I drove Rivian's extremely cool electric pickup and SUV: Here's how the startup's first two models compare.

Tim LevinJul 27, 2022, 22:20 IST

The Rivian R1T and R1STim Levin/Insider

Rivian, an electric-vehicle startup, is about to start shipping its second model to customers: the R1S SUV.
I drove the new model and the R1T, Rivian's pickup truck that launched last year.

Electric-vehicle startup Rivian is plotting a course to be the next Tesla.

Rivian soared on its debut on the Nasdaq on Wednesday.Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

After beating everyone else to the punch with its electric pickup truck, the R1T, last September, it's on the brink of launching a second model.

The Rivian R1T.Tim Levin/Insider

The R1S, a large SUV with Range Rover-esque looks, is expected to go out to customers next month.

The Rivian R1S.Tim Levin/Insider

I sampled both vehicles on-road and off, and checked out all of their interesting features.

The Rivian R1S.Steve DaSilva

Let's start with some of the similarities.

The Rivian R1S.Tim Levin/Insider

Both Rivians use the same underlying technology.

The 2022 Rivian R1T.Tim Levin/Insider

The first Launch Edition models both offer a little over 300 miles of range, and both have four motors providing all-wheel drive.

The Rivian R1T.Tim Levin/Insider

They're both supremely capable and promise outrageous specs: 835 horsepower, 908 pound-feet of torque, and a zero-to-60-mph sprint of just three seconds.

Rivian R1TRivian

From the front door forward, they're 99.9% identical.

The Rivian R1S.Tim Levin/Insider

Both vehicles have the same sleek interior with a 15.6-inch touchscreen, wood trim, and driver display.

The 2022 Rivian R1T.Tim Levin/Insider

They both have the same nifty front trunk with 11.1 cubic feet of storage …

The Rivian R1S.Tim Levin/Insider

... and the same wide-eyed headlights.

The Rivian R1S.Tim Levin/Insider

There's only one difference up front: The R1S has switches to control the rear wiper. The R1T doesn't have one, so no switch needed.

The Rivian R1S.Tim Levin/Insider

Behind the front seats, the vehicles start to look more different.

The Rivian R1S.Tim Levin/Insider

The R1S has bigger rear doors leading into a much more spacious interior.

The Rivian R1S.Tim Levin/Insider

It has three rows and seats up to seven people.

The Rivian R1S.Tim Levin/Insider

The R1T's 4.5-foot bed eats into passenger space somewhat.

The 2022 Rivian R1T.Tim Levin/Insider

There's seating for five and no third row. Both vehicles have glass roofs.

The Rivian R1T.Rivian

Its second row flips open to reveal some extra storage space, unlike in the R1S.

The 2022 Rivian R1T.Tim Levin/Insider

Overall, the SUV is about 16 inches shorter than the truck.

The Rivian R1S.Tim Levin/Insider

It has a significantly shorter wheelbase (the distance between the wheels). Rivian says that makes the R1S marginally better off-road.

The Rivian R1S.Tim Levin/Insider

But both readily climb over boulders and wade through the mud thanks to a sophisticated all-wheel-drive system, lots of drive modes, and a height-adjustable suspension.

The Rivian R1T.Tim Levin/Insider

Conversely, the R1T's longer wheelbase makes it the better choice for towing big trailers, Rivian says.

The 2022 Rivian R1T.Tim Levin/Insider

The R1T offers one of the most interesting features in the auto market: the Gear Tunnel.

The Rivian R1T.Tim Levin/Insider

It's an 11.6-cubic-foot storage area behind the back seat that spans the width of the truck. It has access doors on either side.

The 2022 Rivian R1T.Tim Levin/Insider

The Gear Tunnel can be optioned with a sliding platform ...

The 2022 Rivian R1T.Tim Levin/Insider

... or a full camping kitchen complete with a burner, sink, cutting board, and cookware.

The 2022 Rivian R1T.Tim Levin/Insider

The truck also offers a cable system in the bed for locking up bikes and other cargo.

The 2022 Rivian R1T.Tim Levin/Insider

But many of Rivian's coolest features come on both vehicles.

