The verdict
A mixed-report full-size truck, strong on driving and held back by ownership.
Overall 2.38 (C+) across 10 graded subjects. Its strongest is driving experience at 3.39 (B+), its weakest cost of ownership at 0.00 (F). 7 of 10 subjects grade at C− or better.
Jump to scoresStrengths
- Driving Experience
- Value & Market Position
- Use-Case Fit
What holds it back
- Cost of Ownership
- Reliability & Quality
- Space & Comfort
Top alternatives
Cars shoppers cross-shop with the Rivian R1T
2.60C+
Chevrolet Silverado EVFull-Size TruckBetter at: PracticalityIf you want an electric truck that still works as a truck — 44.3 in of rear legroom, a longer bed with a midgate, 12,500 lbs of towing, up to 493 miles of range and a dealer network — for roughly $20,000 less.
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2.21C
Tesla CybertruckFull-Size TruckBetter at: Cargo capabilitySimilar money buys more payload, a 72.4-in bed and the Supercharger network, if you can live with a plainer cabin and a harsher ride.
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2.66C+
Ford F-150Full-Size TruckBetter at: Value and resaleThe default full-size truck: half the price, 60% five-year resale, any bed length you want, and a service bay in every town — at the cost of the R1T's refinement and running costs.
CompareSubject scores by year
Hover or tap a score to see what moved it versus the year before. A corner mark flags a big swing.
| Year | Performance | Efficiency | Safety | Space | Cost | Reliability | Tech | Use-case | Driving | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 67 | 69 | 78 | 53 | 22 | 46 | 73 | 74 | 84 | 71 |
| 2025 | 69 | 67 | 81 | 55 | 27 | 40 | 72 | 78 | 86 | 80 |
| 2024 | 70 | 66 | 76 | 54 | 22 | 43 | 69 | 76 | 79 | 76 |
| 2023 | 81 | 65 | 81 | 51 | 20 | 42 | 70 | 79 | 85 | 79 |
| 2022 | 77 | 64 | 85 | 54 | 27 | 38 | 70 | 79 | 85 | 78 |
Compare two years
Best fit & conditions
Higher scores mean a better fit for that use case. Learn more about use-case fit →
Subject profile
Detailed scoring by subject
1Performance & PowertrainGrades above the middle of the scale.2.77B-
The Adventure Dual-Motor Large Pack is the representative high-volume 2024 configuration. Its output is strong, while Performance Dual and Quad variants offer substantially more.
The standard Dual-Motor powertrain supplies abundant immediate torque without requiring the costlier Performance or Quad systems.
Even the volume drivetrain accelerates like a performance vehicle, and faster factory configurations were offered.
The in-house dual motors respond instantly and deliver power quietly and linearly. Strong regenerative braking takes acclimation but does not diminish the drivetrain's basic polish.
Fixed-ratio EV drive units eliminate shifts, hunting, and torque interruptions.
This is a strong light-duty pickup rating, though towing sharply reduces EV range.
Useful for a lifestyle pickup, but well below the best full-size work trucks.
An integrated brake controller, automatic trailer detection, sway control, trailer profiles, learned range prediction, hitch/bed cameras, and towing-optimized modes form a strong suite. It lacks a steering-based trailer backup assistant.
AWD is standard, with separate front and rear motors and terrain-specific drive modes across the range. Quad-Motor versions add individual wheel torque control.
Adjustable air suspension, nearly 15 inches of maximum clearance, excellent geometry, underbody protection and dedicated off-road modes provide genuine trail capability.
Three distinct AWD outputs—Dual, Performance Dual, and Quad—combined with Standard, Standard+, Large, and Max battery choices covered a broad range of priorities. Every option remained battery-electric.
2Efficiency & RangeMid-pack among this car's ten categories.2.48C+
The volume Dual Large configuration is more efficient than the four-motor R1T despite its size and mass.
Regenerative braking lifts city efficiency above the combined result.
Aerodynamic drag lowers highway efficiency, but the road-wheel Dual-Motor configuration remains competitive among electric pickups.
The representative configuration comfortably exceeds 300 miles and was one of the longer-range electric pickups of its model year.
The Gen 1 400-volt system can briefly reach about 220 kW, but its charging curve tapers well below that peak.
The large pack and pronounced high-state-of-charge taper make a complete 10-80% session substantially slower than the peak rate implies. Rivian did not publish a model-year-specific 10-80% claim for Gen 1.
