Rivian R1T review

The R1T’s cabin looks like an Apple Store for hikers, in that it’s very streamlined and modern but simultaneously warm and cozy. However, this minimalist approach is also the source of the cockpit’s tedious shortcomings. Simple functions of varying importance find themselves buried in the menus of the 15.6-inch touchscreen. Instead of twisting a knob without a second thought, stuff like adjusting the mirrors and directing air flow are now done through the infotainment system. Ugh.

To be fair, most of the smaller issues are mitigated by having preferences saved to a custom driver profile that loads up whenever the Rivian senses said driver’s key, digital or otherwise, but they’re symptoms of the larger issue of digital over-reliance. The more functions the touchscreen takes care of, the more attention it demands from a driver, and that’s already stretched thin as it is.

Sounds annoying.

It can be, and despite how it sounds, we were rather pleased with the cabin overall. Since you’ll be spending an awful amount of time messing with it, it’s understandable that Rivian has given its UI careful attention, focusing on presenting info in a clear manner while being pleasing to the eye.

While some menus can overlap with tabs, most get their own page, and navigating them on the go has a bit of a learning curve attached. So ease of use is a mixed bag. However, the tech functions of the R1T are what give the truck its “wow” factor, particularly with its driver assists. Rivian’s autonomous driving system has been upgraded with higher resolution cameras, the latest sonar sensors and is powered by Nvidia hardware. This package supposedly gives you a higher level of situational awareness thanks to the driver display presenting what the R1T perceives around it as little graphic representations of cars and pedestrians.

When used on the highway, the hands-on drive assist can make long journeys easier, adapting to the changing conditions on the move. The hardware is also set up for potential hands-free functions down the line, which is something that an OTA update can deliver.

How about passenger and storage space?

Inside, the R1T can fit four comfortably, or five in a pinch, with 9.9 cu ft of storage available in the frunk. If that doesn’t cut it, the truck bed is 54.2 inches long and 50.2 inches wide at its narrowest point, with a tonneau cover that rolls over things with a simple press of a button. Need more? There’s the 11.7 cu ft gear tunnel for even more space or for re-enacting the vent-crawling scenes from Die Hard.