[R99]

InsideEVs (Article)

It's a Winner
As you can tell, we were more than impressed with the R1T. We're still wondering how the most capable off-road vehicle we've ever driven can perform so well on pavement simply by inflating the tires a bit and tapping the Sport driving mode tab. Is it witchcraft or just great engineering?

2022 Rivian R1T First Drive Review: Electric Off-Road Dominance

We test the 2022 RIvian R1T all-electric pickup truck both on and off-road and discover it's an incredibly capable vehicle in any driving environment.

insideevs.com

Electrek

The R1T isn’t just an incredibly fast and impressive street pickup, it also does things off road that no other pickup could even attempt (tank turns and perfect doughnuts weren’t yet on the menu but will be coming). Add in 300 miles of range and so many Easter eggs I stopped counting, this vehicle is full of surprises and delights at every turn.

Rivian R1T first drive: Easily the best pickup I've ever driven, both off-road and on

Rivian wowed us at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show, coming out of stealth mode with a working R1T electric...

electrek.co

Roadshow (Article)

The ability to precisely and instantly send gobs of torque to the right wheel at exactly the right time gives the R1T a pretty big traction advantage over most gas- or diesel-powered trucks. It doesn't need locking differentials or axles to find traction on loose, uneven or slippery surfaces, which allows it to maintain maneuverability when making its way up tight switchbacks. The precise throttle imbues the R1T with a strong sense of control and confidence on the steeper parts of the trail, particularly on the descent where the one-pedal regenerative braking mostly eliminates the need for a specific brake-based hill-descent control feature. And with less wheelspin overall, the R1T tears up the trail less, which means a little less erosion and a little more enjoyment of that trail and nature for years to come.

2022 Rivian R1T was definitely worth the wait

Bursting at the seams with capability, Rivian's R1T is not just the first battery-powered light-duty pickup, it's also just a really good truck.

www.cnet.com

Autoblog

As for advanced driving systems, Rivian’s approach is a good one. First off, the name itself is Driver+, which correctly implies the driver remains a necessary part of the equation. Furthermore, the top level system that combines adaptive cruise control with active lane centering is modestly called Highway Assist, and it only works on limited-access highways that meet certain criteria. It also includes safeguards such as a capacitive touch steering wheel that makes it hard to fake out the 15-second steering torque timer with a counterweight, as well as driver monitoring sensors that may enable even more capability after future OTA updates are released. The usual accident avoidance and mitigation systems are included, too: forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot and rear-cross-traffic warning.

2022 Rivian R1T First Drive Review | Truck to the future

Covering everything you want to know about the electric pickup truck, including its range, interior, bed features and price

www.autoblog.com

Road & Track

On pavement, the R1T is sporty and smooth. Once again, the utter silence of the drivetrain is momentarily jarring—especially when you’re sampling the full grunt of this 800-plus-hp machine. I did my acceleration runs with four people riding in the truck, and while the R1T didn’t deliver the sternum-crushing sensation of the most powerful Tesla sport sedans, Rivian’s 3.0-second zero-to-60 claim is utterly believable. The R1T is limited to 110 mph (it could touch 130 with the governor removed). With no auditory input or shifting gears to alert you to your speed, it’s easy to blast to triple digits without really noticing. In sport mode, the suspension drops to its lowest setting (still pretty high, with 9.7 inches of ground clearance), the dampers stiffen, and the roll stiffness goes full firm. This is a heavy beast, but with the bulk of the weight resting below your feet, and the fine-grained control of that electronic suspension, it corners with pure confidence, with barely any body roll and none of the front-end sloppiness of a conventional pickup truck. The steering is direct and precise, though even with sport mode's increased steering effort, there is zero feedback through the wheel, and hardly any resistance. It feels like an arcade game controller—even when parked, you can spin the steering wheel lock-to-lock with one finger—but that lack of feedback doesn’t detract from your confidence in the truck’s cornering abilities.

The Rivian R1T Proves That the Perfect Off-Roader Is Electric

The future of rock-crawling is silent, instant torque, and Rivian's electric pickup truck proves it.

www.roadandtrack.com

 

[SkeetShooter]

So smart for them to invite What's Inside to the review/drive event... He is like one of the largest Tesla (I don't want to say shill, but....) enthusiasts out there and for him to be gob smacked by his experience with it just shows how smart Rivian's marketing/pr department is. Same thing with Jerry. He's not a tesla shill, but he is definitely very picky when it comes to what he thinks his ideal vehicle/experience should be.

 

[eHauler]

The Verge:

Rivian’s R1T electric pickup truck took me to the top of the mountain

How does the R1T perform at 12,000 feet above sea level?

www.theverge.com

"So, after going on what was basically the best test drive ever, who do I think the R1T is for? It seems like a good choice for those who like to go off-roading, as my experience shows that it’s capable of some pretty extreme stuff. That’ll also make it a good choice for campers, especially those who take less-traveled roads to get to wherever they’re staying. Rivian obviously has those folks in mind — the truck’s storage is good for those who like to bring a lot of luxury items with them to the outdoors, and the company has even teamed up with Yakima to create a rooftop tent for the R1T. Plus, with the R1T being a truck, it’ll be good for those who just want a bed for hauling oversized items, bikes, or things that would be a lot of work to clean out of a car like potting soil or Christmas trees."