Home electricity keeps the official annual energy cost far below comparable gasoline pickups.
Electricity avoids premium fuel and the 11.5-kW onboard charger enables practical overnight home charging. The large battery and 400-volt DC architecture make public fast-charging stops longer and potentially costly.
3SafetyGrades above the middle of the scale.3.13B
NHTSA did not publish an overall NCAP star rating for the 2024 R1T. The required numeric field therefore uses the dataset's segment-neutral 4-star convention for an untested vehicle, not a claimed test result.
The 2024 R1T earned Top Safety Pick+ and Good overall ratings in every listed crashworthiness evaluation. Minor component-level Acceptable results do not materially diminish an award-leading pickup performance.
Driver+ is standard across the 2024 lineup and covers all five rubric essentials: AEB, adaptive cruise, lane keeping/centering, blind-spot warning, and rear cross-traffic warning. A standard 11-camera surround system and 360 View add useful coverage.
The standard system performed well in most daytime and nighttime pedestrian scenarios, including several complete stops, but IIHS rated it Acceptable rather than Advanced or Superior. The 25-mph child crossing and some night tests retained impact speed.
Blind-spot and rear cross-traffic warnings are standard and use visual and audible alerts, but they do not provide active steering intervention, cross-traffic braking, safe-exit warning, or trailer-aware coverage. Rear cross-traffic warning is unavailable while towing.
Highway Assist combines true lane centering with standard lane-departure warning and corrective lane keeping, but it only works on selected compatible highways. Reviews and owner reports describe occasional lane-position uncertainty and abrupt disengagements, keeping it below the polished leaders.
Standard adaptive cruise accelerates and brakes with traffic and integrates with lane-centering Highway Assist, making it a useful highway package. Limited road coverage, slow re-engagement in changing traffic, and occasional abrupt handoffs prevent a top-tier score.
The first-generation 2024 R1T offered no true hands-free highway-driving system. Highway Assist is a hands-on Level 2 aid that periodically requires the driver's hands on the wheel.
All trims use Good-rated LED projector headlights with automatic high beams and no excessive glare. They are not curve-adaptive, and low-beam illumination is only fair on left curves, leaving a small gap from perfection.
Natural visibility is solid for a large pickup, and the standard 360-degree surround view meaningfully compensates for the truck's size and blind zones. Thick pillars can still impede cross-traffic sightlines when backing.
IIHS rates the anchors Good: both rear outboard positions have complete LATCH hardware whose anchors are easy to find, require little force, and offer easy maneuvering. The center position has a tether only, so three full LATCH positions are not available.
4Space & ComfortOne of the R1T's weakest categories.1.61D
The volume Adventure Dual-Motor Standard Pack is a two-row crew cab for five.
The standard panoramic-roof cab still provides generous front headroom.
Adequate for adults but near the low end of the truck normalization band.
Second-row headroom is mid-band for a pickup despite the glass roof.
Adults fit, but space is distinctly tighter than in full-size crew-cab benchmarks.
The short fixed bed favors a manageable footprint over conventional long-bed utility.
The compact bed falls just below the truck normalization floor, though separate lockable compartments add utility.
The powered frunk, full-width Gear Tunnel, under-bed well, rear-seat storage, outlets and rack mounts make this a storage benchmark.
Wide, supportive, highly adjustable and ventilated front seats suit long trips; the tighter upright rear bench is less exceptional.
Adaptive air suspension absorbs most bumps with good body control, but the ride remains firm and all-terrain tires make it stiffer.
Silent EV propulsion and premium isolation keep the cabin calm, with tire and wind noise the principal highway intrusions.
The volume trim includes heated and ventilated power front seats, heated wheel, four-zone climate with rear controls, and app preconditioning.
5Cost of OwnershipThe R1T's lowest-graded category.0.00F
Rivian added the Standard battery during the 2024 model year, lowering the R1T entry price to $69,900 before destination.
The Dual-Motor Large Pack is the representative mainstream R1T configuration, pairing the regular dual-motor powertrain with the established long-range battery rather than the costlier Performance, Quad, or Max choices.
The EV avoids engine service, but Edmunds projects substantial scheduled maintenance and out-of-warranty repair expense at 15,000 miles per year.
Projected retention trails conventional pickups substantially, reflecting rapid EV depreciation and Rivian's evolving pricing and technology.
The comprehensive warranty is two years and 24,000 miles longer than the common mainstream-truck 3/36 plan.
