The Newest Electric Truck Offers Advanced Technology and Unique Storage Spaces
Living in South Orange County, California, where Rivian is based, I saw Rivian pickups and vans testing on our local streets for many months before they actually went on sale. As an automotive journalist, I was naturally curious about the company’s progress, then Rivian began delivering them to customers and things changed. In California those vertical elongated headlights are a common sight.
Launched in 2022, the R1T exterior design remains pretty much unchanged, but the 2025 R1T has updates to its software, drive motors and performance, so-much-so Rivian considers this to be the second generation of the truck.
Power, Torque and Range
Power, torque and range are a big part of the R1T models that are currently is available. Here are the three power and all-electric driving range (AER) options plus one coming soon.
- R1T Dual Standard
- Dual Motor AWD
- Horsepower: 533
- Torque: 610 pound-feet (lb.-ft.)
- 0-60 mph: 4.5 seconds
- AER: 270 miles
- R1T Dual
- Dual Motor AWD,
- Horsepower: 655
- Torque: 829 lb-ft.
- 0-60 mph: 3.4 seconds
- AER: 329 miles
- R1T Tri
- Tri-Motor AWD
- Horsepower: 850
- Torque: 1,103 lb.-ft.
- 0-60 mph: 2.9 seconds
- AER: 371 miles
- R1T Quad*
- Quad-Motor AWD
- Horsepower: 1,198
- Torque: 1,103 lb.-ft.
- 0-60 mph: 2.5 seconds
- AER: TBD
- * Release date has not been announced*
Clean Fleet Report spent a week in the 2025 Rivian R1T Tri pickup testing the massive horsepower and torque and getting a feel for a unique looking pickup on the market. We spent 375 miles on the freeway and in-town, discovering how this 7,016-pound truck could become your everyday driver.
Performance Excitement
If you have driven any electric vehicle, you know the acceleration is fast and quick, with some manufacturers trying to outdo each other with the shortest time to 60 or 100 mph. The Rivian R1T is available with different levels of horsepower and torque so it can be a straight-line performance vehicle, but it also is a respectable corner carver and capable off-roader.
In our test drive our average of 2.4 kW per mile (which is not as bad as the GMC Hummer 3X pickup at 1.3) is a reflection on the weight and vehicle intent. It is a heavy truck, after all. The EPA rates the R1T Tri at 371 all-electric miles with a combined 76 MPGe. MPGe is a measurement of how efficient a car powered by electricity is using the same amount of energy as is contained in one gallon of gasoline. Use MPGe to compare efficiency of electric vehicles.
Hitting the Open Road: Smooth and Responsive
The Rivian R1T Tri is fast. Activate the launch mode and a push-you-back-in-your-seat 2.5 seconds to 60 miles per hour from a dead stop fast. Whoosh! So how does this equate with being an everyday driver seeing as getting eggs and bread, chauffeuring the kids and even commuting don’t require such outrageous performance?
Just like with a gasoline-powered truck, the Rivian will eat-up electricity faster if it is driven aggressively. This begs the question if a pickup truck, like the R1T, has such outstanding performance. Was it designed to not be used as a conventional truck? Is it only for those who want a cool-looking pickup to tool around in? After driving it for a week, the answer is both, as the R1T can haul people and stuff (2,183-pound payload) like any pickup, but can also scream at a ridiculous pace when desired.
The R1T has four-wheel independent suspension with a good amount of clearance if you have plans to go off road. In the case of the R1T, that would most likely be gravel or dirt forest service roads and mild trail driving, but according to Rivian (because it comes with a rock crawl drive mode), large boulders and stone faces can be challenged.
The on-road handling was neutral (body roll, pushing, lane creep) around corners with no lack of road feel. The 50:50 front to rear weight distribution, all-wheel drive, traction and stability control, combined with the 275/50 Pirelli Scorpion tires on 22-inch alloy wheels, delivered good grip with no body sway. The bright yellow brake calipers peeking-out from the gloss black wheels looked sharp.
