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Price Range: Less Than
$24,490
$154,765
mpg/MPGe Range: More Than
11
134
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Introduction:

To help members understand the latest automotive technology so they can purchase vehicles that best suit their needs, the Automobile Club of Southern California's Automotive Research Center (ARC) began testing and reviewing vehicles over a decade ago

For the 2023 edition, we include testing and ranking cars and light trucks with the latest technology, including having at least one advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) feature. In addition to vehicle evaluation, the guide covers a number of pertinent automotive topics in detail—for example, the latest advanced safety features, how to properly maintain your vehicle, and new vehicles coming to market in the next few years.

Car Guide Winner: 1st Place Pickup

2022 Rivian R1T Adventure

Vehicle Type: Pickup Electric
100
 overall score
Category Ranking: 1

Vehicle Price

Base Price: $73,000
Price as Tested: $97,800

Fuel Information

Fuel Type: Electricity
120V Charge Time: 3 miles per hour
240V Charge Time: 24.2 miles per hour
DC Fast Charger: 140 miles of range in 20 minutes
EPA City MPGe73
EPA Highway MPGe65
EPA Combined MPGe69
EPA-Est. Electric Range (mi): 316

Advanced Safety Features

  • Adaptive Cruise Control [S]
  • Advanced Headlights [S]
  • Automatic Emergency Braking [S]
  • Blind-Spot Warning [S]
  • Driver Monitoring [S]
  • Forward-Collision Warning [S]
  • Lane-Departure Warning [S]
  • Lane-Keeping Assistance [S]
  • Rear Cross-Traffic Warning [S]
  • [S] Standard, [O] Optional

Overall Observations

The Rivian R1T is an innovatively designed, versatile electric pickup with lots of power and many clever features. Our test truck came with a powerful and responsive quadmotor setup - a single motor per wheel - good for more than 800 hp and 4-wheel drive. The R1T’s cabin provides plenty of room for passengers. The steering has a good overall feel, and the adaptable air suspension delivers a comfortable ride - rare among pickups. Unique features include Camp Mode, Pet Comfort Mode, and Soft Sand Mode. An excellent lineup of ADAS features is standard. Road and drivetrain noise intrude into the cabin, however. The EV range is good - more than 300 miles if you’re not towing a heavy load - but the large, 135-kWh battery requires long Level 2 charging times. Clever features include a gear tunnel between the cabin and bed, suitable for snowboards, camping gear, and the like; an automated, camera-based security system; a power-retractable tonneau cover; and a good-size front trunk. The auto self-leveling suspension provides a level camping surface atop uneven terrain. The R1T’s enormous 16-inch infotainment screen can prove distracting, however. And, oddly, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity are unavailable. We also noticed a fair amount of squeaks and rattles during our testing, indicative of early buildquality issues. Finally, the panoramic sunroof has no shade option, and rear visibility could be better.
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Strengths and Weaknesses

Strong Points

  • • Powerful quad-motor EV drivetrain
  • • Clever, innovative design features
  • • Plenty of space for passengers and gear
  • • Comfortable ride quality

Weak Points

  • • Large, distracting infotainment system
  • • Interior and exterior build-quality problems
  • • Road and motor noise get into the cabin

Vehicle Specifications

Model year tested: 2022
Number of passengers (F/R): 2/3
Curb weight (lbs): 7280.0
Exterior L / W / H (in): 217.1 / 81.8 / 78.2
Wheelbase (in): 135.8
Number of air bags: 9
Warranty (months/miles): 60/60,000
Tire manufacturer and model: Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus
Front and rear tire size: 275/65 R20
Max towing capacity (lbs): 11,000
Headlight type: LED
Transmission type: Auto 1-speed
Drivetrain type: All wheel
Engine/motor: Quad electric motors
Electric motor horsepower: 835

Test Data

Test Vehicle Scores

Advanced Safety Features:

9.00

Fuel Efficiency:

9.10

EPA Emissions Score:

10.00

Acceleration:

9.61

Braking:

5.17
Handling: 6.86
Quality and Drivability: 7.83

Ride Quality:

7.48

Interior Size:

6.38

Easy of Entry and Exit:

7.47

Visibility:

7.53

Interior Noise:

8.96

Cargo Capacity:

4.27
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