The first electric pickup truck was the 2023 Rivian R1T from tech company Rivian, whose inventive look and potent performance earned it a spot on our list of the 10 best Trucks and SUVs for 2023. Depending on the model, either two or four electric motors propel the 2023 Rivian R1T, a vehicle that is just a little larger than a Ford Ranger. The most powerful model generates an astonishing 835 horsepower and has a maximum towing capacity of 11,000 pounds. Its lower size makes it easier to drive in tiny spaces than massive full-size trucks like the Ford F-150 Lightning and the GMC Hummer EV SUT. The 2023 Rivian R1Ts’ inside is packed with high-end features and modern technology, including a sizable 16.0-inch infotainment system and a separate digital gauge panel. Both on and off-road, the 2023 Rivian R1T was a pleasure to test drive because of its available all-terrain tires, standard adjustable air suspension, and underbody protection constructed of carbon fiber.
EV Motor, Power, and Performance
All-wheel drive is standard on the 2023 Rivian R1T; however, dual-motor and quad-motor engines are available as alternative options. The Dual-Motor variant has just two motors and produces 600 horsepower. The 2023 Rivian R1T has up to 835 horsepower when equipped with the optional Quad-Motor system. This model is the fastest pickup truck we’ve ever tested, rocketing to 60 mph at our test track in just 3. 3 seconds. Going for the less-powerful model won’t significantly reduce performance because the Dual-Motor variant has 665 horsepower and accelerates to 60 mph in 3. 4 seconds. The ground clearance can change from eight to fourteen inches when using the basic air suspension.
2023 Rivian R1T Pricing
The basic price of the 2023 Rivian R1T’s single Adventure grade, which comes with a dual-motor drivetrain and a 105-kWh battery, is $73,000. Price increases will be significant if you choose a larger battery or a powertrain with four motors.
Towing and Payload Capacity
According to Rivian, each 2023 Rivian R1T has a towing capacity of 11,000 pounds, while the pickup has a payload capacity of 1760 pounds. However, it shouldn’t be a surprise that we found that compared to driving without a load, pulling a trailer will significantly shorten battery life. As a result, purchasers who intend to use the truck’s towing capabilities would be prudent to purchase the model with the largest battery pack when it becomes available. Our 2023 Rivian R1T’s towing test resulted in a 6100-pound double-axle camping trailer, which cut the range of the vehicle to just 110 miles at 70 mph.
Range, Charging, and Battery Life
The 2023 Rivian R1T is available with three different battery packs for 2023. The Large and Max battery packs claim to have driving ranges of up to 352 and 400 miles, respectively, while the Standard pack is touted to be sufficient for 270 miles per charge. Our Quad-Motor test vehicle, which featured a Large battery and 20-inch all-terrain tires, could only travel 220 miles on the 75 mph real-world highway route. With 22-inch all-season street tires on it, we tried a second 2023 Rivian R1T Quad-Motor with the Large battery and got the same 280-mile result as the Dual-Motor with the same battery size.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPGe
The Quad-Motor 2023 Rivian R1T has fuel efficiency ratings of 74 MPGe in the city, 66 MPGe on the highway, and 70 MPGe combined. Our test car averaged just 35 MPGe throughout our time with the R1T, which included some towing.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
Leather, wood, and huge displays for the infotainment system and gauge cluster are all featured inside the 2023 Rivian R1T’s cabin. The R1T has three roomy storage compartments: a sizable trunk under the front hood, a sizable compartment behind the cab (but in front of the bed), and a lockable in-bed storage compartment. According to Rivian, the truck features a total of 12 cubic feet of secure storage. Equipment may be mounted across the truck’s bed and cabin thanks to its extensible and collapsible crossbar system. In addition to an air compressor, the bed has three 110-volt outlets.
Infotainment and Connectivity
The 2023 Rivian R1T’s curved dashboard houses a sizable 16.0-inch infotainment screen, and a secondary digital readout doubles as a programmable gauge display. With the essential options (navigation, media, climate controls, etc.), The infotainment interface has expandable tiles for various features and is constantly accessible at the bottom of the display. To simplify the system, options slip out of the sides of tiles rather than appearing in submenus. Oddly, Rivian has decided against integrating Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, two features that customers may anticipate for this pricing.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
According to Rivian, every model will come equipped with Driver+, a package of hands-free driver assistance features. Important safety elements include:
- Automated emergency braking standards
- Typical lane-departure alert
- Conventional adaptive cruise control
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
All Rivian models are covered by a thorough standard warranty that lasts for eight years or 175,000 miles on the battery and drivetrain and five years or 60,000 miles on the bumper-to-bumper.
- Five years or 60,000 miles are covered by the limited warranty.
- 8 years or 175,000 miles are covered by the powertrain warranty.
- There is no free scheduled maintenance