200 to 250 miles of range is no longer the standard for EVs, as Rivian has set out to prove. A relative newcomer to the EV scene, this automaker specializes in electric SUVs and trucks. The company will also supply Amazon with electric delivery vans, which should go into production this year.

According to Kelley Blue Book, the EPA has officially rated the R1T pickup and the R1S SUV for over 300 miles of range. It’s a bold claim, especially for an automaker with no prior vehicles on the market. How will the new Rivian vehicles perform, and can they topple their esteemed rivals?

Rivian’s current offerings

KBB says the Rivian R1T pickup will cost $69,000 upon its release, and that’s for the base setup. That hefty price might be justified, as the truck can earn at least 750 hp. It will also reportedly be able to accelerate to 60 mph in under three seconds.

It comes with standard AWD and over 14 inches of ground clearance, making it a capable off-roader. It also fords bodies of water over 42 feet deep and can tow up to 11,000 pounds. Rivian promises the truck will have advanced technology onboard, including Level 3 autonomy.

One downside is that the Rivian R1T is only available in one configuration, a double cab with a 4.6-foot bed. However, it looks very spacious on the inside and promises many interior storage compartments for added utility.

The 2021 Rivian R1S is even more expensive, starting at $72,000. KBB says it will have the same specs as the R1T with a far lower towing capacity of 7,700 pounds. It will also have the same ground clearance as the R1T, which is impressive for the SUV class.

You can have the R1S as either a five-seater or seven-seater, depending on the size of the battery. We can also expect it to have a simplistic cabin design similar to Tesla vehicles. 

While it’s about as long as a Chevy Tahoe, its cargo capacity is relatively small at seven cubic feet. However, its boxy exterior design indicates that this will mean more stretch-out space for passengers. KBB also liked the exterior light bar that shows the battery’s charge level.

How much range do Rivian vehicles get?

The 2021 Rivian R1T is available with three battery packs, the smallest one making at least 230 miles of range. That will probably reduce the R1T’s output to around 520 hp. Still, since it has the same torque, its towing capacity likely won’t be affected too much. 

The second battery will get 300 miles of range, while the biggest battery could get over 400 miles. As for the R1S, it also has three battery options, but we only know the largest gets 400 miles of range. However, the smallest (and cheapest) battery won’t be available at the time of the R1S’s launch.

The R1T and R1S against the competition

There are no fully electric trucks on the market yet, so it’s hard to make comparisons for the Rivian R1T. The Ford F-150 Lightning should have a minimum range of 230 miles with a maximum of around 300 miles. GMC says the Hummer EV will get 350 miles, and the electric Silverado gets 400 miles maximum.

However, the Rivian R1T is the only one with an official EPA rating, so those numbers might vary. As for the R1S, we already know that it will blow several of its rivals out of the water. The top-tier Rivian R1S’s main competitor is the Tesla Model Y, with up to 326 miles of range.