Rivian's first truck puts off-roading in easy mode
- The 2022 Rivian R1T, the first shot in the modern electric-pickup war, is here.
- I got to take the new pickup off-roading through the Colorado mountains.
- The R1T's smart features, powerful motors, and drive modes made off-roading fun and super easy.
Don't let the 2022 Rivian R1T's vegan-leather interior, wood trim, and near-$70,000 starting cost fool you. This truck isn't afraid to get dirty.
In fact, the debut electric pickup from Rivian thrives in the dirt, despite what its luxurious appointments and Mercedes-Benz price tag may suggest.
That should be obvious, given that the Amazon- and Ford-backed startup is all about catering to its customers' outdoorsy hobbies. But it's tough to tell from afar what's pure marketing and what's the real deal. In Rivian's case, it's the latter.
Having driven the R1T through Colorado's Rocky Mountains, I can confirm that it does a tremendous job of powering up steep inclines, scrambling over rocks, navigating tight switchbacks, and more. Moreover, as a total newcomer to the world of off-roading, I'm pleased to report that the R1T made things fun and easy, even in the face of my glaring lack of skills and preparation.
That's a testament to the R1T's advanced electric drivetrain, versatile drive modes, and smart off-road-focused features.
The R1T's four motors promise 835 horsepower and 908 pound-feet of torque, way more than Ford's most off-road-worthy truck, the F-150 Raptor. Those motors work independently, constantly shifting the torque at each wheel to help the truck find grip when the going gets wet, loose, or uneven.
You can adjust the truck's performance by choosing between several drive modes, including three dedicated to off-roading. The drive settings tweak things like ride height, traction control, and throttle sensitivity for different types of terrain. You can also make minute changes within the modes, but I was just happy that I could dial in all the appropriate settings without thinking too hard.
The R1T's max ground clearance of 14.4 inches is plenty for forging over substantial obstacles without fear of bashing the truck's underside. Plus, the pickup's belly is thoroughly armored (to protect the vulnerable battery pack) and completely flat, so even if you do hit something, there's little risk of doing major damage, Rivian engineers told me.
Like most EVs, the R1T has regenerative braking, which lets you speed up and slow down using just one pedal. The moment you start letting off the accelerator, the motors begin slowing themselves down to feed energy back into the battery.
One-pedal driving took some getting used to, but it proved handy for all the careful starts and stops that traversing tricky obstacles required. Plus, when I approached a steep, winding downhill section, I didn't need to keep pressure on the brake to avoid coasting to my demise. I simply took my foot off of the accelerator, and the R1T slowly crept forward, freeing up all my brainpower for steering.
The R1T also does a lot of your work when it comes to seeing the trail. Live feeds from cameras pointing forward, backward, and at each wheel helped me put the tires exactly where I wanted them and see what lay ahead of the Rivian's tall hood. One complaint: It would be nice if you could view the forward and reverse camera angles simultaneously.
Overall, the R1T filled in where I lacked, and I was consistently blown away at how effortlessly it tackled big obstacles and treacherous terrain. It felt like all I had to do was keep my foot down and steer.
Luxurious-yet-rugged vehicles like the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen or Land Rover Defender, by and large, never see a lick of dirt. But Rivian, set on becoming America's first new EV maker since Tesla, has proven it's here to break norms. Let's hope it inspires its owners to do the same.