The 2022 Rivian R1T is available in two main trim levels: Explore and Adventure. (Rivian also offered a limited-edition Launch Edition version of the Adventure package for early reservation holders.). There are also two battery pack sizes available for the way the truck is currently configured.
There’s the 135-kWh Large pack, with an EPA-estimated 314 miles of range (317 miles in Edmunds’ real-world range test), and the 180-kWh Max pack. The EPA hadn’t published a range estimate for the Max battery at the time of our review, but Rivian says it will provide upward of 400 miles of range.
As you might imagine, the 2022 Rivian R1T is no ordinary pickup. For one, this all-electric machine has four motors, one for each wheel. And its performance specs are impressive. It’s built to tow as much as 11,000 pounds. And when it is empty, it can accelerate to 60 mph in about 3.5 seconds or cruise more than 300 miles on a full charge.
Want to go off-road? There’s plenty of clearance to avoid rocks and ruts thanks to short body overhangs, a smooth underbody, and a height-adjustable suspension that allows you to raise the body of the truck when desired.
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.
For 2022, the R1T is only offered with a 128.9-kWh “Large” battery pack, which has an EPA-rated driving range of 314 miles. On our 75-mph real-world highway route, our loaded test vehicle only delivered 220 miles of range.
A smaller standard battery is expected to become available next year, with Rivian claiming it has a range of at least 260 miles. The “Max” battery will be the biggest pack available and is also expected to arrive next year; Rivian claims it’s capable of at least 400 miles per charge.
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
2022 Rivian R1T Launch Edition
Vehicle Type: front- and rear-motor, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door pickup
PRICE
Base/As Tested: $74,075/$76,875
Options: Off-Road upgrade, $2000; full-size spare tire, $800
POWERTRAIN
4 permanent-magnet synchronous AC motors
Combined Power: 835 hp
Combined Torque: 908 lb-ft
Battery Pack: liquid-cooled lithium-ion, 128.9 kWh
Onboard Charger: 11.5 kW
Transmissions: direct-drive
CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: control arms/multilink
Brakes, F/R: 13.5-in vented disc/12.9-in vented disc
Tires: Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Elect
275/65R-20 116H M+S 3PMSF RIV
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 135.8 in
Length: 217.1 in
Width: 79.3 in
Height: 73.0 in
Passenger Volume: 107 ft3
Cargo Volume: 37 ft3
Curb Weight: 7173 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 3.3 sec
100 mph: 9.0 sec
1/4-Mile: 11.9 sec @ 110 mph
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.2 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 3.4 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 1.7 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 2.1 sec
Top Speed (gov ltd): 111 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 177 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.80 g
C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 35 MPGe
Highway Range: 220 mi
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 70/744/66 MPGe
Range: 314 mi
