Rivian Blue
Member
- Joined
- Nov 14, 2024
- Messages
- 139
- Reaction score
- 16
- Rivian
- R1S Rivian Blue
For a while now, I've been bothered by a question with regards to switching drive modes. I wasn't able to find the answer in the owners guide (probably cause I was in a hurry). I wanted to know if you safely change drive modes on the fly. Let's say I’m in All-purpose mode driving on a wet road at 55 mph. The road surface transitions to slush then snow. Was curious if I could simply push “snow” mode at my current speed or, I must pull over or exit, come to a complete stop, then switch modes before resuming?
After making some research online and talking to a couple of owners, I learnt that you're unable to change drive modes when Driver+ (Cruise control and auto-steering) is active. In addition, also having just the cruise control active also locks out changing drive modes.
Suspension changes seem to only be locked out when a door (both the cabin doors and gear tunnel doors) is open. This is apparently to reduce the risk of lowering the door down onto an object.
In addition, changing between All-Purpose and Conserve is generally done when driving at a steady state on the highway at cruise speed. This isn't quite necessary to make the change at ~25 mph, but you do want to be driving at a constant speed.
Some owners mentioned noises when engaging/disengaging the clutch, but I haven't noticed that by changing in and out of Conserve mode in a steady state at highway speeds. I've only used Conserve mode a handful of times and mostly just ignored that.
I later rechecked the Owner's Manual, which is the definitive guide on your vehicle and in the section on drive modes (pages 181-188), they make no mention of restrictions on when you can and can't change modes. Safe to say that the restrictions above are learned from alerts on the dash when you try to make an change that is not allowed.
After making some research online and talking to a couple of owners, I learnt that you're unable to change drive modes when Driver+ (Cruise control and auto-steering) is active. In addition, also having just the cruise control active also locks out changing drive modes.
Suspension changes seem to only be locked out when a door (both the cabin doors and gear tunnel doors) is open. This is apparently to reduce the risk of lowering the door down onto an object.
In addition, changing between All-Purpose and Conserve is generally done when driving at a steady state on the highway at cruise speed. This isn't quite necessary to make the change at ~25 mph, but you do want to be driving at a constant speed.
Some owners mentioned noises when engaging/disengaging the clutch, but I haven't noticed that by changing in and out of Conserve mode in a steady state at highway speeds. I've only used Conserve mode a handful of times and mostly just ignored that.
I later rechecked the Owner's Manual, which is the definitive guide on your vehicle and in the section on drive modes (pages 181-188), they make no mention of restrictions on when you can and can't change modes. Safe to say that the restrictions above are learned from alerts on the dash when you try to make an change that is not allowed.
