Rivian Recap: 02/20/2026

Let's dive in!

Software

Last week we got the early scoop on 2026.03 and it looked really good, especially for dual-motors (which, based on my lease calculator is the by far most of the fleet!).

As per usual, you can make sure you're signed up through Rivian Roamer to get alerted as soon as your vehicle is flagged for the update.

Both our Gen2 R1S and R1T were flagged on 'launch' day yesterday, but it looks like it's getting a Fast & Furious style rollout.

Given that two of the bigger focus points for this update were cold weather messaging and sport mode for all dual-motors (even w/o performance), I have to say the impacts were immediately noticeable.

We are in a colder than usual week here in the PNW (I realize the midwest and NE would laugh at 20s-30's being 'cold'), but it was enough to highlight some of the changes in the UI for cold temperatures.

Now, in colder weather you can see a blue ring around the battery, and a subtle shading showing you how much of the battery range is impacted from the cold.

Going to the larger charge screen gives more detailed information:

Here, you can clearly see that 14 miles are "locked" due to the cold performance, however as the battery warms up that range should become available again.

I have to say, this is incredibly well done by the Rivian software team.

Given that in the past ~80% of Rivian buyers were first time EV owners, the more we can make education naturally integrated like this, the better.

The second major impact for the fleet has to do with Sport mode coming to ALL dual-motor vehicles, not just ones with the performance upgrade.

Here's how it shows in in my Dual-Max R1T:

By adding Sport mode to dual-motors, we get a permenantly locked AWD drive mode, ride feel options of Moderate or Firm, and a newly updated Sport option of Standard ride height.

Importantly, the auto suspension is also gone in this mode.

The throttle response is also way more sensitive vs the All-Purpose mode.

I have to say, while this is a far less efficient drive mode vs the dual-motor version of All-Purpose (akin to Conserve on Tri and Quad), it basically gives every Rivian trim a mode to feel like a rocket ship.

Paying for the performance upgrade now unlocks 3 specific things:

- More horsepower (665 hp vs 533 hp)
- More torque (829 lb-ft vs 610 lb-ft)
- Launch mode

But with Sport coming to all duals, that feels like a low ROI way to spend to $5k for a software unlock. 

The all-terrain upgrade for $3,950 is a way better deal as you get hardware (skid plate, spare tire kit, all-terrain tires) AND it comes with Rally, Soft Sand plus this weeks addition of Sport.

Unfortunately, the Sport mode doesn't "stick" longer than a few hours so if you haven't driven very recently it reverts back to All-Purpose on duals for EPA rating reasons. This is still a big win though.

Lastly, we got a better than expected dedicated Apple Watch App, which lets you control climate, remotely lock/unlock, set charge limits etc.

Hooray, Gen1 owners! 🥳 But Gen2 benefits as well.

If you're looking for a deep dive on 2026.03, Jose from RivianTrackr did an extensive walkthrough of the the update along with the Watch app.

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Lastly, when it comes to software I wanted to touch briefly on the state of Autonomy (for Rivian, Tesla, and the industry at large).

For some reason most of these autonomy teams seem fixated on being the single solution for all users with minimal "shades" that bring an all or nothing approach to how the car behaves.

That's the focus of this weeks video, where I actually mocked up exactly how automakers could give the driver far more personalization in terms of the cars autonomous personality.

We are in this "autonomy limbo" phase, and likely will be for at least a few more years. Where automakers aren't taking liability to allow owners to simply be passengers, but expecting them to shoulder liability of a vehicle that doesn't really drive like they do with constant attention.

Here's how I think they could fix that, quickly.

Hardware

One thing I think has been overlooked in the latest messaging on Rivians earnings call, as well as what has been mentioned off hand by the early R2 media group is that Gen3 + LiDAR seems to have a delay.

At Autonomy & AI Day, Rivian said that Gen3 + LiDAR was expected by "late 2026" with that timeline hinted at being October-ish.

But now, their public language has said it "will be on vehicles in early 2027".

So this means we are looking at a 3-6 month expected delay compared to what they said just 60 days ago or so.

Delays are common in any technical field, especially with something as complex as a new chip design and doubly so with an organization like Rivian.

Is it disappointing? Yes.

Does it really impact the R2 ramp? No.

But it does mean you may want to look closely at lease options if you can for those early Gen2.5 versions of the initial R2 configuration.

Community

There are two events coming up that Rivian is putting on.

First, F.A.T. Ice Weekend, a race in Big Sky from February 27-28.

There are two events going on.

February 25, 26 and March 1 - 10am-5pm "Experience Snow Mode"

February 26 - 4-7pm "Cars & Coffee"

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Rivian will also be taking R2 to SXSW to run it again like they did last year where they had a giant dirt pile and some fun demo drives.

SXSW starts March 12, the same day more R2 details drop. 👀

Worth Checking Out - VION

I've had our VION sunshades in both our R1S and R1T for months now. They're custom-fit for Rivian's expansive glass roof, and honestly, they can make a big difference on hot days or when the vehicle is parked.

VION sponsored my 1-year review video, and they're offering Rivian Recap readers 10% off anything site wide with code "TRAVIS".

Check out their sunshades, carbon activated air filters, and more:

VION Sunshade // VION Air Filters

My thanks to VION for helping make this newsletter possible.

Latest Deals

Here are the latest deals, including 0% financing on the following models:

Dual Large w/Performance  <- Best lease value right now
Dual Max w/Performance
Tri Max
Quad Max

Plus, for a limited time you get an added $1k discount on either a lease or purchase option (expires March 3rd).

Notably, you can also snag 0% on Gen2 Quads.

But is the cheap financing really the best deal?

Those dual large/max with the Performance Upgrade get a $6,500 lease bonus cash offer. This is exactly why I built the lease vs buy comparison tool.

TLDR; 0% financing works out best for Tri and Quad variants that have zero in lease bonus cash, but the trade off for leases still wins on all other trims.

Avoid the Dual-Standard for now. It has a comparatively high interest rate and far worse lease terms. After a push at the end of 2025, this is a poor value now.

Here are my top suggested builds with the current incentives:

Dual Large w/Performance (LEASE):

2026 R1S Dual-Large w/Performance (Premium Audio)

2026 R1T Dual-Large w/Performance (Premium Audio, Utility V2 Tonneau)

Dual Max w/Performance (LEASE):

2026 R1S Dual-Max w/Performance (Premium Audio)

2026 R1T Dual-Max w/Performance (Premium Audio, Utility, V2 Tonneau)

Get 0% financing for 60 months on these builds:

Tri-Max (PURCHASE):

2026 R1S Tri-Motor

2026 R1T Tri-Motor

Quad-Max (PURCHASE):

2026 R1S Quad-Motor

2026 R1T Quad-Motor

*If you need to chat with a sales advisor and want a direct introduction, I'm happy to make that happen, just reply and I'll get you in touch.*

All referrals also get 3 months of free charging on the Rivian Adventure Network, which is handy when the cold weather impacts range.

I hope enjoyed this weeks edition of the Rivian Recap. Let me know what you'd like to see more of in future editions!

Even if you just want to say hi, hit reply – I'd love to get to know you 👋

Stay curious ✌️,

Travis Ketchum

P.S. Thinking about buying a new Rivian?

Make sure you use a referral code. A friend, a neighbor, or someone who has helped you along the way.

Here's mine: TRAVIS4699411