Why the Rivian R1S can make you car sick, and what helps
The Rivian people ask about is the R1S, one of the most thoroughly discussed vehicles in EV motion-sickness threads. Owners describe a back-and-forth, fore-aft sensation on the highway tied to lift-off regenerative braking, which can be turned down to Low but never fully off, stacked on the tall, heavy, three-row body of a big SUV. The same threads carry the good news: it eases as the driver's pedal technique improves.
Regen you can lower but never switch off, in a tall three-row EV
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Why it happens in a Rivian
Rivian's owner forums host some of the most detailed regen motion-sickness discussions online. Riders describe a back-and-forth fore-aft pitching on the highway that some say persists no matter how gently the driver lifts off, and the design characteristic they keep returning to is that regen is adjustable across Low, Standard and High but cannot be disabled, so there is no true coast. The quiet, refined cabin removes the sound cues passengers use to brace, and the R1S adds the geometry of any large SUV: tall, heavy and three rows, with the rearmost seats behind the rear axle where pitch is strongest. The counterweight in the same threads is adaptation: many owners report passengers, including motion-prone kids, becoming comfortable over weeks or months as the driver learns to feather the accelerator and treat it as a single speed pedal.
Regen with no off switch
Low, Standard and High are selectable, but lifting off always produces some deceleration rather than a free coast: the design characteristic owners discuss most.
Fore-aft pitching on the highway
The back-and-forth sensation owners describe is the lift-off regen feel, the pattern of sudden deceleration that research links to EV nausea.
A silent, premium cabin
No engine pitch or vibration tells a passenger the vehicle is about to slow, so the deceleration always arrives unannounced.
Tall, heavy, three rows
Elevated seating amplifies felt motion, and the third row sits behind the rear axle, where pitch and bounce are strongest. Rear passengers report more discomfort than the driver.
Adaptation is real
Owners widely report the discomfort easing over weeks or months as the driver's throttle technique smooths out.
One car makes you sick and another does not? Why certain cars make you car sick covers the three causes, whatever the brand.
What actually helps in a Rivian
1. Set regen to Low
The softest setting lets the R1S coast down more gradually instead of pulling back hard the moment the driver lifts off.
2. Drive it as a single speed pedal
Modulating the accelerator smoothly, rather than jumping fully off it, blunts the abrupt deceleration passengers feel as pitching. Owners report this is the biggest lever, and that it improves with practice.
3. Second row, not third
Seat the sensitive rider near the center of gravity, in the second row, and keep the third row for the unaffected.
4. Eyes on the horizon, air on the face
The road ahead rather than phones or screens, with cool air from the vents or a cracked window.
5. Give it weeks, not one trip
Owners describe queasy passengers, including motion-prone kids, adjusting over weeks as the driving smooths out. Judge the vehicle on the tenth drive, not the first.
Comparing apps for the drive? The car sickness app guide sets sound therapy against on-screen motion cues, free options included.
Going on a drive in the Rivian? Set it up first
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Rivian model by model
The R1S is the Rivian people ask about and the one we have researched; as the three-row SUV it adds the behind-the-axle third row to the regen story. Its high reader-reported risk reflects how much owners discuss it, and the same owners report it improving with technique and time.
| Model | Type | Powertrain | Reader-reported risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rivian R1S | 3-Row SUV | EV | high |
Risk levels summarise what owners and passengers commonly report, not measured testing.
Frequently asked questions
Can you turn off regenerative braking on a Rivian to stop the car sickness?
No: owners report you can lower the R1S's regen to a Low setting but not switch it off completely, so there is no true coast. Selecting the lowest regen level plus smooth, gradual accelerator inputs from the driver is what owners most often credit with making the ride easier for a sensitive passenger.
Why does the back of the R1S feel worse for motion sickness than the front?
The driver controls and anticipates every acceleration and deceleration, so they rarely feel sick, while passengers cannot predict the lift-off regen. In a tall three-row SUV the third row sits behind the rear axle, with the most pitch and bounce and the weakest forward view, which is why owners seat carsick riders in the second row instead.
Do people get used to the Rivian's regen braking over time?
Many owners report yes. A common theme in Rivian forums is that the fore-aft sensation eases over weeks or months as the driver learns to modulate the throttle smoothly; some describe passengers who were initially queasy, including motion-sensitive kids, becoming comfortable as the driving technique improved.
Related
Sources & further reading
Your next question, probably
Which model do you actually ride in?
Every model we cover, each with its own seat and setup notes
If that is not your question:
Based on publicly reported owner and passenger experiences and each vehicle's documented design, as of July 2026. Regenerative braking and the other characteristics described here are deliberate engineering choices, not faults: this page is about how they feel to motion-sensitive passengers, and sensitivity varies from person to person. Vehicle and brand names are trademarks of their respective owners; Dizzout is not affiliated with or endorsed by them. Specifications and software features change; check the manufacturer's current documentation. Informational only, not medical advice.