2023 Rivian R1T
TECH startup Rivian wasn't the first company to produce an electric pickup truck, but the 2023 R1T's clever design and impressive performance earned it a spot on our 10Best
Trucks and SUVs list for 2023. Slightly larger than a Ford Ranger, the R1T is powered by two or four electric motors, depending upon the model, with the most powerful version making a robust 835 horsepower and enabling maximum towing of up to 11,000 pounds.
Its more compact size makes it easier to maneuver in tight places than gargantuan full-size offerings such as the Ford F-150 Lightning and the GMC Hummer EV SUT. The Rivian's cabin is outfitted with luxury features and plenty of tech, including a large 16.0-inch infotainment system and a separate digital gauge display.
We've enjoyed test-driving the R1T both on- and off-road, and the latter situation was aided by the truck's standard adjustable air suspension, available all-terrain tyres, and optional carbon-fibre underbody shield. There's a price for all this awesomeness, though, and no matter how you spec it, the R1T is an expensive rig — but so are its rivals.
Rivian has made no changes to the R1T for 2023 but has rolled out several over-the-air software updates to the trucks to activate features such as camp mode, pet comfort mode, soft sand and snow driving modes.
We'd go with the adventure as it adds several desirable features, including a Meridian stereo system, heated and ventilated front seats, fancier upholstery, and wood interior trim.
We'd pay the extra $6000 to upgrade to the Large battery pack to unlock more driving range. Similarly, the Quad-Motor allwheel-drive powertrain costs $8000 more, but we think its added performance is worth the cost.
Unless you're planning on towing significant loads, we'd skip the largest battery pack, named Max, as it increases range beyond the Large pack by 27 percent but costs a whopping $16,000.
All-wheel drive is standard on the 2023 R1T, but it comes in two different configurations: Dual-Motor and Quad-Motor.
With just two motors on board, the DualMotor model makes 600 horsepower. With the optional Quad-Motor setup, the R1T boasts up to 835 horsepower.
This model blasted to 60 mph in just 3.3 seconds at our test track, which makes it the quickest pickup truck we've tested to date.
An air suspension is standard and can adjust the ground clearance from eight to 14 inches. The Quad-Motor setup allows the R1T to do what Rivian calls a Tank Turn, which lets the electric motors rotate the left wheels in the opposite direction of the right wheels, spinning the truck on its axis.
Our first test drive, which we conducted in Colorado's Rocky Mountains, displayed the R1T's impressive off-road capabilities as well as its punchy on-road performance.
Rivian says that every R1T can tow 11,000 pounds and that the pickup offers a payload capacity of 1760 pounds.
But, no surprise, we found that towing a trailer will deplete the battery far more quickly than when cruising unladen, so buyers who plan to utilize the truck's towing capabilities would be wise to get the model with the largest battery pack when it becomes available.
Pulling a 6100-pound double-axle camping trailer during our towing test dropped the range of our R1T to just 110 miles at 70 mph.
For 2023, the R1T is offered with three different battery packs.
The Standard pack is said to be good for 260 miles per charge while the Large and Max battery packs boast driving ranges of 314 and 400 miles, respectively.
On our 75-mph real-world highway route, our test vehicle, which was wearing 20-inch all-terrain tires and had the Large battery, only delivered 220 miles of range.
We tested a second R1T with the Large battery, this one wearing 22-inch all-season street tires, and recorded a range of 280 miles.
Fuel economy ratings for the Quad-Motor R1T are 74 MPGe city, 66 MPGe highway, and 70 MPGe combined.
During our time with the R1T, which included some towing, our test vehicle averaged only 35 MPGe. For more information about the R1T's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website.
Inside, the R1T's cabin is decked out in leather, wood, and large displays for both the gauge cluster and the infotainment system.
The R1T has a large trunk under the front hood, a big storage compartment behind the cab (but in front of the bed), and a lockable in-bed compartment.
Overall, Rivian says the truck has 12 cubic feet of lockable storage.
The truck's expandable and collapsible crossbar system allows for mounting gear over the bed and cabin.
There are three 110-volt outlets and an air compressor in the bed.