AutoTrader SCORE
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STYLING10/10
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Safety8/10
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PRACTICALITY10/10
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USER-FRIENDLINESS8/10
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FEATURES7/10
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POWER10/10
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COMFORT7/10
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DRIVING FEEL8/10
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FUEL ECONOMY7/10
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VALUE7/10
The 2023 Rivian R1T is an electric truck, except that no, it kind of isn’t.
The Ford F150 Lightning – now there’s an electrified version of Canada’s best-selling pickup. The R1T, on the other hand, isn’t designed to be a replacement for a truck so much as it is intended to bring pickup-truck capability to tech-demanding shoppers who might also be considering a Tesla Model X or Audi E-Tron.
That reality means it’s more important for the R1T to function as a tech product rather than just a pragmatic hauler running on electrons. (Think more Apple Watch less Giant Belt Buckle kind of thing.) The good news is that Rivian has largely delivered the required experience here; whether or not that fits your outdoorsy lifestyle needs is another question entirely.
Styling: 10/10
Nearly every other pickup out there is angry-looking enough to have been designed by the Mad Max prop people. The R1T, on the other hand, is a dead ringer for the 1983 Konami video game character Bomberman. No, seriously, go look it up.
It’s just such a friendly truck, looking happy-go-lucky up front and with an unbroken side profile. The optional (and expensive) blue paint here really amps up the Smurf effect, and the smattering of gold and orange accents underline the outdoorsy theme. Most surprising was how ordinary non-car-people responded to the R1T’s handsome and not overwrought looks during this test. Passersby were impressed to learn it was electric, but walked over to ask questions just because it looked cool.
Features: 7/10
Rivian has outfitted the R1T to the point that things go from well-equipped to overwhelming. That’s not a criticism, per se, just that there’s plenty to discover in this electric vehicle (EV), and almost all of it is delightful.
The various touchscreen menus offer a staggering amount of adjustability and all kinds of cool functions. The Adventure pack equipped on this tester even had a rear air-compressor and a cable lock that any North Vancouver mountain-biker would appreciate. The latter is part of a gear-securing package that includes a camera to watch over your stuff.
But what knocks the R1T back a few points is the lack of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. Rivian has previously said that it wants to be in charge of the whole in-car experience, but both smartphone interfaces work well and people are used to them since they essentially mirror what’s in their pockets. Since Rivian supports over-the-air updates, this may not be a deal-breaker long-term, but for now you’ll be left using Bluetooth.
User-Friendliness: 8/10
Rivian’s touchscreen-based interface leaves the driver with only a handful of non-digital control points: two scrolling wheels and rocker switches on the spokes of the steering wheel, a wiper control stalk, and a gear selector that also handles cruise-control functions. It’s both very easy to get used to, and simultaneously a bit weird.
As an example, setting the side mirrors or steering wheel adjustment in a more conventional vehicle is a matter of hitting some single-function switches. In the R1T, you select a menu and then use the steering wheel controls (which normally handle stereo volume, for instance). It’s not what you’re perhaps used to, but it’s easy enough to get things set and forget about it.
Slightly less intuitive is the wiper control. With just a few spots of rain, the automatic setting wasn’t quite handling matters. However, there’s no driver-controlled single swipe; you instead have to flick the system on and off with a small selector on the stalk. These are edge cases, but indicators that Rivian isn’t trying to replicate conventional car control. Rather, it’s expecting owners to learn how to do things differently. It’s intuitive enough that nothing is really baffling, just occasionally unexpected.
Power: 10/10
On one hand, the growing number of heavy vehicles that can reach highway speeds in the blink of an eye is a concerning trend. On the other hand, a few days behind the wheel of the R1T and you’ll be ordering a full-size stuffed Wookie for the passenger seat so you can shout “Punch it, Chewie!” on every onramp.
The R1T is quick like a Ford F-150 Raptor R or Ram 1500 TRX. But where those two bellowing dinosaurs are all belligerently noisy drama, the Rivian just surges forward with hyperspace acceleration. It’s also a far more controlled explosion than those combustion-engined trucks deliver, and the accelerator response (can’t call it a throttle pedal) is instant. There’s nothing truck-like about the speed – more the feel of a performance SUV.
