Latest news with #BrookeCrothers
Forbes
04-05-2025
- Automotive
- Forbes
Rivian Offers Massive Lease Discount, Making The R1S More Affordable
Rivian R1S in the Mojave Desert. Credit: Brooke Crothers Rivian EVs are expensive. But Rivian is trying to make them more affordable with hefty discounts. The R1S SUV is now the Irvine, Calif.-based EV manufacturer's best selling model. It's outselling the R1T pickup by about 2 to 1, according to Cox Automotive's Electric Vehicle Sales Report Q1 2025. And Rivian is now promoting the 2025 Dual Motor Rivian R1 vehicle with the tagline 'your down payment's on us, so you can start exploring.' 'Rivian will contribute $6,500 toward each lease of a new 2025 Dual Motor Rivian R1 vehicle with Max battery and Performance Upgrade ordered through R1 Shop between May 1, 2025 and May 31, 2025,' according to the Rivian website. Other vehicle configurations are excluded, Rivan says. Here's what makes the deal potentially very sweet. The $6,500 lease offer 'may be combined with the $7,500 EV Lease Credit,' according to Rivian. That would add up to a tidy $14,000 discount. I confirmed this lease pricing with a Rivian salesperson. Note that Rivians won't always be out of the reach for more price sensitive buyers. The upcoming Rivian R2 SUV is expected to have a starting price of approximately $45,000 before taxes and fees. That is due in 2026.
Forbes
12-04-2025
- Automotive
- Forbes
Ford Mustang Mach-E Review: Strong 2025 Sales Make It A Good Tesla Model Y Alternative
The Mustang Mach-E May is the leading electric SUV alternative to the Tesla Model Y in the U.S. My quick-take review explains why. The Mustang Mach-E was the No. 3 best selling EV in the U.S. behind the Tesla Model Y and Model 3 respectively in the first quarter of 2025, according to numbers released by Kelley Blue Book. I had the opportunity to drive the 2024 Mach-E for a week. Here are my impressions (Note that the 2025 Mach-E has been slow to arrive at dealers and most are still 'in transit' to dealers in Los Angeles.): Ford Mustang Mach-E in the Mojave Desert. Credit: Brooke Crothers Range: I would suggest looking closely at the Premium trim with 300 miles+ range. Any EV with under 300 miles of range in 2025 is not practical. Styling: it's one of the more attractive EVs out there. Probably one of the reasons it's a bestseller. It's an SUV: This is not your typical Mustang. Being a true SUV – unlike the traditional Mustang – means lots of room inside. Quality: The Mach-E I drove was well screwed together. Needless to say, that matters. Speed: if you opt for the Mach-E Premium all-wheel drive or GT you'll get a very quick EV with lots of acceleration that matches the AWD Model Y and Model Y Performance. The rear-wheel drive trim won't disappoint either. Tesla adapter: Ford had been offering a free NACS adapter for Tesla chargers. It's not free anymore but it's good that Ford offers one. OTA updates: Ford is committed to Over-The-Air updates. That means it's committed to improving Ford's excellent BlueCruise drive-assist technology (see bottom), which is something that competing legacy carmakers are not always consistent about. BlueCruise: Let me address the Mach-E's Advanced Driver Assist System or ADAS separately. An ADAS can essentially drive the car for you in many situations. ADAS is the future of driving (whether you realize or not). I was extremely impressed with BlueCruise. It offers driver assist on both major highways and local roads (the latter via lane-centering). While BlueCruise is not Tesla FSD, it should satisfy most drivers. BlueCruise comes with three months of complimentary service and monthly rates thereafter are $49.99 versus $99 for Tesla FSD. Range on some models: Ford still sells Mach-Es with battery range well below 300 miles. Some as low as 250 miles. Yes, they're cheap but you pay for that with lost range. Low-range Mach-Es include the Mach-E Select and some Mach-E Premium variants. You may be thinking, 'Well, I just drive locally and I can plug it in at home.' But that thinking quickly goes out the window (as my experience shows) when you need an EV for unplanned long-distance drives. And, yes, that happens more often than you may think.
