Rivian R1S Motion Sickness: Regen Braking and Fixes
The Rivian R1S is one of the most thoroughly discussed vehicles in EV motion-sickness threads, where owners and their passengers trade detailed notes on regenerative braking, seating, and what actually helped. Here's what they report and the levers you can pull.
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3-Row SUV ยท EV ยท Reader-reported motion-sickness risk: a common complaint among motion-sensitive riders.
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
Risk levels summarise what passengers and riders commonly report, not measured testing.
Key facts
- The Rivian R1S is a 3-row SUV. It is fully electric.
- Reader reports place it in the high band for motion sickness.
- 6 design factors are documented on this page as motion triggers in the Rivian R1S.
- Best seat: For a motion-sensitive rider, set regen to its lowest available level, seat them in the second row near the vehicle's center of gravity rather than the third row, and keep their eyes on the road ahead and the horizon rather than on a phone or screen.
- Settings that matter: Lower the regenerative braking to its softest setting so the R1S coasts down more gradually instead of pulling back hard when the driver lifts off.
Why the Rivian R1S can trigger motion sickness
Rivian owner forums host some of the most detailed regenerative-braking motion-sickness discussions online, with riders describing a "back and forth" fore-aft sensation on the highway that some say persists "no matter how gently" the driver lifts off. A defining design characteristic owners raise often is that the R1S lets you turn regen down to a Low level but not switch it fully off, so there is no true coast. Many of the same owners also report adapting over weeks or months as the driver learns to modulate the throttle smoothly, and they praise the R1S for its composed, planted ride and quiet, premium cabin. As a tall, heavy three-row EV it pairs the regen-deceleration trigger with the seating and center-of-gravity factor that affects any large SUV.
- Regenerative braking is adjustable across Low, Standard, and High but cannot be fully disabled, so lifting off the accelerator always produces some deceleration rather than a free coast - a frequently discussed design characteristic in R1S owner threads
- Owners commonly describe a 'back and forth' fore-aft pitching sensation on the highway tied to the lift-off regen feel (the longitudinal jerk that research links to EV nausea)
- The quiet, refined cabin removes the engine-pitch and vibration cues that passengers in gas cars unconsciously use to anticipate when the vehicle will slow
- It is a tall, heavy three-row SUV with elevated seating, so felt motion and body movement are amplified compared with a low sedan
- Third-row riders, seated behind the rear axle, are the most affected; rear passengers generally report more discomfort than the driver, who controls and predicts every deceleration
- Owners widely report that the discomfort eases over weeks or months as the driver learns to feather the accelerator and treat it as a single speed pedal rather than coasting
Best seat & setup in the Rivian R1S
For a motion-sensitive rider, set regen to its lowest available level, seat them in the second row near the vehicle's center of gravity rather than the third row, and keep their eyes on the road ahead and the horizon rather than on a phone or screen.
Lower the regenerative braking to its softest setting so the R1S coasts down more gradually instead of pulling back hard when the driver lifts off. The biggest lever is the driver's technique: modulating the accelerator smoothly and treating it as a single speed pedal, rather than jumping fully off it, blunts the abrupt lift-off deceleration that passengers feel as fore-aft pitching. Owners report this gets noticeably smoother with practice.
Comparing EVs? See which EVs let you turn regen down or off.
Comparing SUVs? See which SUVs have a documented comfort setting, and where the third row sits.
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What helps in the Rivian R1S
- Set regen to Low and have the driver feather the accelerator smoothly, so deceleration is gentle and gradual rather than an abrupt lift-off pullback
- Seat the most sensitive rider in the second row near the center of gravity, not the third row behind the rear axle where pitch and bounce are strongest
- Keep eyes on the road ahead and the moving horizon instead of phones, tablets, or reading, which widens the sensory conflict the inner ear is already managing
- Crack a window or aim fresh, cool air from the vents toward the affected passenger and keep the cabin from getting warm and stuffy
- Build up tolerance gradually - many R1S owners report that passengers, including kids prone to car sickness, adjusted over a few weeks as the driver's throttle technique smoothed out
- Try Dizzout - a drug-free, screen-free sound therapy you can start the moment symptoms begin; Dizzout states relief in about 90 seconds. Over-the-counter options also exist; follow the label or ask a pharmacist
The screens-away item on that list has a page of its own, with the trials attached: see the verdict on putting your phone away.
Why cars set off nausea at all, and what to do once it starts in any car, is in our car sickness guide.
Comparing apps for the drive? The car sickness app guide sets sound therapy against on-screen motion cues, free options included.
Frequently asked questions
Can you turn off regenerative braking on the Rivian R1S to reduce motion 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 seat 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 and feels the most pitch, bounce, and the weakest forward view, which is why owners commonly seat carsick riders in the second row instead.
Do people get used to the R1S 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.
Other car motion-sickness guides
Sources & further reading
Based on publicly reported owner experiences and the vehicle's documented design characteristics, as of 2026. Vehicle and brand names are trademarks of their respective owners; Dizzout is not affiliated with or endorsed by them. Motion-sickness sensitivity varies by person, so this is informational, not a vehicle review or a substitute for a doctor's advice.