Driving Feel: 8/10
Even so, the R1T is far heavier than most non-EV trucks, and from behind the wheel you can’t help but sense the weight. Part of the feedback comes from this tester’s All-Terrain upgrade, which unlocks chunky off-road tires that generate more road noise, and can squirm under power or cornering.
In the self-explanatory all-purpose mode, the R1T’s air suspension can feel a little stiff-legged over broken pavement and potholes. It’s very rugged and solid overall, of course, but given the non-truck performance and luxurious interior, here’s the one spot the R1T still feels truck like.
Practicality: 10/10
To the great disappointment of my kids, you are not allowed to carry children in the so-called gear tunnel. Located behind and below the rear seats, this roomy pass-through opens on both ends and was immediately crawled through with squeals of delight.
At 328 L, it’s just one of four different places to store stuff in the R1T, from the frunk, to storage under the bed, to the bed itself with a retractable tonneau cover. Both the frunk and rear storage have drainage holes so you can pack them with ice, and the tailgate has a sliding cover that prevents smaller objects from falling between the body and a lowered tailgate.
Inside, while the R1T is smaller in footprint than an F-150, it’s got plenty of room and interior storage. Filling this thing up for a road trip would take some doing.
Comfort: 7/10
As mentioned, the R1T’s ride is good most of the time, but still truck-like. The interior, though, is very high quality and comfortable, with plenty of passenger space. Using a touchscreen to control the air conditioning vents only seems odd once: it works just fine. The quality of the interior materials feels up to the price point, too.
Fuel Economy: 7/10
With the off-road package equipped, the R1T suffers a little in terms of total range, standing at 441 km as opposed to well over 500 km with the 21-inch wheel package. It’s not the most efficient shape when compared to more slippery electric crossovers or sedans, but it’s far less expensive to keep an R1T fed with electrons than it is to pay for fuel for the powerful pickups it will still outrun. Further, the R1T never experienced a single issue at chargers which sometimes have connectivity problems with mainstream EVs. It just worked.
Safety: 8/10
Rivian’s driver-assist package includes an autosteer function that’s active on an increasing number of highways. It works well, though is quick to disengage if the driver adds in corrections, and it did have a few issues with lane placement on some bridges. It earns a Top Safety Pick+ from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
Value: 7/10
At more than $134,000, it’s difficult to argue that the R1T represents great value. It’s a luxury product, and priced accordingly. There is, however, a tongue-in-cheek point to be made that the R1T is like owning both a pickup truck and a performance SUV at the same time, all for one convenient price. You don’t need a Tesla Model X and a Toyota Tacoma for biking weekends: you can just have the one machine that does both.
The Verdict
Incredibly quick, filled with neat stuff like a removable bluetooth stereo, and programmed with all manner of interesting and fun functions, the 2023 Rivian R1T is a delight. It’s more of a toy than a tool, but in the best way possible. There’s just so much to dig into here that’s truly enjoyable.
In terms of appeal to its target audience, Rivian can unfurl the mission-accomplished banner at this point. It’s not quite a mainstream offering like the F-150 Lightning. But the Ford is an EV pickup, and the R1T isn’t really in direct competition with it. The R1T may look like a pickup, but it’s actually something a little more special.
| Engine Displacement | 180 kWh |
|---|---|
| Engine Cylinders | 4 electric motors |
| Peak Horsepower | 835 hp |
| Peak Torque | 908 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | 3.6 / 3.9 / 3.7 Le/100 km, 32.0 / 35.0 / 33.4 kWh/100km cty/hwy/cmb; 441 km est. range |
| Cargo Space | 311 L front, 405 L rear |
| Model Tested | 2023 Rivian R1T Adventure |
| Base Price | $103,000 |
| A/C Tax | $100 |
| Destination Fee | Included |
| Price as Tested | $134,450 |
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Optional Equipment
$31,350 – Rivian Blue paint, $3,400; All-Terrain Upgrade, $5,450; Quad-Motor AWD, $11,500; Large Pack battery, $8,500; Manual Tonneau Cover, $2,500
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