After three years of delays, the Rivians R1T electric pickup truck will finally ship next month. MotorTrend had the opportunity to spend a few days with the all electric adventure truck before the launch. The team was impressed by its performance. They also offer a great view of the interior of the R1Ts, which draws heavily from Tesla and other high-end offroad vehicles.
This is not surprising. Rivian has been very open about the R1T's development since its debut. It regularly posts its own articles and photos. The truck features two large, crisp displays. MotorTrend test versions of the R1T featured a wood-grain dashboard with silver accents.
The steering wheel has only two buttons, which are similar to the scroll wheels Tesla uses in its cars. This means that a majority of controls can be accessed through the touchscreen. Although some may not like this, Tesla has shown that it is not a bad approach. The R1T is expected to be equally capable off-road than it is on highways or streets. Touching a touchscreen while driving through woods could prove tricky.
You will be using the touchscreen extensively
The touchscreen opens all exterior storage compartments of the R1Ts via the touchscreen. This includes the large front trunk, doors to the gear tunnel between the bed and the cab, and the cover for the tonneau. You can also toggle between R1Ts drive modes and adjust the ride height from the main touchscreen.
Tesla has redefined luxury in a modern vehicle over the years. It has also been able find buyers who are more concerned about technology and minimal design than the traditional luxury features found in Mercedes-Benzes. Rivian seems to be trying to bridge those two worlds with the R1T. This will also allow Rivian to appeal to customers who are willing to use their vehicles in extremely rugged environments. MotorTrend appears to have found a compromise that could prove dangerous: only two cupholders are located in the front seats. We will not know how this plays out until customers start receiving their trucks next month.
