The 2023 Rivian R1T is an adventure-seeker’s dream

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The first decade of the 21st-century electric-vehicle revolution has been dominated by urban-centric EVs, primarily to address and accommodate limited range and nascent charging infrastructure. But with improvements in batteries and efficiencies, along with a steadily expanding public charging network, electric-vehicle owners are increasingly travelling further afield.

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Now comes a vehicle designed and built with not just EV road-tripping in mind, but with back-country exploring as part of its very DNA. The Rivian R1T pickup is one of the two EVs the California-based automaker has brought to market, joining the R1S Sport Utility Vehicle. Both are being delivered to customers in Vancouver now, with Toronto deliveries expected later this year; and Calgary and Montreal customers receiving their units early next year.

I recently wrote a review of the R1S, which I drove the day after spending some quality time in the R1T. Though each share many components and features, it was the pickup truck that stood out for me. The Rivian sport-ute is certainly an impressive vehicle, as I reported in my review, but it is the R1T’s adventure-oriented features that make it not only the best all-electric pickup truck out there — admittedly, the sample size is small — but also, I would argue, the best off-the-factory-floor pickup truck available in Canada for those who want to explore the great outdoors. Before we get to those features, let’s look at the mechanical underpinnings of the R1T, which it shares with its SUV stablemate.

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What makes the Rivian R1T built for the back country?

My tester had an estimated price of $129,800, and came with the large battery pack, quad-motor AWD, 20-inch all-terrain wheels, the adventure package, and adventure gear, including a reinforced underbody shield, tow hooks, and a manual tonneau cover.

Rivian describes the R1T and R1S as “high-performance electric adventure vehicles,” and that starts with an all-wheel-drive powertrain, independent air suspension, and hydraulic roll control, all standard on every Rivian. Like most every EV manufacturer today, Rivian uses a skateboard architecture that incorporates the battery pack, drive units, suspension and lower body structure. This translates to a low centre of gravity which provides great stability on both highway and logging road, and allows for a flat-floor cabin and, in the case of the R1T, the oh-so-clever gear tunnel (more on that later).

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The quad-motor all-wheel-drive powertrain is an upgrade over the standard dual-motor all-wheel-drive system, and independently adjusts torque at all four wheels, enabling four-wheel torque-vectoring. Power output is a stunning 835 horsepower and 908 lb-ft of torque, which explains the reported near-three-second dash to 100 km/h from a standstill, but more importantly for back-country adventurers, torque to spare when it comes to tackling rough roads.

Adding to that driving confidence on all kinds of surfaces and conditions are nine driving modes: All-Purpose; Sport; Conserve; Towing; Off-Road All-Terrain; Off-Road Drift; Off-Road Rock Crawl; Off-Road Rally; and Off-Road Soft Sand and Snow. Each mode has its own optimal settings for ride height, suspension, power delivery, and throttle mapping.

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Another off-road friendly aspect of the drivetrain is something designed more with congested traffic in mind: one-pedal driving. The R1T has very, very aggressive regenerative braking in All-Purpose mode, to the point of approaching one-pedal driving. This self-braking feature — lift your foot off the accelerator and the vehicle slows to a crawl — is very useful when on logging roads, and, combined with that big, instantaneous torque, provides a sure-footed and confident driving manner.

What is the battery size and full-charge range of the big battery, quad-motor R1T?

Our tester came with the larger of the two battery choices, a 135-kWh lithium-ion pack. The standard size is 105 kWh. Rivian, like Tesla, has put a lot of work into proprietary software when it comes to battery management, and according to the company, its optimized thermal control allows towing on steep grades. Cell temperatures are also constantly monitored and controlled to enhance battery performance and extend driving range. There is high-power DC fast-charging at over 200nkW.

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As to ranges for the models, our quad-motor tester has an estimated EPA number of 527 kilometres; the dual-motor and the performance dual-motor offer a Rivian-estimated range of 644 km. What makes those big range numbers intriguing is the towing potential of the R1T. Rivian reports a 4,990-kg (11,000-lb) towing capacity, and the conventional thinking about towing with an EV is that it halves the range, so the R1T’s ranges mean you aren’t punished too much when you hook up a boat or trailer. The drivetrain configuration currently available to Canadian customers is the quad-motor, but Rivian says dual-motor units will begin shipping in the coming months.

The R1T is not only the best all-electric pickup truck out there, but also the best off-the-factory-floor pickup truck for those who want to explore the great outdoors

What are the adventure-related features of the Rivian R1T?

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Okay, now to the fun stuff. Let’s start with that gear tunnel. Accessed via two small doors located behind the rear doors, this a 1.7-metre space running the width of the truck and boasting 328 litres of storage, and a max payload of 113 kilograms. In addition, those small doors double as seats and steps to access roof storage, and one of them contains a first-aid kit. Ask anyone who camps out, and a vehicle’s secure storage space is paramount, particularly in a pickup truck, and this brilliant tunnel is just one of many places to stuff gear.

The frunk is 314 litres deep, and the truck bed incorporates a gooseneck hinge system that extends the bed from 1.37 metres; to 2.12 metres with the tailgate down. Lift the bed floor, and you’ll find 405 litres of weatherproof and lockable storage space. And like the frunk, there is a drain plug.

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Inside the cabin, there are plenty of cubbies and door spaces for gear; each front seat has a pullout drawer, and the rear seat cushion folds up to expose yet another place to put stuff. Suffice it to say, you’ll probably run out of gear before you run out of storage space. And in case you forgot your flashlight, there’s one stored in the driver door; plus, the very cool wireless Camp Speaker doubles as a lantern.

Back to the bed: there is a built-in air compressor with a six-metre hose, which not only allows you to inflate your tires after softening them up for some off-road excursions, but with the provided adapters, saves your lungs and leg muscles when inflating bike tires, rafts, and air mattresses.

The adventure package adds gear-guard security cables for tie-downs in the bed that are cut-resistant and lock directly to the bed wall. I used these to secure a whitewater kayak, and they worked like a charm and brought the peace of mind that no one could steal the boat. The cabin is also adventure-proofed, with premium materials that are designed with mud, water, and sand in mind. All are weather-resistant and clean up with a wipe.

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Is the Rivian R1T the best all-electric pickup truck?

If your pickup plans include off-roading, camping, and taking the paths least travelled, then yes, it is. Everything about the design, inside and out, feels like it has been thoroughly thought out. And those unique features like the gear tunnel, camp speaker and built-in air compressor will have you the envy of the campground.

Yes, its sticker price, particularly as my tester was outfitted, is more than the Ford F-150 Lightning’s and Chevrolet Silverado EV’s, and we can safely assume the Ram 1500 REV’s. However, with its superior range, performance numbers, drivetrain, and straight-from-the-factory unique features, the R1S is the reigning EV truck champion.