The burbling of a close-by creek. The whisper of wind within the leaves. Aside from the crush of rock underneath tires, these should not the sounds usually heard from inside a typical off-road automobile. The 2022 Rivian R1T electrical pickup truck is something however typical, and when it’s on pavement firing from 0-60 mph in 3.0 seconds, one other sound fills the cabin: howls of pleasure.
The first automobile from the American electrical automotive maker can also be the primary electrical pickup truck to market, beating out the forthcoming 2022 GMC Hummer EV and 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning, to not point out the Tesla Cybertruck chimera.
Sized between a full-size and mid-size pickup, the R1T’s efficiency dynamics, 11,000-lb towing capability, lack of tailpipe emissions, cutting-edge expertise, intelligent cargo utility, and adventuring equipment usher within the subsequent period of what the traditional American pickup truck will be.
Behind the wheel of a 2022 R1T Launch Edition with the Off-road bundle, I climbed as much as 12,000 ft on a deeply rutted path to the Rocky Mountain ridges above Breckenridge, Colorado. To get there, I wound up and down twisty mountain roads with 6% grades, runaway truck ramps, and sheer shoulder drop-offs. Between its uncompromising off-road functionality and its peerless pickup truck efficiency on pavement, the R1T is probably the most versatile automobile I’ve ever pushed.
2022 Rivian R1T
2022 Rivian R1T
2022 Rivian R1T
All-Purpose
The R1T has 5 drive modes—All-Purpose, Sport, Offroad, Conserve, and Towing—with almost 50 completely different drive settings for the trip peak, adaptive dampers, regen braking, and stability management. The default All-Purpose, or auto mode, straddles the center of all these settings, and will be overridden by the driving situations or by the motive force’s discretion.
Leave it alone and by no means trouble with the 15.6-inch touchscreen that homes the whole lot from the drive and suspension settings to the vent instructions of the local weather management. The lack of buttons and dials may frustrate some individuals migrating from conventional pickups or SUVs, however the clear sprint design trimmed in ash wooden makes for one of many warmest, most inviting cabins available on the market.
But all the varied settings beg to be performed with for the adventuring kind focused by Rivian. The adventuring begins with a large 135-kwh battery pack that powers 4 impartial motors with a drive unit on every axle, and two motors per drive unit controlling both half shaft. An EPA-rated vary of 314 miles kicks off the three trims out there at launch, however Rivian plans a bigger battery pack due in 2022 that can present a variety of 400 miles for $10,000 greater than the $67,500 base Explore version.
2022 Rivian R1T
The motors work independently to make 415 hp and 413 lb-ft of torque for the entrance axle, and 420 hp and 495 lb-ft for the rear axle; collectively, the system churns out greater than 800 hp and 900 lb-ft of torque. The quad motor arrange permits torque vectoring at every nook of the truck to maximise grip on pavement and climb over off-road obstacles at low speeds.
The 5 completely different suspension heights and drive modes give the R1T a variability unmatched by different autos. Not each peak is out there with each drive mode, and most of them can go one notch above or under the usual floor clearance of 11.5 inches. The air suspension travels 6.5 inches, topping out at 14.4 inches in Offroad mode, and bottoming at 7.9 inches when parked.
My tester was a Launch Edition mannequin trimmed out equally to the Adventure trim that prices $73,000. It had the Off-road bundle that added entrance tow hooks, a strengthened underbody protect, and 20-inch wheels wrapped in 34-inch Pirelli Scorpion all-terrain tires to deliver the worth to $76,800 earlier than EV incentives. Without the bundle, the R1T comes with 21-inch wheels with 33-inch Pirelli all-season tires, although 22-inch wheels with Pirelli efficiency tires are an choice.
Even with the off-road tires, the R1T twisted by way of hairpin turns with agility and composure, clambered up deeply rutted rock trails, accelerated faster than most sports activities automobiles, and did all of it in close to silence. Sport mode solely made it higher.
