How the off-road electric SUVs stack up

The first real challenger to the Rivian R1S’s electric SUV halo is coming, and it hails from South Carolina via Germany. The Scout brand has been resurrected by Volkswagen.

On Thursday, the electric Scout Traveler SUV was unveiled as a direct rival for the Rivian R1S off-road electric SUV.

Years away and shown in what Scout has dubbed concept form that is 85% production-intent, here’s how the electric Scout SUV’s specs stack up against the Rivian R1S.

When and where can you buy the Scout Traveler and Rivian R1S?

• The Rivian R1S is on sale now and has been in production since the end of 2021.

• Production of the Scout Traveler is targeted for 2027, according to the automaker.

• Customers can put down a refundable $100 deposit on the Scout Traveler today.

• Rivian sells directly to consumers via its website. An R1S can be purchased in seconds with a few clicks and a deposit. It even takes Apple Pay for the deposit.

• Scout said it will own its sales and service network with direct sales to consumers, but hasn’t elaborated more on the process.

How much do the Scout Traveler and Rivian R1S cost?

• The Rivian R1S costs $77,700 including an $1,800 destination charge.

• The R1S will be offered at up to about $120,000 when the quad-motor version arrives in 2025. It can run up to about $110,000 today with a tri-motor powertrain.

• Scout originally said the Traveler would start in the $40,000 range, but now it is billed as costing less than $60,000.

What are the ranges of the Scout Traveler and Rivian R1S?

• The Rivian R1S has an EPA-rated range between 258 and 410 miles, depending on the battery pack size and number of motors.

• Scout said the Traveler will have up to 350 miles of range.

• The Scout Traveler will be available with a Harvester option, which adds a gas-powered range-extender that will enable up to 500 miles of driving range. The gas generator will have no direct connection to the electric motors or wheels and will only provide power to the battery pack.

How fast do the Scout Traveler and Rivian R1S charge?

• The Rivian runs a 400-volt electrical architecture enabling a peak charge rate of up to 220 kw.

• The Scout Traveler will use a faster, more future-proof 800-volt electrical architecture. Scout said it’s projecting a peak charge rate of 350 kw. It will use Tesla’s NACS plug.

How large are the Scout Traveler and Rivian R1S, and how many people can they hold?

• Every Rivian R1S has three rows of seats with a pair of front buckets, three across in the second-row bench seat, and seating for two in the third row. The third row isn’t as large as the Chevy Tahoe’s, but adults will fit for short jaunts around town.

• At 200.8 inches long, the Rivian is 3.6 inches longer than the Kia EV9, but 4.1 inches shorter than a Jeep Grand Cherokee L and 9.9 inches shorter than a Chevrolet Tahoe.

• The Scout Traveler will be a two-row SUV with seating for five or six passengers. The front row will be offered with either a center console and bucket seats or a bench seat for three across. The second-row bench seat will hold three passengers.

• Scout says the Traveler is 207.9 inches long and 91.6 inches wide, making it bigger than the R1S and about two inches shorter than a Chevy Tahoe.

What are the power outputs of the Scout Traveler and Rivian R1S?

• The Rivian can be had with two-, three-, or four-motor powertrains with anywhere from 533 hp to 1,025 hp. Torque checks in at up to 1,198 lb-ft.

• Scout said the Traveler will have two electric motors, one per axle, and have nearly 1,000 lb-ft of torque. Scout hasn’t said how much horsepower the Traveler will have.

How off-road capable is the Scout Traveler vs. the Rivian R1S?

• Every Rivian R1S comes with a four-corner air suspension and features a trick hydraulic kinetic roll-control system that does away with mechanical anti-roll bars.

• Rivians have independent front and rear suspension systems.

• The Rivian R1S can be lifted to 15.0 inches of ground clearance and has up to 43.0 inches of water fording capability.

• The Scout Traveler features a solid rear axle with front and rear mechanical lockers. Disconnecting front sway bars will be offered.

• Scout said the Traveler is intended to have up to 35-inch all-terrain tires, more than 12.0 inches of ground clearance, and nearly 36 inches of water fording capability. 

• The Scout’s rear-mounted spare tire carrier will be optional and can hold the 35-inch all-terrain wheel and tire combo.

Scout Traveler SUV concept

Which is quicker: the Scout Traveler or Rivian R1S?

• The Rivian R1S is significantly quicker than the Scout Traveler will be.

• The Rivian R1S with a quad-motor powertrain can run from 0-60 mph in 2.5 seconds.

• The slowest Rivian R1S does the 0-60 mph sprint in 4.5 seconds. The dual-motor Performance model does the deed in 3.4 seconds, and the tri-Motor model takes 2.9 seconds.

• Scout said the Traveler will run from 0-60 mph in as little as 3.5 seconds.

How much can the Scout Traveler and Rivian R1S tow and haul?

• The Rivian R1S is rated to tow up to up to 7,700 pounds and haul up to 1,764 pounds of payload.

• Scout said the Traveler is projected to tow more than 7,000 pounds and haul nearly 2,000 pounds of payload.