What are the differences between Dual-Motor AWD, Performance Dual-Motor AWD and Quad-Motor AWD vehicles?
Preorder holders can choose between three drive systems that distribute power to all four wheels when configuring their Rivian vehicle. With Dual-Motor vehicles delivering soon, here are some details to help you decide.
Dual-Motor AWD provides excellent performance and versatility while maximizing range.
Performance Dual-Motor AWD offers additional on-road performance while maximizing range.
Quad-Motor AWD is designed for maximum performance, on-road and off.
Automatic AWD vs Permanent AWD
When in All-Purpose mode, Automatic AWD drives the vehicle using the front axle motor and wheels to optimize range, but automatically and seamlessly sends power to the rear axle motor and wheels as needed - instantly engaging the rear motor when accelerating heavily or when a loss of traction is detected. This makes Automatic AWD the most efficient AWD system we offer.
For performance and safety, when in all other drive modes (Snow, Tow, All-Terrain and Sport), both motors will be always-on similar to Permanent AWD.
Quad-Motor AWD uses a Permanent AWD system in which all 4 motors are always enabled (unless the Conserve drive mode is selected).
Drive Modes
Dual-Motor AWD vehicles come with four drive modes:
All-Purpose
Snow
Tow
All-Terrain
Performance Dual-Motor AWD vehicles come with five drive modes:
All-Purpose
Snow
Tow
All-Terrain
Sport
Quad-Motor AWD vehicles come with ten drive modes:
All-Purpose
Snow
Tow
All-Terrain
Sport
Conserve
Rock Crawl
Rally
Drift
Soft Sand
Why don’t Dual-Motor AWD and Performance Dual-Motor AWD vehicles have Conserve mode?
Dual-Motor variants use our Automatic AWD drive system. In All-Purpose mode, Dual-Motor vehicles are propelled by the front motor and front wheels only. Similarly, a Quad-Motor vehicle in Conserve mode de-couples the rear motors so that only the front motors are in use. Since a de-coupled rear axle is the default setting for All-Purpose mode in a Dual-Motor vehicle, a separate Conserve mode is not necessary.
Automatic AWD in Dual-Motor vehicles recruits the rear axle’s power reserves automatically during high acceleration. This also helps reduce cases of increased front tire wear as power is more evenly distributed across all four wheels when needed.
Suspension Heights
Dual-Motor AWD vehicles have four available suspension heights:
Max
High
Standard
Low
Both Performance Dual-Motor AWD and Quad-Motor AWD vehicles have five available suspension heights:
Max
High
Standard
Low
Lowest
Appearance
Both Dual-Motor AWD and Performance Dual-Motor AWD have exterior door badges in a monochrome satin silver finish as well as a tailgate badge with a gloss black accent. In addition, they have silver front and rear brake calipers.
Quad-Motor AWD vehicles continue to have yellow badging accents and yellow brake calipers.
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