The Rivian R1T Quad Might Be The Most Incredible EV On The Road
The pinnacle of the new Rivian flagship is the R1 Quad.
With four motors, one for each wheel, and delivering 1,025 HP, the Rivian R1 Quad, priced from about $116,000 and topping out at $130,000 for the launch edition, is available in both the R1T pickup truck and the R1S SUV. And they are designed to be not just the ultimate EV, but the ultimate off-roader.
Designed To Climb Impossible Hills With Incredible Power
For off-roaders, horsepower isn't really the key ingredient to conquering a vaunted hill or trail. For the R1 Quad, HP is more of a by-product of four motors and engineering designed to climb every mountain and go the long-haul distance, delivering as much power to each wheel as the driver and circumstances require.
Skill, equipment and engineering are far more important, as is torque: the new Quad delivers 1,198 pound-feet of torque. Together, this is really where this electric SUV shines.
The R1 Quad's engineering was real-world tested in two particularly grueling competitions: The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb and the Rebelle Rally. The Pikes Peak Hill Climb pits performance cars against the 12.4 mile, oxygen-starved 14,115 foot Colorado summit. A natural space for EVs it's less so for pickup trucks and large SUVs. After Rivian test engineer Gardiner Nichols ran the Hill Climb in his own R1T, the company added his feedback to improve the R1 Quad's torque, power and battery management; in 2024 Nichols drove the Second Gen R1T Quad to place in the exhibition division. The resulting production version of the R1 Quad incorporates even more of Nichols' findings.
To test the R1 Quad in an off-road setting, the company entered it in the 2024 Rebelle Rally, the longest off-road rally in the US and one of the most grueling; competitors, all women, compete using maps and compasses. The terrain ranges from steep mountains and rock faces to deep desert sands and rutted trails.
Rivian engineers Lilly Macaruso and Alex Anderson won the overall competition, the first EV to take the top prize, building on Rivian's growing off-road legacy. But this race was also about learning; Macaruso and Anderson focused on how to improve drive modes and to better tune each aspect of the R1 Quad's performance. The result? Not just a more robust off-road experience but also, new features that allow it to deliver an over-the-top performance.
Kick Turn And RAD Tuning 'Party Tricks' Are Useful, Too
The pinnacle of these new features are two new drive modes: RAD Tuner and Kick Turn. These harness the R1 Quad's advanced technology and pair it with the four motor system and four wheel steering to allow two new functions: Highly customizable 4WD settings, known as RAD Tuner and the ability to execute a turn so tight the R1 Quad essentially spins in place, known as Kick Turn.
RAD Tuner, which stands for Rivian Adventure Department, functions like the equalizer on a stereo system, allowing the driver to set the level of wheel slip, ride height and torque balance, among others. The system visualizes each setting in an animated graph.
Kick Turn, once activated, requires the driver to tap buttons on either side of the steering wheel for a directional turn; the harder and longer you press the button the faster and tighter the turn. The gaming-like control only takes only a few minutes to learn, though regulating speed, accommodating pitch and road conditions on a trail are more challenging.
I had the chance to try Kick Turn on a closed dirt course, the only place it's proper to learn to use it. It's easy and intuitive to use, unlike some other tank-turn or customized four-wheel steering systems on high-end off-roaders. Once on the trail, though, Kick Turn was useful but took more focus to get right.
Changes Add Up To One Of The Most Well-Received Off-Roaders Of The Year
The numbers presented by the Rivian R1 Gen 2 Quad are pretty impressive: the company says it will hit 0-60 MPH in 2.5 seconds in addition to generating 1,025 HP and 1,198 pound-feet of torque; driving range has increased to up to 400 miles in Max battery pack models and driving in Conserve mode; in standard mode range is estimated at 374 miles, still stellar for an SUV or pickup truck.
New features are pretty stellar, too: Rivian just rolled out its updated hands-free highway driving system after taking on the development of the system itself. Rivian says that by bringing it all in house the company can update the system and activate new features more quickly. With more autonomous vehicles on the road and more consumer-driven vehicles offering level-two hands-free highway driving, remaining competitive is key to staying on top.
In the exterior R1 Quad buyers will notice new signifier details. It starts with the Quad logo on the rear of tail gate and the Rivian nameplate shadowlined in Laguna Blue, which is also the color of the brake calipers. Most iconic is the Rivian Gear Guard mascot on the the right side of the tailgate, its hair blowing in the wind in a nod to the 1,025 HP. Buyers of the R1 Quad will also be the first easily charge at a Tesla Supercharger; this model comes with a NACS charge port, though the R1 Quad can still charge at a standard CCS charger with an adapter.
The performance the details and the new technology added up to one of the best received updated off-roaders of the year so far; reviews from top automotive writers, off-road writers and experts have been overwhelmingly glowing. I can add to that: After spending a day learning just how capable the Rivian R1 Quad is I was convinced. It easily conquered trails I'd previously only thought a small ATV would be capable of climbing.
What Hasn't Changed: A Lush Interior And Iconic Rivian Design
True to its roots and mission, the interior of the Rivian R1T and R1S are pretty much unchanged; that's good for those who love the large expanses of wood and leatherette, plaid fabrics and accent piping that create a cabin that feels like a retreat. Buyers who want something more distinct in the top-of-the-line model, such as fancier seats or more plush details will have to rest in the exclusive details and colors that R1 Gen 2 Quad buyers are offered.
The cabin is anchored by screens and that is where most functions live. The multimedia system is still fairly intuitive and easy to figure out, though it may take even digital natives some time to find all its fun features and functions.
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