2022 Rivian R1T
Sport
Rivian claims a 0-60 mph time of three.0 seconds, and I’ve each purpose to consider it. Yet, the truck didn’t throw me again in my seat or hug corners like an electrical efficiency sedan. As a lot as Rivian defies physics with the R1T, it will probably’t overcome all the constraints of its peak and curb weight, estimated to be a whopping 6,900 lb, much like many heavy responsibility pickup vans. But no pickup, from the Ford F-150 Raptor to the Ram TRX to something by Hennessey, has this type of decide up.
Even Einstein would marvel at how effectively the R1T accelerates and handles. A giant purpose for this, maybe extra so than the multitude of suspension and trip high quality settings, is that its 135-kwh battery pack of seven,776 small 2170-format Samsung SDI cells sits on the backside of the truck between the axles for a comparatively low middle of gravity.
Above 50 mph, the suspension routinely lowers to 10.1 inches for higher aero and effectivity, and that’s additionally the usual trip peak for Sport mode. The closest the R1T will get to the highway whereas driving is 9.5 inches in Sport mode.
Sport mode makes use of extra entrance axle torque and adjusts the damper setting from Soft to Stiffer that, together with the lowered trip peak, lets it higher hug the highway.
That doesn’t imply it’s the optimum setting. For straight-line driving, the Stiffer damping setting and stability management set to “On” is likely to be finest to harness all that instantaneous linear torque. But extra various terrain, like when rotating the truck, requires a special sort of modulation.
Max Koff, Rivian’s Director of Vehicle Dynamics, mentioned that scenario deserved “Soft” damping, “Max” regen braking, and “Reduced” stability management; he referred to as it “the chef’s kiss of engineering sweet spots.” With the rear of the truck sliding out and Koff snapping it again in line, all whereas speaking calmly in regards to the R1T’s dynamics as if there weren’t a 500-foot loss of life plunge past a wheel, all of it made excellent sense.
2022 Rivian R1T
Climbing up and down the identical grade that Koff demonstrated allowed me to play with the settings and swap the damping to “Stiffer.” It jounced extra on unsteady pavement, however was removed from harsh. Passing slower autos up slope, which gave the impression to be each automobile, got here straightforward with the instantaneous torque of the R1T.
The varied settings permit for a lot extra modulation than you would possibly ever use, but it surely’s there if you would like it. One of the few drive techniques to stay mounted is the electronically assisted steering. The suspension modifications would possibly make it look like it provides steering heft, however the ratio stays the identical. On-center really feel is nice, and the steering response is rarely too unfastened or too agency, although drivers used to efficiency automobiles would possibly need extra resistance and highway really feel.
The key purpose the R1T can deal with sharp turns with such agility is as a result of Rivian employs a hydraulic management system as a substitute of anti-roll bars which can be linked entrance to rear and facet to facet to stiffen the chassis. Like what McLaren makes use of on its supercars, Rivian runs two fluid strains between the entrance wheels, then a T line runs to the again and connects the rear wheels. When you flip laborious to the suitable and the physique rolls to the left, the fluid limits the compression on the left facet to even it out and steadiness lateral movement. In essence, the 2 strains at both axle struggle one another for dominance. The system enhances on-road efficiency and off-road consolation, and lets the air suspension, double entrance wishbones, and adaptive dampers deal with the vertical load.
2022 Rivian R1T
Offroad
The Offroad setting is probably the most advanced of the 5 primary drive modes, with 4 sub-modes that routinely regulate the steadiness management and suspension settings in Auto, Rock Crawl, Rally, and Drift modes. For all of the composure and blistering acceleration on pavement, the off-road capabilities of the R1T are as spectacular.
For off-road intenders, whether or not its outdated mining roads or slickrock in Moab, contemplate the Off-Road bundle. Instead of 21- or 22-inch wheels, it comes with 20-inch wheels wrapped in 34-inch Pirelli Scorpion 275/65/R20 all-terrain tires. (Pro tip: To change a tire, set the suspension to max peak in Offroad mode, then discover Tire Change mode within the touchscreen underneath the Settings wheel. Then crank the jack.) The underbody protect that protects the battery pack will get strengthened with a layer of metal, carbon fiber, and aluminum honeycomb for vitality absorption. Rivian mentioned the off-road testing included dropping the automobile 15 inches on a pointed rock with no battery degradation, and Koff assured us of many hours of bashing.