Eight years is typical EV duration, while the unusually high 175,000-mile cap is a meaningful advantage for high-mileage owners.
Rivian includes 24/7 roadside support during the comprehensive-warranty period and app-based/mobile-service conveniences, but no complimentary scheduled maintenance or standard charging credit. That is useful basic coverage rather than a luxury-class maintenance package.
$80,800 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (45.5% retained, or about $36,764) leaves about $44,036 in depreciation. Add the projected $8,818 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $52,854 in total.
6Reliability & QualityOne of the R1T's weakest categories.0.87F
Consumer Reports calls the 2024 R1T much less reliable than other vehicles from the same model year, while J.D. Power's 69/100 Quality & Reliability score is only Fair. The latter keeps the rating above the very bottom, but the owner-survey evidence is clearly below average.
Rivian was last among the 22 brands ranked in Consumer Reports' 2024 survey, and CR says the young brand usually ranks near the bottom. Its short history also provides no mature multi-generation dependability record to offset that result.
Six NHTSA recalls now affect the 2024 R1T, including lighting, seat-belt anchorage/retractor, airbag, and service-related suspension campaigns. TSBs for hydraulic-suspension chirping and A/C-compressor noise/vibration further show recurring first-generation refinement issues, though the record does not establish a widespread traction-battery fire defect.
The first-generation battery and drive units were still comparatively new in 2024, and one reputable long-term test suffered a front-inverter failure. More encouragingly, Car and Driver's quad-motor R1T completed 40,000 miles mostly trouble-free with only routine tire rotations and cabin-filter service, so the evidence is mixed rather than decisively poor.
The Adventure cabin uses a distinctive mix of upscale materials and has consistently been judged richly appointed for a luxury pickup. It falls short of the finest similarly priced luxury interiors, but material quality is a clear R1T strength.
Visible panel alignment can be excellent, but documented orange-peel paint, recessed closures, squeaks and creaks, and cabin-noise TSBs indicate inconsistent assembly polish. The 2024 carry-over benefited from production learning, yet evidence still supports only an average score at this luxury price.
Rivian had only 59 active service centers in mid-2024 and itself described its location network as limited, supplemented by mobile service. A Car and Driver long-term truck waited three months for an appointment, making coverage materially weaker than established full-size-truck brands.
Gen-1 aluminum construction, limited certified repair capacity, proprietary parts, and labor-intensive body design make collision work unusually expensive and constrain aftermarket options. Routine EV maintenance is light, but parts and body-repair economics are poor for the segment.
7Technology & InfotainmentGrades above the middle of the scale.2.70B-
Every 2024 configuration uses the same large landscape center display.
The quick, coherent tile interface is visually excellent, but screen-only vents, mirrors and climate functions create a learning curve.
Neither wireless nor wired Apple CarPlay or Android Auto was offered.
Alexa handles many vehicle and media commands and the native EV-aware map is attractive, though voice reliability and lack of phone projection limit flexibility.
The standard 1,200-watt Rivian Elevation system is powerful and immersive, though reviews are less consistently enthusiastic than for the earlier Meridian system.
A crisp 12.3-inch full-digital cluster is standard and integrates navigation and Driver+ status, though customization is limited.
Regular whole-vehicle OTA releases added Drive Cam and continuously revised dynamics, cameras and convenience functions.
The app supplies phone-as-key, lock/location, charging and climate control, powered-closure operation and route sharing.
USB-C access across the cabin, wireless charging, three 110-V outlets and powered cargo areas are unusually comprehensive.
Proximity access and phone-as-key are standard, with fob and key-card backups and remote powered-closure controls.
Standard multi-angle surround cameras, side-sensing parking sensors, Gear Guard and Drive Cam greatly help placement, but automated parking is absent.
No head-up display was offered on any 2024 R1T.
8Use-Case FitOne of the R1T's strongest categories.3.14B
Four doors, easy LATCH hardware and separated frunk/Gear Tunnel storage help families, though 36.6-in rear legroom constrains large rear-facing seats.
The 2024 R1T is an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ with Good crashworthiness and comprehensive standard avoidance equipment.
A quiet premium cabin, four-zone climate and exceptional distributed storage serve four well, but modest rear legroom and firm ride prevent benchmark status.
Smooth EV response, one-pedal driving, cameras and adaptive cruise reduce workload, but the wide body, strong regen and touchscreen controls require acclimation.
