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The Rivian R1T truck is one of the most talked about all-electric trucks. It’s fast, it looks cool, and it’s built in America. They’re also expensive premium trucks with interiors and performance that matches their $73,000 price. But how safe is this premium midsize truck?

The Rivian R1T earns Top Safety Pick + status

The 2022-2023 Rivian R1T has recently earned a Top Safety Pick + award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which is the highest rating the IIHS gives. To earn the recognition, the truck had to earn “good” ratings in six categories of tests. It also must be offered with a front crash prevention system that earns advanced or superior ratings in both vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian evaluations.

In the Rivian R1Ts case, it met all of the requirements for the higher-tier award. Its headlights earned a good rating, and its crash prevention system earned a superior rating from the IIHS. The truck is made from aluminum, steel, and carbon fiber. The truck’s batteries are placed low, so the center of gravity is lower which helps prevent rollovers.

How much does a Rivian R1T cost?

Orange 2023 Rivian R1T electric pickup truck driving up a hill
2023 Rivian R1T | Rivian

A Rivian R1T starts at $73,000. However, if you order a Rivian R1T today it should be delivered in late 2023. It costs $1,000 to reserve an R1T, but the deposit is refundable if you change your mind.

All Rivian trucks are all-wheel drive with a dual-motor system, but you can order a quad-motor upgrade for $8,000. The standard battery offers 260 miles of range, but the Large battery, for $6,000, and Max battery, for $16,000, can bring your range to 400 miles. You can also order 20-inch or 22-inch wheels, as well as underbody skid plates, camping gear, tonneau covers, and more.

How fast is a Rivian truck?

Front angle view of blue Rivian R1T EV truck, the best pickup truck for driving in the snow
Rivian R1T | Rivian

The Rivian R1T comes in two flavors, the dual motor and the quad motor versions. The quad motor system uses one motor for each wheel. The front axle, then, gets 415 horsepower, while the rears get 420 horsepower, for a total of 835 horsepower and a diesel-rivaling 908 lb-ft of torque. According to Rivian, it can go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in three seconds. It’s quicker than the Hummer EV truck, too.

The dual-motor version offers 600 horsepower and 600 lb.-ft of torque. The company says it can sprint to 60 in 4.5 seconds. Either version, though, can tow up to 11,000 pounds.

Who makes the Rivian truck?

Rician manufacturing facility in Normal Illinois.
Rivian trucks are made in Normal, Ill. | Brian Cassella Getty Images

Rivian Automotive, Inc. is a new manufacturer based in Irvine, California. Its stock is traded on the NASDAQ at RIVN, so, technically, you can own some of Rivian. It was founded in 2009 by Robert “RJ” Scariange, who was born in 1983.

The company has developed a “skateboard” platform that uses for its R1S SUV version. That platform has an independent air suspension with six inches of vertical adjustment, so you can crank it up for off-road fun. Though the truck is capable and quick, it’s also winning design awards for its clever packaging.

Related Here We Go Again: Rivian R1S EV SUV Bid to $40,000 Over MSRP at Auction Site

Here We Go Again: Rivian R1S EV SUV Bid to $40,000 Over MSRP at Auction Site

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Writer - Sedans & Coupes

Dan Mayfield

Dan joined MotorBiscuit in 2022 with over 20 years of experience in journalism and a lifelong passion for anything related to the automotive industry. He grew up wrenching a 1949 Ford pickup truck and an MGB with his dad, learning how not to wire a fuel pump (he inadvertently set the MGB on fire).

After earning a bachelor’s degree in photojournalism from the University of New Mexico, Dan has contributed his expertise to a range of local outlets, including the City of Albuquerque, US Eagle, and the Alliance for Local Economic Prosperity.

On weekends, Dan spends Saturdays enjoying “cars and coffee” chats and, on Sundays, he’s watching the Route 66 Cruise roll through town. He also races motorcycles, and it’s not unusual to find him elbows-deep in his latest cafe racer build.

Taking advantage of the local desert terrain, Dan also enjoys exploring and driving off-road in his trusty Ram Rebel pickup truck, which provides personal insights into his contributions to our Trucks, SUVs, & Crossovers coverage. Dan strives to give our readers unique information about the dynamic automotive market, reading anything that has to do with cars, trucks, bikes, 4X4s, and, in his words, “everything with a motor.”

Dan has earned a number of accolades from the Public Relations Society of America, and is a University of Southern California, Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism Fellow.