Top Gear:

Rivian R1T review: ‘the truck market’s game-changer’ Reviews 2022 | Top Gear

What, someone has beaten Tesla to building a production electric truck? That’s right, while Tesla's Cybertruck is still a concept fantasy, here’s a real, honest-to-god, production electric truck, built in Normal, Illinois. Meet the Rivian R1T. In the US there have been announcements from pretty...

www.topgear.com

"The R1T is genuinely a huge accomplishment. To make something this purposeful, this thoughtful, this good would be an achievement for a company like Ford or Land Rover, but for it to be the first vehicle from a start-up? Maybe something this new and ground-breaking can't come from a big firm. Too many cooks in the kitchen.

And the best part is I don't have to tell you it costs as much as your house. The R1T, with all 900lb ft of torque and the vast majority of the features mentioned above will set you back just $67,000 (£48,800) in the US. Go ahead and compare that to all of the other vehicles on sale today for that amount that do 0-60mph in three seconds flat. I'll wait.

UK relevance remains to be clarified. Apparently Rivian is in talks with the UK government about building a factory near Bristol, not necessarily to produce the R1T, but other, smaller, more Euro-focused cars using the same technology. This one? Expect to see some imports landing from early next year. This, rather than the Cybertruck, is the truck market’s game-changer."

Gear Patrol:

The Rivian R1T Is Everything You Hoped It Would Be

Capable on- and off-road and loaded with clever ideas, Rivian's new pickup redefines what a truck can be.

www.gearpatrol.com

"Even at full retail, though, the R1T feels like a bargain. No other truck packs quite such a combination of features — insane on- and off-road performance, zero-emissions capability, remarkable storage capacity, cutting-edge tech — so being able to get all that for the price of a well-equipped F-150 or a midrange Land Rover Defender seems downright remarkable. How history judges Rivian remains to be seen, but if the R1T represents what they can really do...well, odds are good we'll be speaking their name a whole lot for the next decades to come."

Transport Evolved:

"In the electric pickup truck world, there's been a race to see who would enter the market first, with Rivian, Ford, Tesla and other all vying to get there first. But earlier this month we headed to Colorado to test the winner of that race - the Rivian R1T, a truly impressive off-road pickup with no qualms about being on the road or on the trail."

 

[RivianVanlife]

Also, Adventure Journal:

Drive Test: Rivian R1T Sets a New Standard for Pickups, Gas or Electric

Drive Test: Rivian R1T Sets a New Standard for Pickups—Gas or Electric

The future lies not with half-measures like the Toyota, but all-in efforts like the Rivian. And I promise, if you drive it, the R1T will rock your world. Even if you don’t care about the environment (though I know you do), even if you haven’t heard that Rivian is partnering with the Nature Conservancy to put chargers at trailheads, even if you don’t know it’s installing chargers in all the state parks in Colorado and Tennessee, even if the adventure baked into Rivian’s DNA matters not, you will surely find the R1T to be the highest performance, widest-ranging, condition-adaptable vehicle yet made.

 

[R99]

Also, Adventure Journal:

Drive Test: Rivian R1T Sets a New Standard for Pickups, Gas or Electric

Drive Test: Rivian R1T Sets a New Standard for Pickups—Gas or Electric

The future lies not with half-measures like the Toyota, but all-in efforts like the Rivian. And I promise, if you drive it, the R1T will rock your world. Even if you don’t care about the environment (though I know you do), even if you haven’t heard that Rivian is partnering with the Nature Conservancy to put chargers at trailheads, even if you don’t know it’s installing chargers in all the state parks in Colorado and Tennessee, even if the adventure baked into Rivian’s DNA matters not, you will surely find the R1T to be the highest performance, widest-ranging, condition-adaptable vehicle yet made.

I'll have to give this a read thanks @RivianVanlife! Welcome to the forum! Are you looking to get a R1S or R1T?

 

[RivianVanlife]

Put a deposit on an S last year...

 

[Sultanum]

I guess people can always find ways to complain. What a bad article😔

Bloomberg

 

[Angus]

Bloomberg, has the first negative review I have seen. She also has some facts wrong, like stating the 300 mile pack is the largest offered. Also, comparing the R1T to base price lightning is not a fair comparison.

The $73,000 Electric Rivian R1T Is Cute, But It’s Not a Work Truck

Clever gimmicks like hidden flashlights, intelligent storage, and integrated camping gear will appeal to outdoors-y types. It’s just a little delicate around the edges.

www.bloomberg.com

 

[SANZCO2]

Sounded like a snarky review from a lot of backhanded comments. I lost any trust in what she was saying when she talked about how bad the front seats were. I have heard nothing but raving about them, I could see someone saying they are ok but to pan them as bad as she did. All anyone needs to do is sit in the vehicle and will instantly know if there is anything in this review they can trust.

