The 2022 Rivian R1T is a futuristic-looking all-electric pickup truck that boasts four electric motors, lightning-quick acceleration, and 314 miles of estimated range. Those credentials and more help the first model from Rivian–a startup based in Irvine, California–earn an Editors’ Choice award. At 215.6 inches long, the crew-cab-only R1T splits the difference in size between mid-size pickups like the Ford Ranger and full-size trucks like the Ram 1500. The R1T is one of the first electric trucks to make it to production in what’s shaping up to be a competitive market that also includes the Ford F-150 Lightning and the GMC Hummer EV SUT. The R1T will be sold directly to consumers, although Rivian says that it also will set up a network of service centers and Tesla-like stores.
All-wheel drive is standard on the 2022 R1T but it uses a different arrangement than the Tesla Model X: Each wheel of the Rivian is powered by its own electric motor. The R1T boasts up to 835 horsepower and blasted to 60 mph in just 3.3 seconds at our test track. That makes it the quickest pickup truck we’ve tested to date. Adjustable air suspension will be standard at launch and can adjust the clearance height from eight to 14 inches. While every version of the R1T currently features an electric motor at each wheel, a dual-motor version will eventually be offered, too. Along with all-wheel drive, it’ll generate over 600 horsepower. The quad-motor setup allows the R1T to do what Rivian calls a Tank Turn, which sets the electric motors to rotate the left wheels in the opposite direction of the right ones to spin the truck on its axis. Our first test drive, which we conducted in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, displayed the R1T’s impressive off-road capabilities as well as its punchy on-road performance.
The 2022 Rivian R1T Explore, with quad motors, AWD, and a large battery pack, starts at $79,500. With a larger max battery pack that’s good for a range in excess of 400 miles, this R1T Explore starts at $89,500.
The R1T combines a mind-blowing mix of performance, comfort, utility and capability. Its four electric motors produce enough power to make most sports cars blush, and you can haul the family while towing an 11,000-pound trailer right behind you for a weekend of exploration. That said, the Rivian still has some work to do when it comes to its user-interface software and advanced driving aids. We experienced a fair number of glitches in our test vehicle that we’re hoping get resolved with software updates. A lack of full smartphone integration is also a bit of a bummer.
Sizewise, the R1T is a bit of a tweener. It’s not as big as your average 1500 series full-size crew-cab truck, but it’s bigger than any crew-cab truck you’ll see in the midsize segment. It also comes in just one body configuration with a 4.5-foot cargo bed. That’s short even compared to the beds of midsize trucks, but there are some cool storage features you don’t get in a traditional truck such as a large front trunk and a so-called gear tunnel. This is a log-shaped enclosed cargo area located between the cargo bed and rear seats that should work well for storing long and thin items such as strollers or golf bags.
The R1T is Rivian’s first vehicle to market, and it will soon be followed by the R1S, which is the SUV version of the R1T pickup. There’s a lot riding on the R1T’s success, and thankfully Rivian has nailed it. Whether you’re shopping for a pickup, an EV or both, the R1T is well worth considering. Read our test team’s Expert Rating to learn more about its performance, utility, Edmunds-tested real-world range, and more.
The Rivian R1T is almost an impossibly versatile vehicle. For starters, it zipped from 0 to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds in our testing. It also goes around turns better and stops at a shorter distance than any other pickup currently on the market. Did we mention the R1T is roughly the size of a midsize truck but weighs 7,150 pounds? That’s heavy-duty truck territory.
The advantage of having four electric motors, other than insanely quick acceleration, is the amount of regenerative braking you can access. This undoubtedly helps the R1T come to a stop quicker and even allows for one-pedal driving, which means you can speed up and slow to a stop solely using the accelerator.
What about off-roading, you say? The R1T has legitimate off-roading chops thanks to plenty of ground clearance and short overhangs. How you’ll recharge out in the middle of nowhere is an unanswered question, but at least you can take satisfaction in knowing the R1T will get you there.
Rivian unveiled the upcoming truck under the working name A1T in May 2018 but rebadged the vehicle in November 2018 as the R1T. Designed to be off-road capable, the 2018 concept design was planned to have 14 in (360 mm) of ground clearance, and feature an 800HP [600 kW; 810 PS] electric motor, with the most expensive models being designed to achieve approximately 450 miles (720 km) on a charge.The company claimed that early prototype testing showed the truck to be able to accelerate from 0–60 mph (0–97 km/h) in under 3 seconds, wade through 1.1 m (3 ft 7 in) of water, and climb a 45-degree incline. These design objectives were largely achieved in the 2021 production vehicle release. Rivian said it was designing the vehicles to facilitate “car-sharing” with their autonomous features.
In 2018, Rivian stated it intended to license its electric chassis to other manufacturers as a design base for machineries such as cars and other components. As of 2018, Rivian stated it planned to begin production of the R1T in 2020.
In March 2021, Rivian announced plans to develop a network of public charging stations by 2023. Similar to competitor Tesla, they plan to eventually offer a combination of fast chargers and slower destination chargers, while also selling home chargers. The target is for 600 Rivian-only Adventure Network sites with 3,500 DC fast chargers at high-traffic locations; 200 kW will be the initial charging speed, with an eventual target of 300 kW.As of March 2021, the company is planning 10,000 destination chargers (Level 2, 11.5 kW) — called Rivian Waypoints — at retail, lodging, dining businesses, as well as parks and other locations; Waypoint chargers are slated to be available[when?] to all EVs with a J1772 connector. Starting July 2021, Rivian will install, at no cost to the government, two Rivian Waypoint charges at up to 50 Colorado State Parks and state recreation areas.
In the summer of 2021, journalists from MotorTrend became the first to cross the Trans America Trail in an electric vehicle—on a 7,686 mi (12,369 km) journey covering terrain including rocks, mud, gravel, and sand—using a stock R1T pre-production version of the truck.
In September 2021, the first customer vehicle rolled off the production line and was delivered to a customer. The Rivian R1T was initially offered with three different batteries sized 105 kWh, 135 kWh, and 180 kWh of energy storage.[10] Rivian R1T will have a range of 230 miles with the smallest battery, 314 miles for the medium battery, and over 400 miles for the largest battery. Additional batteries can be mounted in the R1T’s bed for improved range. Those backup/auxiliary batteries can be charged by another R1T, if no charging infrastructure is available.
According to caranddriver magazine the real world range is around 220 miles when the truck is loaded and driven on a highway.
Rivian began delivering the first R1T trucks to customers in October 2021.
The R1T is part of the new Rivian brand’s aim to provide adventure-oriented utility vehicles with potent electric powertrains and a generous range on a single charge. Like many electric vehicles, the Rivian R1T is underpinned by a skateboard platform, which places the battery under the passenger compartment to keep the center of gravity down. Ground clearance is generous at 14.5 inches.
Rivian R1T pricing will start at around $70,000 before incentives. Launch Edition trucks are expected to arrive in September 2021, while other variants are slated for January 2022.
Rivian is very impresive car…. really like it!!!