This mid-cycle updated R1T has air suspension with new springs and spring rates, new dampers and a hydraulic anti-roll system. The suspension can adjust the ground clearance from 7.9 inches to 14.9 inches and has settings which went from soft to stiff based on the driving conditions. Longer distance trips ended with us feeling good from a smooth and controlled ride. The even acceleration and that big torque number made it a breeze to drive the R1T in-town or on the freeway.
The 7,016-pound R1T has driver-selectable drive modes of All-purpose, Sport, Conserve, Rally, All-terrain, Snow, Rock Crawl, Soft Sand or Drift. We didn’t do any off-roading or towing, but with an 11,000-pound rating, a 2-inch Class V receiver rated at 1,155-pound tongue weight, a weight distributing hitch, a 7-pin connector for lights and brake controls and high-definition back-up camera to aid in hitching, the R1T is ready to go. This video explains the modes and towing.
The available Highway Assist, with multiple cameras, ultrasonic and radar sensors, offers hands-free driving and, among other features, the ability to automatically change lanes when the Lane Change On is selected and you are driving in a highway mapped area. We tried it on the highway at 65 mph and it works, but having used the same technology on Ford and General Motors vehicles, we are not seeing the need for it. Autonomous cars without a driver, yes there is a need, and it is reassuring to know these manufacturers are developing and perfecting it.
Charging
The battery can be trickle-charged with a 120V common wall plug, but expect replenish times to be long and slow. The best bet for owners will be to install a Level 2 240V home charger that will deliver a full charge in 12-18 hours, based on the charger’s amps.
The 2025 Rivian R1T uses the Combined Charging System (CCS) charge port but does have an adapter for the North American Charging System (NACS), giving it access to thousands of high-speed Tesla Supercharger stations nationwide. If you can find a 350 kW DC fast charger, a 10-80% charge will take approximately 45 minutes. The more commonly available 150 kW public charger will extend that time to just past one hour. There are sequential green lights on the nose indicating the R1T is charging and showing the battery level.
When driving, charging is accomplished through regenerative braking that converts kinetic energy into electric energy when applying the brakes or coasting, and stores it in the battery. The strength of the regeneration is set in the center screen with Low or High options. I always choose the highest setting and then learn to modulate the accelerator pedal when slowing or coming to a full stop through one pedal driving.
Modern, Clean Interior
With the key in the cabin, step on the brake pedal and the Rivian starts up. The R1T is more computer than machine; maybe the better description is booting up.
The R1T interior is straight forward in its approach; it’s well laid-out and designed for a pickup. The premium touches include plaid textiles, wood grain accents and bronze finishes. The front seats have power adjustments along with heat and ventilation, and the vinyl floor mats have a distinctive plaid design. The floor mats are manufactured by Chilewich and are non-slip (no rug pad needed), durable and easy-to-clean.
The interior of the 2025 Rivian R1T features upgraded organic materials in a roomy cabin. The comfortable seating, ambient lighting and trim quality are top notch. There’s also a large touch screen with an easy-to-read interface, but no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto is curious, if not odd.
There are two audio systems—the base with 10 speakers and 600 watts, and the Sound and Vision Package that includes a glass roof and the in-house developed Premium Audio system with 16 speakers, 960 watts and Dolby Atmos. Along with FM and SiriusXM there are built-in apps including Apple Music, Audible, Spotify, Tidal, Tune-In, YouTube and Google Cast. With Connect+ you can download your own apps and content. Software updates for the vehicle are through LTE, and streaming uses a Wi-Fi Hotspot that can handle up-to eight devices. AM radio is not available.
Nothing Else Looks Like It
The Rivian R1T has look all its own. The boxy shape, with a high ride height, large wheels and tires, makes for a premium SUV with street performance and off-road capability. The exterior, mostly a carry-over from the first generation, features the unique vertical oblong matrix LED headlights that adapt to road conditions, and a light strip extending the complete length where the hood and front fascia meet. In back, the bold red LED light strip running the width of the power remote tailgate makes no mistake there is a R1T ahead.