Home charging undercuts gasoline-truck energy costs, but this heavy pickup uses 45 kWh/100 miles and has expensive large tires.
It is shorter than many full-size crew cabs and has excellent cameras, yet its 217.1-in length, 79-in body width and 44.9-ft turning circle demand care.
An 11,000-lb tow rating, 1,760-lb maximum payload and instant AWD torque are serious, but the 54.1-in bed and severe towing-range loss constrain commercial work.
The robust chassis and sealed dual-motor AWD should tolerate recreational work, but luxury materials and a young fleet/service record remain unproven under daily abuse.
Bed and Gear Tunnel power, onboard air, tie-downs, crossbar ports and trailer software are excellent, though the commercial upfit ecosystem trails legacy pickups.
The 270-mile volume Standard Pack, quiet cabin and Driver+ make a capable tourer, but CCS charging, firm ride and towing-range loss impose endurance limits.
Dual-motor AWD, adjustable air suspension, All-Terrain/Snow modes, strong clearance, deep-water ability, hitch and cargo accessories make it a genuine adventure enabler.
The bed, powered frunk, full-width Gear Tunnel, under-bed compartment, crossbars and hitch provide exceptional flexibility despite the short bed.
9Driving ExperienceThe R1T's best-graded category.3.39B+
Low battery mass, independent suspension and hydraulic roll control give remarkable grip and body discipline; the base Dual lacks Quad-Motor torque vectoring.
Steering is quick and accurate enough to place the truck confidently, but assistance is light and feedback is limited.
Strong regenerative braking enables one-pedal driving and the friction brakes are capable, though lift-off deceleration takes practice and the truck is very heavy.
The volume 533-hp Dual-Motor supplies immediate, seamless AWD thrust and a 4.5-second claimed 0-60 time without shifts, though it is less explosive than Performance and Quad versions.
The shift-free dual-motor drivetrain is nearly silent and vibration-free, with restrained motor and tire sound under heavy load.
Reasonable for a pickup of this capability but not genuinely tight in urban spaces.
A commanding view and broad power seat/wheel adjustment suit most drivers, but high step-in and screen-controlled mirrors, vents and climate detract.
Sports-car pace, unusually disciplined truck handling and real trail ability give even the base Dual-Motor memorable breadth, though it lacks Quad-Motor's wildest modes and acceleration.
10Value & Market PositionOne of the R1T's strongest categories.3.18B
Even the entry 2024 R1T includes dual-motor AWD, adaptive air suspension, a premium cabin with large displays, Driver+ safety tech, a powered frunk, Gear Tunnel, onboard air and 120-volt outlets. The missing CarPlay/Android Auto is the main conspicuous omission at this price.
The roughly $81,000 Dual/Large volume configuration combines luxury finish, 11,000-pound towing, serious off-road hardware, strong range and sports-car acceleration in one vehicle. It is expensive in absolute terms, but unusually capable per dollar among luxury EV pickups.
Four battery choices and Dual, Performance Dual, and Quad drivetrains cover a wide performance/range span, but every R1T uses the same crew cab and short bed and there is no true work-truck trim. Choice is meaningful within a narrow luxury-adventure template.
The R1T remained a recognized electric-pickup player, but US volume fell sharply in 2024 and trailed both the F-150 Lightning and Cybertruck. Its sister R1S also outsold it by more than two to one, signaling limited pickup demand rather than fast-rising acceptance.
Rivian has built a distinctive premium-adventure identity, and the R1T's design, extreme capability and first-to-market status give it substantial enthusiast halo. The young brand's limited service footprint and uncertain long-term durability keep it just below established aspirational leaders.
Buyers could access a $3,750 purchase credit on qualifying sub-$80,000 versions or the full $7,500 commercial clean-vehicle credit through leasing, while Rivian also used aggressive lease pricing and a $6,000 employee Friends-and-Family referral on eligible 2023/2024 Large-pack R1Ts. The savings were unusually meaningful, albeit partly clearance-driven.
The 2024 is the third model year of the original 2022 generation and gained Standard/Standard+ packs, Performance Dual Motor and Drive Cam, so it was still technologically current. However, the authoritative production record places a new generation at 2025, making this the final pre-redesign model year and creating immediate redesign risk.
The R1T was consistently treated as the benchmark electric pickup, combining exceptional on-road pace, off-road ability, utility and refinement. Its original-generation Truck of the Year and 10Best recognition remained relevant, and the exact 2024 model earned a 10/10 rating and Editors' Choice designation.
