Despite being such a new automaker, Rivian has already made quite an impression on consumers. Sales for both the Rivian R1S and 2024 Rivian R1T have increased this year, establishing that this company isn’t going anywhere. While we love the Rivian R1T for what it is, experts believe that this truck could be better.

The Rivian R1T has amazing potential

Despite weighing about as much as a heavy-duty truck, the Rivian R1T is surprisingly quick and features incredibly responsive steering. In Edmunds testing, it proved that it could get to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds. Test drivers were seated inside the Quad-Motor version, which is capable of 835 hp and 908 lb-ft of torque. 

The standard Dual-Motor powertrain is still satisfyingly fast, with 533 hp and 610 lb-ft of torque. This version is also the most efficient if you option it with the Max battery pack, which promises 400 miles of range. The Standard battery grants 270 miles and the Large one is good for 352 miles before needing a recharge. The Performance Dual-Motor setup is equipped with the Large battery and features an extra Sport driving mode. The Quad-Motor version has 10 drive modes for all kinds of off-roading and performance applications. 

The Rivian R1T has the potential to tow up to 11,000 lbs and has approximately 14.9 in of ground clearance. Thanks to its adjustable air suspension, you can lower the R1T to a manageable height whenever you need to enter or exit the vehicle. This eliminates the steep step-in height requirement that constantly plagues trucks of this size. 

This electric truck is also the only one with a gear tunnel, a closed-off storage container that spans the underside of the bed and cab. It has about 12 cubes of storage area and it’s particularly useful for transporting long, skinny items. The Rivian R1T’s bed itself only measures four feet and six inches, but it also features an underfloor compartment for extra gear. 

Its frunk has another 11 cubic feet of cargo area, plus there are lots of deep storage pockets in the cab. Both rows provide a good amount of legroom, and riders are situated on comfy faux leather seats. As with many EVs, the interior is free of most powertrain and exterior noises. 

Here’s where the 2024 Rivian R1T fails to impress

The 2024 Rivian R1T’s ride reportedly gets worse with each lowering of the adjustable air suspension. Test drivers also spotted some misaligned interior pieces, which is a disappointment considering this truck’s above-average price point. The Dual-Motor version costs at least $73,000 with the standard battery pack, while Quad-Motor models start at $87,000.

Small interior imperfections aside, the Rivian R1T’s touchscreen-dominant controls very quickly get frustrating. The center stack features a 16-inch display, so there’s no room for any physical buttons. All of the audio and climate functions can only be adjusted through that huge screen.

Additionally, some of the Rivian R1T’s technology features don’t work 100% of the time. Test drivers reported reliability problems with navigation, Bluetooth, and most of the truck’s advanced safety features. You can’t even use your phone’s mapping app as a backup, given that smartphone integration isn’t available. The interface itself also glitched out multiple times over the course of the Rivian R1T’s test drive. 

Will Rivian be able to fix the R1T’s flaws?

As Edmunds points out, the Rivian R1T receives regular over-the-air updates to fix minor defects and add new features. In the future, we’d love to see upgrades providing Apple and Android device compatibility or some safety function tweaks. The Rivian R1T is pretty much perfect from a performance standpoint, but it needs the finer details fixed before it can confidently compete in this segment.