Adaptive headlights are not new, but the Rivian has a matrix of LED lights that can be controlled by software. This allows the headlight beam to suit the road ahead, including keeping the high beams lighting certain parts of the road and darker for others, or turning them off completely. They also adapt when there is a pedestrian or cyclist on the road.
Storage was top of mind for Rivian engineers and designers. Beginning with the 4.5 foot bed that, with the tailgate dropped, extends to seven feet, there is an 11.1 cubic foot front trunk (frunk) accessed through the power remote hood. Then there is the locking gear tunnel at 11 cubic feet. Not to be found on any other truck, it is located where the bed meets the cab and has doors on both sides. The gear tunnel is ideal, and a smart idea to keep the interior clean, for sandy beach stuff or ski boots and snowboards.
The bed is lined, has a power remote tailgate, lighting, a power retracting tonneau cover and 120V power outlets, allowing various devices to be powered. A full-size spare tire is available.
The R1T has nine exterior colors with LA Silver available at no additional cost. Glacier White has premium of $1,750; Limestone, Forest Green, El Cap Granite, Rivian Blue or Red Canyon add $2,500; and Midnight (black) or Storm Blue plus-up by $3,000.
Warranty
- Comprehensive – Five years/60,000 miles
- Drivetrain – Eight years/120,000-175,000 miles (depending on the battery size)
- Battery – Eight years/120,000-175,000 miles (depending on the battery size)
- Corrosion/Perforation – Eight years/Unlimited miles
- Adjustment – One year/12,000 miles
Pricing
These base prices include the $1,800 destination charge.
- R1T Dual Standard $71,700
- R1T Dual $79,700
- R1T Tri $101,790
The 2025 Rivian R1T Tri driven by Clean Fleet Report, with a final price of $110,950, came with the Dynamic Glass Roof, Premium Audio, Darkout Package and an air compressor.
Even with the R1T being assembled in Normal, Illinois, it is not clear how the pickup will fare in the tariff wars currently underway. If leasing a Rivian, you can still receive the full $7,500 federal tax credit until it sunsets at the end of September.
Individual states may have purchase incentive programs that would not be affected by any federal actions. The R1T may also qualify for an HOV sticker which allows only the driver to use the carpool lanes. Please speak with your tax professional or go to this site for more information.
Observations: 2025 Rivian R1T Tri Pickup
The 2025 Rivian R1T is modern, but not extravagant. Is a pickup festooned with over-the-top plushness more a luxury vehicle than a truck? Rivian created a balance of both. Five occupants can enjoy supportive and comfortable synthetic leather seats, including spacious rear heated seats for up-to three adults, an excellent sound system and multiple interior storage spaces matched to an exterior with frunk, bed and the gear tunnel storage.
The on-road performance and off-road capability places the R1T in the same price range as the top trim levels of other all-electric trucks—the Ford Lighting, Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra and Tesla Cybertruck.
To give the R1T the justice it deserves requires visiting your local Rivian Space, which is their version of a dealer showroom. Request a lengthy test drive to get the feel if an electric pickup is right for you. Considering the range, performance, towing, payload, safety equipment and charging speed, the R1T may just do that.
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Story by John Faulkner. Photos by John Faulkner and Rivian.
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Disclosure
Clean Fleet Report is loaned free test vehicles from automakers to evaluate, typically for a week at a time. Our road tests are based on this one-week drive of a new vehicle. Because of this we don’t address issues such as long-term reliability or total cost of ownership. In addition, we are often invited to manufacturer events highlighting new vehicles or technology. As part of these events we may be offered free transportation, lodging or meals. We do our best to present our unvarnished evaluations of vehicles and news irrespective of these inducements.
Our focus is on vehicles that offer the best fuel economy in their class, which leads us to emphasize electric cars, plug-in hybrids, hybrids and other efficient powertrains. We also feature those efficient gas-powered vehicles that are among the top mpg vehicles in their class. In addition, we aim to offer reviews and news on advanced technology and the alternative fuel vehicle market. We welcome any feedback from vehicle owners and are dedicated to providing a forum for alternative viewpoints. Please let us know your views at [email protected].
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