 

[kizamybute']

clearly these guys were under contract to not release any details until today as all the videos came out at the same time. I very much appreciate all of them and we finally get some real world opinions. Given, still biased reviews as they have to be to ever be invited back. But, the more detailed videos certainly help. Can tell that Rivian is still putting a limit on what they can say or do. Really looking forward to the first real owner (non-employee) or (press related) review of the truck. But so far, all looks pretty good. The only concern for me is if they'll be able to deliver it to me in a reasonable period of time. Fingers crossed. Other than that, I'm sold on it.

 

[RITVT]

I guess people can always find ways to complain. What a bad article😔

Bloomberg

I love that article because she is gonna be proven so wrong. There's a ton of ego in her writing. It's less about the vehicle and more about her personal viewpoints. She complains about comfort after sitting in a truck for 11 hours. OK, first of all, she probably sat in the truck for a total of 5, second of all, ANYBODY would be stiff and ready for a stretch after 3 hours of driving. WTF

 

[SkeetShooter]

I read the Bloomberg and I was thinking to myself, OK a critical review... Lets hear what she has to say..." I initially was worried after she complained about the seats, but how is it that every other reviewer out there said they were great?!" Then I looked at most the vehicles she reviews... Super-cars and hyper-cars... She is also a bit smaller framed than the majority of people that were out there. Most people said the seats were firm, but supportive. So if you are small and light, its probably going to feel a little stiff for you.

 

[JimmyEV]

I guess people can always find ways to complain. What a bad article😔

Bloomberg

"The R1T is not a work truck" wait who said it was designed to be a work truck? 🤨

 

[RivianVanlife]

clearly these guys were under contract to not release any details until today as all the videos came out at the same time. I very much appreciate all of them and we finally get some real world opinions. Given, still biased reviews as they have to be to ever be invited back. But, the more detailed videos certainly help. Can tell that Rivian is still putting a limit on what they can say or do. Really looking forward to the first real owner (non-employee) or (press related) review of the truck. But so far, all looks pretty good. The only concern for me is if they'll be able to deliver it to me in a reasonable period of time. Fingers crossed. Other than that, I'm sold on it.

I know for a fact that Rivian has no sway, determination, or control over what journalists are writing.

 

[eHauler]

Rivian Stories posted their first drive of the R1T

We finally got to drive a Rivian R1T! We finally got to see Rivian paint colors in person. We finally got to feel Rivian's version of vegan leather. We finally found answers to 100 questions.

 

[JimmyEV]

clearly these guys were under contract to not release any details until today as all the videos came out at the same time. I very much appreciate all of them and we finally get some real world opinions. Given, still biased reviews as they have to be to ever be invited back. But, the more detailed videos certainly help. Can tell that Rivian is still putting a limit on what they can say or do. Really looking forward to the first real owner (non-employee) or (press related) review of the truck. But so far, all looks pretty good. The only concern for me is if they'll be able to deliver it to me in a reasonable period of time. Fingers crossed. Other than that, I'm sold on it.

There was definitely an embargo in place for when everyone can post their videos and articles, all car companies do that. But there's no way Rivian controlled or tried to control what people wrote or said about the R1T. If they tried to there would be more damage done to them than good.

 

[kizamybute']

There was definitely an embargo in place for when everyone can post their videos and articles, all car companies do that. But there's no way Rivian controlled or tried to control what people wrote or said about the R1T. If they tried to there would be more damage done to them than good.

Sorry, didn't mean really control of what they said, but more so of items / features of the truck they couldn't discuss yet. Which is pretty common too.

 

[kizamybute']

"The R1T is not a work truck" wait who said it was designed to be a work truck? 🤨

I agree, that was her first mistake. Combined with probably being grumpy about having to get up at 5:00 AM and spend 9 hours in the mountains. Admittedly, does seem like a bit much to ask of reviewers! Especially those used to doing things in their own format. But, she could have had so "no" to the invite as well.
But, you are correct, the Rivian has never been marketed as a "work truck", always as an "Adventure Vehicle". If you want an actual worksite type of truck for construction or something like that, then the F-150 is likely the better option. That was her first mistake leading to a snotty, bratty, whiny review that looks more bad on her than it does on Rivian. These are the types of reviews that most reviewers try to avoid as they are the types that result in not being invited back. For some primadonna type, can certainly understand that this type of an adventure was not up her alley. She would have been better off politely declining.

 

[bahawkeye]

Sounded like a snarky review from a lot of backhanded comments. I lost any trust in what she was saying when she talked about how bad the front seats were. I have heard nothing but raving about them, I could see someone saying they are ok but to pan them as bad as she did. All anyone needs to do is sit in the vehicle and will instantly know if there is anything in this review they can trust.

That's surprising on the front seats. I had my 1st drive yesterday and my concerns were the seat position and the vegan leather. I came away completely satisfied.