2022 Rivian R1T Electric Pickup Truck Wows Us as It Lives Up to the Hype
We finally got to drive this powerful new truck, and it proved to be ultra-quick, ultra-capable, and brimming with innovative features
Update: Since this first drive was originally published in May, 2022, we finished testing the Rivian R1T. Read the complete Rivian R1T road test.
The Rivian R1T is the most cutting-edge pickup truck the industry has seen in a very long time, with a shockingly wide repertory of capabilities. The 835-horsepower all-electric pickup can accelerate with the ferociousness of a supercar, claw its way up and over boulders with the tenacity of a Jeep Wrangler, carve through corners better than many SUVs, and tow a trailer of up to 11,000 pounds.
And unlike many pickups, there’s a feeling of quality luxury throughout the well-made cabin. And we love the attention to detail, including the metal accents on the doors and seats, and the natural, untreated feel of the wood trim.
A new from-the-ground-up, potentially segment-changing vehicle like the R1T would be noteworthy from any automaker. But that this is startup-EV automaker Rivian’s first-ever production vehicle, and that it’s this well sorted, right out of the gate, is worthy of a standing ovation.
What’s more, this isn’t just a new truck: It’s a new truck with dozens of clever features—such as the ingenious gear tunnel and the power-sliding tonneau cover, just for starters—that other automakers are bound to copy. Yet it appears, after our admittedly very short time with three versions of the R1T at our track that the automaker let us drive for a day, that it has come together in a convincing and cohesive package.
As Jake Fisher, CR’s senior director of auto testing succinctly put it, “If Tesla tried to build a Honda Ridgeline, this is what it would be.”
@consumerreports A removable Bluetooth speaker inside a car?! 🔊 See why the all-electric #RivianR1T is living up to the hype. #cartok #trucktok #electriccar
♬ original sound - Consumer Reports
