs for a specific reason: they are historically the most-polluting vehicles on the road. By electrifying the heaviest hitters first, the company could make the biggest impact. The goal was to create a ride that is "capable of handling every kind of terrain skillfully, and hauling all kinds of gear (and loved ones) effortlessly."

This vision has evolved into a lineup that blends high-end technology with rugged capability. Every decision, from the self-driving features to the storage solutions, is designed to make choosing an adventure easier for the average person.

The Pivot to the R2

While the R1T and R1S established Rivian as a premium player, the company is now entering its most critical phase. The upcoming R2 SUV is the vehicle that Rivian believes will carry it to profitability in the near future.

The $57,990 R2 Performance is slated to be the first off the line later this spring with the exclusive Launch Package, followed by the Premium and Long Range trims. Eventually, the $45,000 Standard model will arrive in late 2027 to compete directly with the world's most popular EVs. For those looking to see how these models compare, we’ve put together a full breakdown of the R2 trims.

Rivian is no longer just a startup with a cool name; it’s a company trying to prove that you don't have to choose between the cars you love and the nature you want to explore. As the R2 hits the road, the spirit of that Florida rowboat continues to drive every motor they build.

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Watch the Rivian R1S in Action in Rocket League [VIDEO]

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Rivian is getting ready to hit the arena. Following a string of leaks earlier this week, we now have our best look yet at the Rivian R1S performing aerials and scoring goals in Rocket League. While the vehicle was first spotted in Fortnite's backend files, new footage has surfaced showing the flagship SUV fully rendered and playable within the high-octane soccer-with-cars game.

The newly surfaced video showcases the R1S zipping around the arena, and accompanying screenshots show that it will be available in multiple configurations. It isn’t just a basic white SUV; the footage reveals multiple color schemes and detailing options. As we recently reported, the vehicle will also feature a custom "R.A.D." variant. This stands for the Rivian Adventure Department, which is Rivian’s real-world performance division tasked with pushing their electric vehicles to their absolute limits.

Video of the Rivian R1S being used in Rocket League pic.twitter.com/Ix1DtagHcI

— Rivian Wave (@RivianWave) March 27, 2026

A Cross-Game Experience

One of the most interesting aspects of this digital launch is the cross-game compatibility between Epic Games’ titles. Recent sightings of the R1S in the Fortnite Item Shop indicate that buying the car there will also unlock it in Rocket League. This means you can use your R1S to traverse the island in Fortnite's Battle Royale or Rocket Racing modes, and then hop over to Rocket League to use that same "car body" in a competitive match.

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The leaked footage shows the R1S with its signature "stadium" headlights and sleek light bar, which makes it one of the most recognizable silhouettes to enter the game. While the flagship R1S is a great start, many fans are hoping this "Rivian Series" eventually expands to include the upcoming R2 or even the rally-inspired R3X.

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Marketing the Future of Adventure

The timing for this virtual debut couldn't be better. Rivian is currently finalizing the rollout for its highly anticipated R2 midsize SUV. The $57,990 R2 Performance is set to reach the first customers later this spring. While the R1S is the current "greatest hits" model, bringing the R2 into the gaming world right as physical deliveries begin would be a massive marketing win for the brand.

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Rivian famously avoids traditional TV commercials, choosing instead to focus on community events like SXSW 2026 earlier this month and digital partnerships. By putting its vehicles in front of millions of young, tech-savvy gamers, Rivian is building brand affinity with the next generation of car buyers. It’s the same strategy Tesla used when it brought the Cybertruck to Fortnite last year.

There’s still no official word on the exact release date or price for the Rivian R1S bundle, but with footage now appearing of the vehicle in action, it’s likely just a matter of days before it hits the shop. Whether you're an EV enthusiast or just looking for a unique new car body for your next tournament, the R1S is looking like a solid addition to the Rocket League roster.

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