2022 Rivian R1T

Sizewise, the 2022 Rivian R1T is a bit of a tweener. It’s not as big as your average 1500 series full-size crew-cab truck, but it’s bigger than any crew-cab truck you’ll see in the midsize segment. It also comes in just one body configuration with a 4.5-foot cargo bed.

That’s short even compared to the beds of midsize trucks, but there are some cool storage features you don’t get in a traditional truck such as a large front trunk and a so-called gear tunnel.

This is a log-shaped enclosed cargo area located between the cargo bed and rear seats that should work well for storing long and thin items such as strollers or golf bags.

EV MOTOR AND IMPLEMENTATION

All-wheel drive is standard on the 2022 Rivian R1T but it uses a different arrangement than the Tesla Model X: Each wheel of the Rivian is powered by its own electric motor. The R1T boasts up to 835 horsepower and blasted to 60 mph in just 3.3 seconds at our test track.

That makes it the fastest pickup truck we’ve tested to date. Adjustable air suspension will be standard at launch and can adjust the clearance height from eight to 14 inches. While every version of the R1T currently features an electric motor at each wheel, a dual-motor version will eventually be offered, too.

Along with all-wheel drive, it’ll generate over 600 horsepower. The quad-motor setup allows the R1T to do what Rivian calls a Tank Turn, which sets the electric motors to rotate the left wheels in the opposite direction of the right ones to spin the truck on its axis.

Our first test drive, which we conducted in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, displayed the 2022 Rivian R1T’s impressive off-road capabilities as well as its punchy on-road performance.

ENERGY AND REAL-WORLD MPG

The 2022 Rivian R1T is one of the first electric pickup trucks to receive a fuel economy rating from the EPA. Fuel economy ratings for the quad-motor R1T are 74 MPGe city, 66 MPGe highway, and 70 MPGe combined.

On our 75-mph real-world route, which is part of our extensive testing regimen, our loaded test vehicle managed only 35 MPGe. For more information about the 2022 Rivian R1T’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.

INTERIOR, CONVENIENCE, AND BOOTH

Inside, the 2022 Rivian R1T‘s cabin is decked out in leather, wood, and large displays for both the gauge cluster and the infotainment system. The R1T has a large trunk under the front hood, a big storage compartment behind the cab (but in front of the bed), and a lockable in-bed compartment.

Overall, Rivian says the truck has 12 cubic feet of lockable storage. The truck’s expandable and collapsible crossbar system allows for mounting gear over the bed and cabin. In the bed are three 110-volt outlets and an air compressor.

IN-VEHICLE INFOTAINMENT AND INTERCONNECTIONS

A large 16.0-inch infotainment display is recessed into the 2022 Rivian R1T’s contoured dashboard and a secondary digital readout serves as a reconfigurable gauge display.

The infotainment interface uses expandable tiles for individual features with the main options (navigation, media, climate controls, etc) available at all times at the bottom of the display.

Instead of delving into submenus, options slide out of the side of tiles to reduce the complexity of the system. Oddly, Rivian has chosen not to include Apple CarPlay or Android Auto–both features that buyers may expect at this price.

PROTECTION ND DRIVER-ASSISTANCE ASPECTS

Rivian says every model will be outfitted with hands-free driver-assistance technology, with the suite called Driver+. For more information about the 2022 Rivian R1T’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites.

 PHOTOS

FULL SPECIFICATIONS