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Its 2022 Rivian is the first electric truck manufactured in mass production to be introduced in the U.S. market, but that’s not the only exciting aspect of it. The electric powertrain isn’t the only thing that makes it unique it is different from any other pickup we’ve seen–part truck and a part sport soda excellent. There’s been speculation that the buyers of pickups are open to electrification. But after the first time we drove the pre-production Rivian R1T on both a road and off-road, we believe the electrified car will make them enthusiastic supporters.
There’s a lot we’d like to talk about concerning this model of the Rivian R1T, so it’s hard to decide where to begin. Let’s start with the basics. Dimensionally, in terms of size, the R1T has a form of tweening, being somewhere in the middle of a mid-sized pickup, such as the Chevy Colorado, and a classic half-tonner, like Ford’s Ford F-150. The Rivian R1T’s design and compact bed resemble “lifestyle” trucks like the Honda Ridgeline and Hyundai Santa Cruz. However, it can pull 11,000 pounds, as per Rivian, the company, and it can rock crawl as it’s a Jeep Gladiator, according to us. It also jets across corners, unlike any pickup truck.
Rivian’s most popular features include its suspension setup and powertrain. Rivian’s R1T has a four-motor 4-wheel-drive system that can be adjusted in height—air suspension, interconnected hydraulics for damping, and roll control. As with many EVs, the R1T is exceptionally swift and efficient. The two motors on each axle provide 415 hp and 413 lb-ft in torque for the front wheel and 495 lb-ft and 420 horses for the rears. Rivian promises a 0-60 speed that is 3.0 seconds. We still need to turn the R1T over to our team of testers. However, it’s a good bet.
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A motor that powers every corner is also a sign of incredible speed, whether off or on. Each wheel is independently powered and has a programmable drive mode; the Rivian R1T delivers real-time torque vectoring that precisely provides power to the area where it’s needed without delays for clutches closing or viscous couplings that join. Rivian’s electric vehicle makes the most of this by offering numerous submodels and modes of operation, demonstrating how programable and adaptable the system can be.
Rivian R1T On-Road: The Beauty Of Torque Vectoring
The default on-road drive mode is aptly dubbed All-Purpose. You’d still find it extraordinarily swift and stable if you had never changed to the Rivian R1T off the default mode. The R1T can be seen tearing away from traffic lights, driving comfortably, and keeping an eerily steady course through the sweeping curves. If you’re concerned about exceeding the R1T’s 300-mile range (there’s the possibility of a 400-mile battery pack to be also released), it’s possible to switch the R1T can be converted to two-wheel drive, meaning that only those wheels that are in front of it, making it a front-wheel drive. This allows you to save power in a mode appropriately named “Conserve.”
We were taking in the Rivian ample twists and turns when we decided to try an unorthodox experiment: We pressed Sport mode, drove to the limit in an abrupt bend to trigger an understeering, then hit the throttle. We could feel the R1T’s torque-vectoring capabilities at work. The motor on the outside rear of the vehicle accelerated and turned the R1T’s head around, and we rocketed off the corner like the Millennium Falcon. And that with just four passengers inside the cab, a couple of hundreds of pounds of gear in the bed, and all-terrain tires. We’ve experienced this feeling only in a few automobiles but not in a heavy-loaded pickup truck.
Rivian R1T Off-Road: Tread Lightly–And Silently
The R1T has a distinct set of drive modes designed for off-roading. These modes allow the driver to increase the suspension and reduce the throttle response to various levels. This allows the exact vehicle which flies over paved curves to tip-toe across obstacles that would give the Jeep Wrangler pause. As opposed to an off-roader powered by internal combustion, it is a Rivian. Rivian has no low-hanging parts such as driveshafts, differentials, and exhaust pipes but an undertray that is smooth and flat that the wheel and its attachments protrude. Ground clearance begins at a good 7.9 inches, goes up to 14.4, and exceeds the Gladiator’s dirt-to-truck ratio of 3.3 inches. The R1T comes with an integrated air compressor so that you can air-condition the tires for off-roading with the confidence that you’ll be able to return them to the pavement.
The Rivian’s brakes that regenerate require their own story. We’ll give them one sentence here. The R1T offers four levels that the user of regeneration can select. Drivers who need to become more familiar with one-pedal driving – an electric vehicle feature that allows the driver only to push the accelerator at times because electrical motors limit the vehicle as you take off. Switch to Mode or Low, and the R1T will slow like an engine braking on a gasoline-powered automobile. However, we prefer Maximum mode for off-road use because it offers precise speed control without worrying about locking the wheels, as we would with friction brakes. When driving on the open roads, Maximum mode was equivalent to hitting the binders relatively high, so we dialed it back to the High setting. The regenerative brake setup of the R1T can be powerful enough to bring the car to a stop with ease, and we only need the brake pedal to make emergency stops.
A Place For Your Stuff
Naturally, we were impressed with how the Rivian R1T is driven, and we believe that most buyers of pickups will be as well. However, some other remarkable aspects of its character are worth mentioning, including storage. The Rivian’s powertrain is set up as if it were the shape of a skateboard. The traditional pickup shape made room for an expansive cargo space beneath the hood powered by a motor. It also has a full-width (transverse!) passageway between the back seats and before the bed Rivian calls “the Gear Tunnel. One of the options to add to it is an additional ($5,000) Kitchen that could be fitted with a complete collection of Snow Peak utensils and an induction range. The bed also has an electric-powered tonneau cover that can be locked and, of course, lockable.
The interior storage space for small objects and a few other things could be more plentiful. However, we were generally impressed with the cab of the R1T, especially the cozy front seats and the excellent visibility. The rear seat isn’t very comfortable for taller riders, mainly due to the upright backrest angle and the firm cushion, but legroom isn’t a significant issue.
