A couple of week into driving the $96,900 2025 Rivian R1T, I had an issue. The truck bought a lot proper. However after hours on Texas interstates, I could not shake the sensation that its driver-assistance tech was behind the curve. For a software-defined firm, its software program could not maintain as much as the very best that Common Motors or Ford can provide.

I underestimated Rivian. Two months later, its CEO introduced that hands-free driving was coming inside a few weeks. Eyes-off freeway driving is deliberate for subsequent yr.

For this reason the software-defined car is such a game-changer. Each Rivian I’ve pushed has been markedly higher than the one earlier than. This fixed cycle of enhancements means an amazing product has solely gotten higher over time. It is the important thing motive why I imagine that, although it might be on a troublesome street in 2025, Rivian goes to drag this off.

Photograph by: Patrick George

(Full Disclosure: Rivian loaned me an R1T for a street journey over the 2024 winter holidays.) 

Over-the-air updates are nothing new within the automotive world. Tesla pioneered this method and has been refining it for a dozen years now. But almost each different automaker that sells vehicles within the U.S. is method behind on that entrance. OTA updates for many fashions are few and much between. At most, your automobile might get a navigation system replace or some normal bug fixes. 

However main updates with utterly new options that make the automobile higher over time and dramatically change your possession expertise? Solely two firms are actually doing that. Tesla is one. Now, Rivian is one other. (A 3rd is perhaps the Polestar 3, however we don’t know for positive as a result of it’s so new.)

Photograph by: Patrick George

This has occurred each time I’ve borrowed a Rivian for testing. Generally these updates are small, just like the holiday-themed sounds and graphics or enhancements to the effectivity graphs. Generally they embody options an costly luxurious automobile ought to’ve all the time had, like SiriusXM satellite tv for pc radio.

However different occasions they’re greater, like shorter charging occasions, the addition of YouTube streaming, enhancements to the parking help system, including new networks of quick charging, even altering which battery runs the security-focused “Gear Guard” characteristic. 

Photograph by: Patrick George

That tech expertise is a giant a part of the enchantment of proudly owning a Rivian. It’s why the mighty Volkswagen Group is searching for assist from the scrappy California startup. And it’s one motive of many who regardless of some shortcomings, the R1T would be the strongest selection amongst EV vehicles proper now. 

What Is It?

Photograph by: Patrick George

The Rivian R1T launched in September of 2021 because the upstart automaker’s first product, adopted in August 2022 by the intently associated R1S SUV. For the 2025 mannequin yr, each EVs obtained important under-the-skin updates, emphasizing the form of tech-focused “much less is extra” method to automobile manufacturing that each automaker goes for proper now. 

Photograph by: Patrick George

That method introduced a brand new zonal electrical structure with fewer however extra highly effective ECUs. Rivian lower 1.6 miles of wiring out of the R1, contributing to 44 kilos of weight discount. They bought new 4K HDR cameras, Nvidia Drive Orin processors with 10 occasions the processing capability of the previous autos and a completely new infotainment system. (Oh, and the so-called Gen1 R1 fashions are nonetheless getting important wi-fi software program updates too.) 

Photograph by: Patrick George

Except for the tech stuff, the R1T is a compelling selection within the still-limited discipline of electrical vehicles. For 2025, it is available in two-, three- and four-motor configurations, with the center one being completely new to the household. They begin at $69,900 in base type (although you’ll in all probability must order that) and may go properly over $110,000 with choices on the very best trims. Electrical vary spans 270 miles (434 km) to as much as 420 miles (675 km.) 

My Rivian tester was constructed to go the space and do it rapidly. This was a dual-motor mannequin with the Max Pack battery rated at as much as 420 miles of vary. With the Efficiency Improve add-on, it boasted 665 horsepower and 829 lb-ft of torque. 

Photograph by: Patrick George

That vary and energy combo handily trumps the Tesla Cybertruck and Ford F-150 Lightning, however not some configurations of the Chevrolet Silverado EV and GMC Sierra EV. Nonetheless, Rivian supplies all that vary and energy with a considerably smaller battery than the one in GM’s EV vehicles—a most of 149 kWh right here—so it’s higher for charging and general effectivity. 

This R1T additionally got here with the stunning Rivian Blue paint—which generally seemed gentle navy or turquoise relying on the lighting—in addition to the black-and-white Ocean Coast + Darkish Ash Wooden inside offset by the flat-looking “vary” wheels. A fairly tasteful mixture, general. 

Driving Expertise

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The 400-mile (644 km) journey between San Antonio and Marfa, Texas is lonely however lovely. Stretches of U.S. Interstate 10 have 80 mph pace limits, a few of the highest within the nation. You’ll simply get blitzed by vehicles doing 10 mph over that. That you must name your pictures fastidiously; miss a relaxation cease and you could not see one other for 30 or 40 miles. For a visit like that, you need energy, consolation and vary. Fortunately for me, the R1T delivered on all fronts.

