Kneel Mode is a convenient way for Rivian owners to enter and exit their electric cars by lowering the height. Despite being new to the automotive industry, Rivian has attracted plenty of attention from both established automakers and consumers alike. Following the interest in its flagship electric truck, the R1T, the automaker went on to introduce the R1S SUV. The company is now preparing to launch Dual-Motor AWD and Enhanced Dual-Motor AWD versions of its EVs.
The Kneel Mode simplifies entry and exit for Rivian EV owners and passengers. When parked, an EV equipped with the feature will drop to a low height that's estimated to be about 10-inches from the ground. This occurs within five seconds of the mode being activated. When in Conserve or All-Purpose Modes with a regular ride height, the Rivian will drop as much as 1.4-inches once Kneel Mode is initiated. The EV maintains this position until it's driven again.
When Not To Use Kneel Mode
By lowering the height of the truck or SUV, the driver and passengers will find it easier to embark and disembark. It also makes it convenient to load and remove luggage or gear from the front trunk, bed, or rear cargo area. Drivers should note that the Kneel Mode shouldn't be engaged when select drive modes are activated. For instance, Off-Road and Towing modes aren't suited to this feature as lowering the vehicle’s height could not only endanger the Rivian EV but also the load being towed. When using Sport Mode, this feature shouldn't be turned on as the Rivian already has a low ride height.
For those unaware of how to enable this feature, the first step is to tap the 'Settings' gear icon located in the lower Center Display and move to the Vehicle and Access screens. At this point, drivers can easily turn the mode off and on. If drivers want to cancel the mode while it's in use, pressing the right scroll wheel gets the job done. It should be noted that the system is designed to stall once someone opens the door halfway through the lowering.
Rivian's Kneel Mode only works when the EV is fitted with the 21-inch Road or 22-inch Sport Wheel and Tire sets. Rivian owners should also note that Kneel Mode is only available when the vehicle is in All-Purpose or Conserve Modes because of safety and convenience reasons. If drivers don't see the Kneel Mode option, it's worth checking if their Rivian EV is updated to the latest software version, since the feature was released via an update.
Source: Rivian