That’s one of many compelling traits about Rivian: Like founder and CEO R.J. Scaringe, Koff and the opposite engineers I spoke with are rabid automotive fans with ongoing tasks of their private garages worthy of their friends’ admiration or mockery, and oftentimes each. The collaborative, collegial ambiance produced a truck engineered with benchmarks focusing on the Porsche Cayenne Turbo on the highway, the consolation and trip high quality of a Land Rover Discovery, and the off-road chops of a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon and Ford F-150 Raptor.
In Auto, the low middle of gravity, large monitor, and particular person wheel journey makes for balanced clambering even at a lateral pitch of about 20 levels in our testing. On a cold 27-degree morning at an elevation above 10,000 ft, a entrance wheel slipped on ice and rock, however I utilized extra throttle so the three different wheels pushed the truck by way of. Instead of a locker, the four-wheel-drive system limits torque from the motor on the slipping wheel. In Drift mode, the system permits for extra wheel slip, however in Rock Crawl mode, there’s a lot faster modulation of torque between the motors. I didn’t have the large open areas to check Drift mode. Next time.
2022 Rivian R1T
The geometry helps, with an method angle of 34.0 levels, a departure angle of 29.3 levels, and a breakover of 25.7 levels. Those angles cut up the distinction between the Wrangler Rubicon four-door’s 44/37/22.6-degree method/departure/breakover angles and the Ford F-150 Raptor’s 33.1/24.9/24.4 angles with 37-inch tires.
Neither of these benchmarks can match the bottom clearance supplied by the R1T’s air suspension, however that’s not the one aggressive benefit.
There’s no pumpkin, no large rear differential to scrape, and no gas strains or transmission instances to cowl, so as a substitute of aiming a wheel for a rock to crawl over, you possibly can straddle obstacles and simply clear them with 14.9 inches of clearance (it’s greater because of the bigger 34-inch tires with the Off-road bundle). Cameras on the entrance and rear, in addition to on the facet mirrors, challenge forwards and backwards to provide visuals for the place your eyes can’t attain. The most exceptional factor is how quiet it’s, with the standard grinding of lockers and thrumming of the engine changed by the crush of rock and the burbling of a creek. It makes for a serene off-roading expertise that made me really feel extra like part of nature than an outsider making an attempt to overcome it.
Descending a slope or pausing whereas climbing in Rock Crawl can also be completely different than in conventional off-roaders. There’s no “Hold” so two-foot driving is required to carry the brake on a slope and gently speed up so that you don’t roll again into the R1T behind you, say. For now, there’s no hill descent management, however the “Max” regen braking setting fills that void, besides when the wheels slip and permit the truck to shuttle ahead. That mode requires extra consideration, because it ought to. An precise hill-descent management perform can be welcome.
2022 Rivian R1T
We climbed to 12,000-feet up a slim rutted path flanked by fir bushes at one level, then deep mud partitions at one other. At 81.8 inches large with the mirrors folded, the R1T is a pair inches narrower than the Ford F-150 crew cab (83.6-inch width with mirrors folded), but it surely’s greater than a foot shorter in size than a F-150 crew cab with the shortest mattress. That makes it extra maneuverable than a full-size truck however not as agile as a Wrangler Rubicon. The off-road world is filled with tradeoffs, too.
The path was dry, even with snow lurking within the shade of boulders and fallen aspens. In the few water crossings I made within the R1T, the water solely cleaned the tires, however Rivian says it will probably wade greater than 36 inches.
Up above the tree line, driving alongside the backbone of a Rocky peak or three, the R1T by no means hesitated or wanted to pause to suck in air, in contrast to its driver. The 60-mile loop by no means threatened the roughly 180-mile vary we began off with. After our group stopped in a valley for lunch made on one of many camp stoves that matches within the cargo tunnel of the R1T, we crammed up the tires from the usual on-board air compressor and headed again downslope on pavement. Up and down Loveland cross we went, testing the Sport mode, and completed at base camp with barely lower than 100 miles of vary left. I didn’t monitor the precise distance on the odometer, however we drove from daybreak to nightfall with loads of remaining vary.