Photograph by: Patrick George

The R1T is clean and highly effective in almost all conditions. It’s much less cumbersome than the GM EV vehicles, has a extra refined journey than the F-150 Lightning and feels extra rugged and off-road succesful than the Tesla Cybertruck, all whereas avoiding that car’s awkward proportions.

Photograph by: Patrick George

For its 7,000-pound curb weight, the R1T can be remarkably agile. I can’t be disingenuous and name it sports activities car-like dealing with, nevertheless it has maneuverability and a lightness to it that I haven’t actually skilled in another pickup truck. 

Credit score its trick hydraulic suspension, which replaces the usual anti-roll bar you’d discover in most vehicles. Rivian’s Hydraulic Roll Management permits the R1T to withstand physique roll in corners like a sports activities automobile whereas providing the comfy, easy-going journey you count on in a truck. The one different automobile firm providing a suspension setup like that is McLaren, which maybe explains why Rivian has poached prime expertise from the British supercar agency.

Photograph by: Patrick George

Just like the R1S, you get three driving modes: All Function, All-Terrain and Snow. The Efficiency Improve provides Sport and Tender Sand. (The tri- and quad-motor vehicles add much more settings.) In Sport mode, unleashing the complete energy and torque continues to be a gradual expertise relatively than a shove-you-into-your-seat hit of pace, nevertheless it’ll get to freeway speeds with zero drama. This one will do 0-60 in 3.4 seconds.

I proceed to suppose Rivian’s regenerative braking calibrating is a bit too aggressive, so I saved the R1T in its lowest setting. The customization there’s good and it stays absolutely able to true one-pedal driving. 

Photograph by: Patrick George

Curiously, the truck switches to front-wheel drive—deactivating the rear motor—in optimum situations to maximise vary. That is such a seamless expertise that you just’d by no means realize it was occurring if the central display screen didn’t inform you. 

Extra management over that will be even higher. I want the dual-motor R1T fashions supplied the choice to maintain it in that setting the entire time, just like the Preserve Mannequin on the quad-motor vehicles or my Kia EV6’s efficiency-boosting Eco Mode. Hey Rivian: There’s a free software program replace concept.

Vary, Effectivity, Charging

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The R1T made an electrical street journey simple. The truck all the time projected round 420 miles of vary at 100%. On the way in which out to Marfa, at speeds between 70 and 75 mph and on a really windy day, I used to be averaging about 2.25 miles per kWh—not particularly nice, however indicative of the R1T’s measurement, weight and brick-like aerodynamics. The R1T does decrease its journey peak at freeway speeds to maximise effectivity, however you’ll be able to solely achieve this a lot about physics.

Photograph by: Patrick George

I dropped as little as 1.8 miles per kWh at occasions. Frankly, none of those electrical vehicles are nice on this division. On the return journey, with much less wind and extra cautious driving, I bought it as much as 2.4 miles per kWh. Round city, I bought nearer to three.0 miles per kWh. 

Photograph by: Patrick George

I left San Antonio with 411 miles (661 km) of vary at 98% and reached a Tesla Supercharger station in Ozona 205 miles (329 km) away with 101 miles (162 km) of vary and 23% battery left. In different phrases, the Rivian burned 310 miles of vary over 172 miles of freeway journey.

Figuring out the following DC quick charger was 106 miles away, I had no selection however to cease there, and my bladder was about to blow up anyway. However Rivian hooked me up with a Tesla NACS adapter and it was a godsend for this journey. 

Photograph by: Patrick George

An R1T can pull speeds of as much as 220 kW on a DC quick charger (now sooner than earlier than due to  a software program replace.) On a Tesla plug, the truck hit 204 kW charging speeds instantly and juiced to 80% in 26 minutes—sufficient time for lunch and a toilet break. In one other occasion in Austin, I charged from 30% to 80% in 23 minutes on a 350 kW EVGo station. On the way in which again from Marfa we solely needed to cease to cost as soon as, at that Ozona Tesla station once more. 

Photograph by: Patrick George

On one hand, the R1T burned extra vary than, say, a Hyundai Ioniq 5 or a Tesla Mannequin 3 would have on the identical drive. Then again, it had greater than sufficient juice to get all of it completed. Route planning on a Rivian can be typically glorious, displaying you the totally different networks out there (together with Tesla chargers), out there stalls and the way lengthy it’s worthwhile to spend at every station to achieve your vacation spot. 

Inside And Consolation

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Inside, the R1 collection apes the Tesla playbook. The touchscreen is the whole lot and buttons are as scarce as they are often, however the Rivian feels nicer and extra upscale than any Tesla. The R1T eschews the Cybertruck’s techno-brutalist vibes for a nice, ethereal and trendy expertise. The seats are extraordinarily comfy as properly, although the cabin may use a “seize bar” for simpler entry and exit, as some vehicles have. 

Photograph by: Patrick George

There are some very good supplies inside but in addition a number of that really feel cheaper than they need to at this value, just like the steering wheel and its buttons. I additionally had a nagging sprint rattle all through our entire journey. On the plus aspect, I by no means felt cooked by that panoramic glass roof within the Texas solar, which might occur even in December.