The 2022 Rivian R1T.Tim Levin/Insider

Both have an air compressor for filling up tires and the like. In the R1S, it's found in the trunk. In the R1T, it's in the bed.

The 2022 Rivian R1T.Tim Levin/Insider

The same goes for the vehicles' power outlets.

The 2022 Rivian R1T.Rivian

Both have four keys: A carabiner-style key fob, a key card, a bracelet, and a smartphone app.

The 2022 Rivian R1T.Tim Levin/Insider

Both have an LED flashlight that pops out of the driver door …

The Rivian R1S.Tim Levin/Insider

… and a bluetooth speaker that slots under the center console.

The Rivian R1S.Tim Levin/Insider

Neither vehicle is objectively better than the other.

The Rivian R1S.Tim Levin/Insider

If you value comfort and need room for seven people, the R1S is your best bet. If you like the idea of a snazzy Gear Tunnel and pickup-truck capability, then go for the R1T.

The 2022 Rivian R1T.Tim Levin/Insider

If you value comfort and need room for seven people, the R1S is your best bet. If you like the idea of a snazzy Gear Tunnel and pickup-truck capability, then go for the R1T.

I toured a private jet with for the first time — it had 7 beds and 2 bathrooms but didn't seem worth the $65 million price tag.

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I drove Rivian's extremely cool electric pickup and SUV: Here's how the startup's first two models compare.

Electric-vehicle startup Rivian is plotting a course to be the next Tesla.

After beating everyone else to the punch with its electric pickup truck, the R1T, last September, it's on the brink of launching a second model.

The R1S, a large SUV with Range Rover-esque looks, is expected to go out to customers next month.

I sampled both vehicles on-road and off, and checked out all of their interesting features.

Let's start with some of the similarities.

Both Rivians use the same underlying technology.

The first Launch Edition models both offer a little over 300 miles of range, and both have four motors providing all-wheel drive.

They're both supremely capable and promise outrageous specs: 835 horsepower, 908 pound-feet of torque, and a zero-to-60-mph sprint of just three seconds.

From the front door forward, they're 99.9% identical.

Both vehicles have the same sleek interior with a 15.6-inch touchscreen, wood trim, and driver display.

They both have the same nifty front trunk with 11.1 cubic feet of storage …

... and the same wide-eyed headlights.

There's only one difference up front: The R1S has switches to control the rear wiper. The R1T doesn't have one, so no switch needed.

Behind the front seats, the vehicles start to look more different.

The R1S has bigger rear doors leading into a much more spacious interior.

It has three rows and seats up to seven people.

The R1T's 4.5-foot bed eats into passenger space somewhat.

There's seating for five and no third row. Both vehicles have glass roofs.

Its second row flips open to reveal some extra storage space, unlike in the R1S.

Overall, the SUV is about 16 inches shorter than the truck.

It has a significantly shorter wheelbase (the distance between the wheels). Rivian says that makes the R1S marginally better off-road.

But both readily climb over boulders and wade through the mud thanks to a sophisticated all-wheel-drive system, lots of drive modes, and a height-adjustable suspension.

Conversely, the R1T's longer wheelbase makes it the better choice for towing big trailers, Rivian says.

The R1T offers one of the most interesting features in the auto market: the Gear Tunnel.

It's an 11.6-cubic-foot storage area behind the back seat that spans the width of the truck. It has access doors on either side.

The Gear Tunnel can be optioned with a sliding platform ...

... or a full camping kitchen complete with a burner, sink, cutting board, and cookware.

The truck also offers a cable system in the bed for locking up bikes and other cargo.

But many of Rivian's coolest features come on both vehicles.

Both have an air compressor for filling up tires and the like. In the R1S, it's found in the trunk. In the R1T, it's in the bed.

The same goes for the vehicles' power outlets.

Both have four keys: A carabiner-style key fob, a key card, a bracelet, and a smartphone app.

Both have an LED flashlight that pops out of the driver door …

… and a bluetooth speaker that slots under the center console.

Neither vehicle is objectively better than the other.

If you value comfort and need room for seven people, the R1S is your best bet. If you like the idea of a snazzy Gear Tunnel and pickup-truck capability, then go for the R1T.