2022 Rivian R1T
Conserve
The everlasting four-wheel-drive system turns into much less everlasting in Conserve mode. The suspension lowers to 9.5 inches, the local weather management reduces its output, and the rear axle disconnects, making it a two-motor drive unit. The front-wheel-drive mode has softer pedal mapping, and the lowered, stiffer suspension makes for a firmer trip.
An vitality meter within the left facet of the cluster will be left on to gauge effectivity, and the vary stays on show within the backside proper nook of the cluster. Usage can be tracked in additional element by way of the touchscreen. The distinction between Max, High, and Standard regen just isn’t that pronounced, and studying tips on how to modulate the accelerator for one-pedal driving for easy stops into stoplights comes comparatively straightforward in Max mode.
The 135-kwh battery pack makes use of a gasoline equal of 70 mpg mixed. Its heavy weight and truck-like aero makes it much less environment friendly than most electrical autos out there now. it takes 48 kwh of vitality to go 100 miles. An Audi E-Tron SUV with AWD makes use of 43 kw per 100 miles, whereas a Tesla Model S Long Range with AWD makes use of solely 28 kwh per 100 miles.
The driver’s facet entrance cost port follows J1772 and CCS requirements, with DC fast-charging at greater than 200 kw, enabling about 140 miles of cost in 20 minutes. Rivian is constructing out its DC fast-charging Adventure Network with 600 websites deliberate nationally and in Canada by the tip of 2023. Level 2 Waypoints at 11.5 kw cost as much as 25 miles per hour, and Waypoints are anticipated to exceed 10,000 chargers by 2024.
2022 Rivian R1T
2022 Rivian R1T
2022 Rivian R1T
Towing and cargo
Towing capability maxes out at 11,000 lb, however we didn’t check Towing mode. The air suspension routinely ranges the trip peak when towing, and the varied drive settings routinely regulate to go well with the load.
Instead, we examined the numerous cool cargo areas within the R1T. The 68 cubic ft of space for storing is unfold across the truck. The mattress is on the small facet. It’s solely 54 inches lengthy, however reducing the facility tailgate expands the size to 83.8 inches. It’s 51.1 inches large, so it will probably haul sheets of plywood with the tailgate down and straps secured to the 2 tie downs or eight out there clamps.
With the gate up, the mattress carries 29.2 cubic ft of cargo, and the R1T has a max payload of 1,760 lb. The facet partitions are brief sufficient to achieve over the facet and pull out gear, and you can even decrease the trip peak for simpler attain. It has roof lights and LED bars on the edges, an influence tailgate, an out there energy tonneau cowl, two 120-volt retailers, and normal air compressor with a max output of 150 psi. An elective full-size spare matches within the underfloor storage, however because it has a drain plug it may be used as a cooler or for moist storage, similar as up entrance within the underfloor a part of the frunk. The entrance trunk holds as much as 11 cubic ft of cargo.
2022 Rivian R1T
2022 Rivian R1T
The coolest storage component is what Rivian calls a gear tunnel located between the cab and the mattress. Two bottom-hinged energy doorways divulge heart’s contents to 90 levels from both facet of the truck, with small storage cubbies in them sufficiently big to carry the air compressor hose. They additionally double as seats or platforms to face on and survey the terrain, safe objects within the mattress, or connect the crossbars for the rooftop tent; the cargo doorways every maintain as much as 250 lb. The tunnel, which can be accessed by way of a pass-through within the rear seats (so long as the truck is in Park), can maintain as much as 11.6 cubic ft of drugs that weighs as much as 300 lb; we match two carry-ons and two backpacks. An influence-sliding shelf for the tunnel is elective, and it plugs right into a 110-volt outlet within the tunnel, for equipment such because the Camp Stove.
The R1T is the way forward for way of life pickup vans. There’s no glovebox, and the touchscreen will be problematic when making an attempt to entry off-road features or local weather controls whereas in movement, however there’s not one other automobile available on the market with this breadth of functionality whereas making zero tailpipe emissions. That’s the welcome sound of silence.
Rivian supplied airfare, lodging, and supplemental oxygen for Motor Authority to deliver you this firsthand report.
