2023 Rivian R1T Crew Cab

　　

2023 Rivian R1T Review

byKurt NiebuhrSenior Vehicle Test Editor

　　Kurt Niebuhr has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. A automotive photographer by trade, Kurt is now one of zzdcar' high-performance test drivers. He's driven and photographed hundreds, if not thousands, of vehicles all over the world, so Kurt's library of automotive experiences would certainly make for a good book. When not dreaming about getting his racing license or trying to buy out-of-date film for his cameras, Kurt can usually be found cursing at his 1966 Mustang.

　　, rating written byKurt NiebuhrDirector, Vehicle Testing

　　Jonathan Elfalan has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. As a director of vehicle testing at zzdcar, Jonathan has tested and reviewed thousands of cars and written thousands of car-related articles over the course of his career. Jonathan got his start testing cars for Road & Track magazine as a newly minted mechanical engineer grad from University of California, Irvine, and has also contributed to Motor Trend and the Associated Press. He likes to say he learned to drive a manual transmission in a rear-wheel-drive mid-engine vehicle but often omits it was his family's 1991 Toyota Previa minivan.

　　The Rivian R1T is an all-electric pickup truck produced by this U.S.-based startup company. It's notable in that it was the first electric pickup ever to be sold, as it beat Ford's F-150 Lightning and the Chevrolet Silverado EV to market. It also stands out with its innovative design, impressive performance and focus on off-road capability.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below

　　

Rivian R1T EV Insights

Trim:R1T Adventure

　　Adventure 4dr Crew Cab AWD SB (electric DD) (Most Popular) - $73,000 MSRPLaunch Edition 4dr Crew Cab AWD SB (electric DD) - $85,000 MSRP

　　

Range

　　328 miles

　　EPA Estimated Range

　　EV batteries lose 1-2% of range per year. Est. range for this car is 279 miles after 8 years.Electric cars typically experience 1-2% of range loss per year with slightly faster degradation over the first 50,000 miles as the car settles into its long term state, according to Recurrent's study of 15,000 EVs.

　　Estimated range mapThis map is a visual representation of the possible one-way and round-trips by this vehicle (on a full charge) from the geometric center of Rutland, North Dakota. The depicted ranges are based on the estimated new vehicle range value provided by the EPA, rounded down to miles for one-way and miles for round-trip. Actual range will vary depending on the condition of this vehicle’s battery pack, how you drive, driving conditions and other factors.Map display generated using: © openrouteservice.org by HeiGIT | Map data © Recurrent contributors | Recurrent

　　from 58067

　　

EV Battery Warranty

　　8 yrs or 175,000 milesThe federal government requires that EV batteries be warrantied for a minimum of eight years or 100,000 miles. The EV battery warranty includes replacement if your battery capacity drops below a certain percentage of the original capacity.

　　

Charging at Home

　　13 hours

　　Total Charging Time (240V outlet)

　　SAE ComboStandard port for most electric models. Supports Level 1, Level 2, and DC Fast charging.

　　Plug Type

　　

EV Tax Credits & Rebates

　　$4,150

　　Available Rebates. Restrictions apply.

　　Federal Credit

　　$3,750

　　Restrictions: Under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) offers taxpayers a Clean Vehicle Tax Credit of $3,750 or $7,500 depending on model eligibility for the purchase of a new plug-in electric vehicle. Beginning January 1, 2024, Clean Vehicle Tax Credits may be initiated and approved at the point of sale at participating dealerships registered with the IRS. Dealers will be responsible for submitting Clean Vehicle Tax Credit information to the IRS. Buyers are advised to obtain a copy of an IRS "time of sale" report, confirming it was submitted successfully by the dealer. To be eligible: A vehicle must have undergone final assembly in North America (the United States and Puerto Rico, Canada, or Mexico). Critical mineral and battery component requirements determine credit amount. Maximum MSRP of $55,000 for cars and $80,000 for SUVs/trucks/vans. Income eligibility applies depending on modified adjusted gross income (AGI) and tax filing status.

　　To learn more, visit Recurrent

　　Utility EV Charger Offer

　　$400

　　Restrictions: Otter Tail Power offers EV owners a rebate of up to $400 towards the installation of a Level 2 charging station. To qualify for this rebate, the customer and/or charging station must meet the following requirements: Receive electricity from Otter Tail Power.

　　To learn more, visit Recurrent

　　

Cost to Drive

　　$99/mo

　　R1T

　　vs

　　$219/mo

　　Truck Avg.

　　Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　

Am I Ready for an EV?

　　EV ownership works best if you can charge (240V) at home or at work This typically means a 240V home installation, but you could also have a similar setup at your office or other places your car is already parked for several hours each day. Don't expect a regular household outlet (120V) to suffice unless you've got a plug-in hybrid, in which case overnight charging at home is feasible.

　　If you can’t charge at home, charging at a charging station could take at least 10x longer than at a gas station With public charging infrastructure still in its infancy, the user experience can be maddeningly inconsistent. Tesla owners tend to rave about the reliability and speed of the company's proprietary Supercharger stations, but rival DC fast options have thus far been plagued by technical issues and overcrowding. It's an evolving landscape and our best advice is to do your research on the available options for the EV you want to buy.

　　Adding a 240V home charging system could cost up to $1,600 or more If your existing electrical service can handle the additional demands of EV charging, you may be able to add Level 2 charging at home for less than a grand, including installation. But your costs will multiply if you need to upgrade your electrical panel or add a dedicated circuit.

　　

zzdcar spotlight: The R1T's utility

The 2023 R1T doesn't slot into the traditional pickup sizes. It's smaller than your average full-size crew-cab truck but bigger than most midsize trucks. It also comes in just one body configuration with a 4.5-foot cargo bed. That's still a bit short compared to the beds of gasoline-powered midsize trucks. However, the R1T has some useful storage features that you couldn't get in a traditional truck such as a large front trunk and unique gear tunnel. It is a trapezoidal enclosed cargo area located between the cargo bed and rear seats. The gear tunnel might come in handy to store long and thin items such as strollers or golf bags.

　　

Competitors to consider

If you want an electric pickup truck, Ford's F-150 Lightning is the only other option at this time. It's not as powerful as the Rivian, nor is it as capable when going off-road. But it is less expensive and more comforting to drive for people used to a traditional pickup truck experience. Read our Expert Rating to learn more about the 2023 Rivian R1T's biggest hits and misses.

　　

What’s it like to live with?

We got our hands on a 2022 Rivian R1T and are spending at least a year putting 20,000 miles on it while it lives in our long-term review fleet. We'll be testing all of its nifty features and seeing what we like about the all-new truck as well as what falls short. Recurrent

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Great

　　8.4

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

9.5/10

　　How does the R1T drive? 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 in 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.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the R1T? The Rivian is more comfortable than most other pickups. One obvious key advantage is its quiet electric powertrain that helps keep things serene, but the R1T also does a good job of keeping much of the wind and ambient noise out of the cabin even if some road noise manages to creep in.

　　Ride comfort isn't quite as cushy as the Honda Ridgeline's or even the Ram 1500's, but for a truck weighing as much as a heavy-duty hauler, the adaptive air suspension does a commendable job of softening most road irregularities when the truck is in its default ride height. Lowering the ride height to improve efficiency or sportiness can cause a noticeably choppier ride.

　　The seats look great and are decently comfortable, but the adjustments are fairly basic and lateral support a bit light. Rivian definitely took a page out of Tesla's playbook with the climate controls. Vents are adjusted via the touchscreen, which feels simultaneously futuristic and overcomplicated. But with four-zone control and multiple vents for rear passengers, there's a lot of coverage and customization.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below