My largest gripe was the dearth of bodily air vents, ostensibly one other cost-cutting measure. Like a Tesla, you regulate the route and quantity of the airflow with the central touchscreen, which is a fragile, irritating operation that requires taking your eyes off the street. 

Tech And Infotainment 

Photograph by: Patrick George

Rivian won’t ever win its struggle on buttons till its voice controls get higher. They considerably lag behind many different opponents, together with Hyundai and Kia. A greater AI-powered voice assistant is supposedly coming this yr. That’s nice, as a result of the Amazon Alexa system I examined by no means appeared to grasp a lot and didn’t show what I requested on the display screen. It borders on ineffective.

As for the ADAS tech, my expertise was effective, however not class-leading. My tester may do computerized lane adjustments after I hit the flip sign, however will not do it by itself, like GM’s Tremendous Cruise. Not solely did it not really feel as assured as that, I nonetheless needed to maintain my arms on the wheel at occasions. I am keen to check the enhancements coming to the Rivian Autonomy Platform quickly.

Photograph by: Patrick George

Except for that, the tech is fairly strong. The display screen graphics, animations and the system’s general pace outclass most opponents I can consider, except for Tesla. The Rivian smartphone app is without doubt one of the finest round as properly, providing charging administration, phone-as-key recognition, the flexibility so as to add customers and route-planning that may be despatched to the car on the fly. My Kia EV6 is a superb electrical automobile nevertheless it feels 10 years behind all of that. The native Spotify integration was good, it may use some tweaking; glitches and freezes meant a number of restarts for that app.

I’ve written earlier than about how a lot I like the central display screen’s graphics, however I want it was simpler to search out the varied menus and features I needed. A few of them, like Automotive Wash mode, are buried in obscure locations. Right here’s one other free replace concept, Rivian: make these things searchable from wherever you’re at within the menus. 

How Is It As A Truck? 

Photograph by: Patrick George

Decide your tradeoffs within the EV truck world. The F-150 Lightning provides functionality that lives as much as its identify, however sacrifices vary and effectivity. The GM EV vehicles take a whole lot of energy or time to juice up. And the Cybertruck I’ve examined feels extra “cyber” than “truck.” 

Photograph by: Patrick George

The R1T’s ostensible largest draw back is the mattress measurement, simply 4.5 ft (137 cm) with the tailgate up. That’s somewhat shorter than the Ford and loads shorter than the Tesla or the GM vehicles. It’s even shorter than the mattress in a crew-cab Toyota Tacoma or Ford Ranger. You make that up with tons of space for storing, together with the 11-cubic-foot frunk and revolutionary Gear Tunnel characteristic. Nonetheless, hauling prolonged gadgets isn’t the R1T’s robust swimsuit.

Photograph by: Patrick George

It’s among the many finest electrical vehicles for towing, nonetheless, with a class-leading 11,000-pound (4,990 kg) max towing capability. Nonetheless, the Cybertruck has a better payload capability. I haven’t towed with both so I can’t say for such which is finest there.

Photograph by: Patrick George

However functionality with the R1T additionally contains three “wall socket” fashion 120-volt shops, together with two within the mattress itself. Ford, Tesla and GM all provide 240-volt energy shops along with their 120-volt plugs, although, so if you wish to energy industrial instruments these could also be higher choices. I like to recommend including the ability tonneau cowl possibility that my tester didn’t have, though it’s one other $2,000 for that. 

Photograph by: Patrick George

Between the air suspension with controllable journey peak, the strong method/departure angles, its trick hydraulic anti-roll system and its varied drive modes, the R1T could also be the very best all-around electrical off-roader, nonetheless. I lacked the All-Terrain Package deal with A/T tires to really try to crawl rocks (it additionally cuts your vary right down to 370 miles in dual-motor type) however I had zero issues taking the R1T throughout filth roads and rocky desert terrain that will’ve been trickier for many vehicles.

Photograph by: Patrick George

All in all, it’s a really succesful way of life truck, journey rig and gear-hauler, nevertheless it gained’t outpace a Jeep Wrangler or a Toyota Tacoma in probably the most excessive of conditions. Then once more, for many Rivian house owners, it is going to hardly have to. 

Pricing And Verdict 

Since I hung out within the R1T, I’ve been telling those that the following time I’ve $96,900 to spend on an electrical truck, that is the one I’d need. 

Photograph by: Patrick George

That’s actually not a place I’ll be in anytime quickly. That’s loads, even in a world the place vehicles have develop into so costly throughout the board. However for these with the cash to spend, the 2025 R1T is each a very outstanding on a regular basis car and piece of expertise. In case you do purchase one, it’s an funding in a product that has continuous enchancment baked in. Who else can say that proper now, apart from Tesla? No surprise different automakers apart from Volkswagen are “knocking on the door” as of late. 

If you would like a style of the longer term, Rivian provides it proper now—and it’s gotten too good at these things to not be round for that future. 

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Patrick George

Contact the writer: patrick.george@insideevs.com