What Are the Pros and Cons of Rivian EVs?
Pros:
- Cutting-edge electric vehicle technology
- Unmatched off-road capabilities
- Sustainable and eco-friendly design
Cons:
- Expensive
- No Apple CarPlay or Android Auto
- Unknown company future
Rivian EV Models
R1T: The groundbreaking electric pickup truck:
Rivian’s first production vehicle, the R1T, was also the first electric pickup truck on the market and established the automaker as a leader in electric vehicles. Aiming to evolve the pickup truck, the Rivian R1T impresses with its futuristic design and practical storage features–like the “gear tunnel,” which opens storage space between the cab and pickup bed.
The innovative engineering behind the R1T makes it incredibly capable off-road, as Ewan McGregor showed in his “Long Way Up” documentary. In its Quad Max trim, the R1T has four electric motors, one for each wheel, giving the Rivian truck incredible control and traction on any surface. In the more pedestrian dual-motor trim and equipped with the max pack battery, the R1T delivers a 420-mile range. It was updated for the 2025 model year with significant improvements to its electrical architecture, which in turn enhances both performance and range.
R1S: The all-electric SUV with a spacious interior
Building on the success of the R1T, Rivian released the R1S SUV based on the same pickup truck platform. Just as capable on- and off-road, the R1S trades a pickup bed for a third row of seats. The R1S is a comfortable three-row SUV with a panoramic sunroof and nicely trimmed vegan leather interior.
The performance the R1S delivers puts it in a class of its own. Like the R1T, the R1S received significant updates to its electrical architecture for the 2025 model year, improving its performance and range. The Quad Max trim will produce 1,200 horsepower from four electric motors, allowing it to sprint from zero to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds. In the less-powerful dual-motor trim and equipped with the max pack battery, the R1S delivers a 410-mile range.
Rivian R2: Smaller and more affordable
The upcoming R2 is a smaller SUV that expands Rivian’s lineup. The R2 SUV is a two-row, five-passenger EV with innovative features. All of the seats in this model fold flat, which, combined with a sleeping bag and/or an air mattress, makes for easy in-car camping. Throw in a full-glass panoramic roof, and stargazing is possible, too.
Otherwise, the R2 looks like it will offer the same experience as the R1S, with friendly styling, a spacious interior, and off-road capability, all in a smaller, cheaper package.
Rivian R3: Did someone say Lancia?
The concept that no one expected but nevertheless captured the attention of the automotive world is the R3. This compact, four-door crossover was revealed at the launch of the R2 in March 2024, and it’s built on the same mid-size platform.
It features the distinctive Rivian front end on a retro-cool hatchback body reminiscent of the Lancia Delta Integrale. Throw in Rivian’s powerful Tri-Motor drivetrain, and the R3 promises to be incredibly fun to drive.
Rivian Charging Network
Charging Infrastructure: Like Tesla, Rivian is building and expanding a network of DC fast-charging stations known as the Rivian Adventure Network. These chargers are exclusive to Rivian vehicles and are powered by 100% renewable energy.
These thoughtfully designed chargers are being installed along popular routes and highways. Many of the Adventure Network stations accommodate a pull-through spot for those towing, a helpful touch since the Rivian R1 can tow up to 11,000 pounds.
Rivian Waypoints are also available. These are a network of Level 2 chargers, perfect for topping up while you are eating dinner or running some errands. Rivians currently use the CCS (Combined Charging System) charging standard, allowing the use of many public chargers including Blink, Chargepoint, and Electrify America.
Tesla Supercharging Compatability: The biggest news for Rivian is their adoption of the Tesla NACS (North American Charging System) charging standard, which lets Rivian owners leverage the Tesla Supercharger network.
Starting in 2025, Rivians will come from the factory with this new charge port, allowing easy access to Superchargers. However, if you own a Rivian equipped with the CCS plug, you still can utilize the Supercharger network with an adapter. Charging will be a breeze no matter which charging port your Rivian has, as an adapter will be all you need to charge at any station you can find.
Fast Charging: Having the ability to DC fast charge at a variety of stations, whether Tesla Supercharger or Electrify America, allows Rivians to be quite the road-trip machines. When using a DC fast charger, it is possible to add up to 140 miles of range in as little as 20 minutes. Remember that Level 2 chargers are much slower and can take up to 15 hours for a full charge.
Rivian background
Founding: Rivian was founded in Florida by CEO RJ Scaringe in 2009, with a focus on autonomous and electric vehicles. The company was born as Mainstream Motors, then rebranded Avera Automotive, and finally became Rivian Automotive in 2011.
As the EV startup grew, it added offices in Michigan and the San Francisco Bay Area in 2015. By 2017, Rivian had established its main manufacturing plant in Normal, Illinois. All Rivians are currently built in the Illinois plant, while the corporate headquarters are located in Irvine, California.
IPO: 2021 marked a major milestone for Rivian: It became a public company through an initial public offering (IPO). The Rivian Automotive stock, RIVN, initially jumped but has since fallen in value. As the automaker continues to expand its lineup, we may see RIVN bounce back.
Prototypes: Rivian’s first prototype, the R1, was originally designed as a sports car. However, this electric car prototype was shelved to focus on a pickup truck and SUV with broader market appeal.
The R1T pickup truck and R1S SUV were unveiled in 2018 at the LA Auto Show, promising adventure-ready EVs with blistering acceleration. Delivery of the R1T started at the end of 2021, with the R1S SUV arriving in the summer of 2022.
Partnerships With Other Brands: Rivian has built some very strong partnerships in the automotive industry over the years. In 2019, Ford invested $500 million into Rivian, which included a partnership to develop Ford’s next-generation EV platform. Ford eventually shifted their electric vehicle development in a different direction, but the legacy automaker still holds a 10% stake in the new-to-market EV maker.
Amazon and Rivian launched a partnership in 2019 to build and develop an all-electric delivery van (EDV) with the goal of placing 100,000 electric commercial vans on the road by 2030. This partnership was a result of Amazon’s Climate Pledge of 2019, which made a commitment to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2040.
These vans feature a suite of active safety features, as well as embedded technology to improve the workflow of the delivery van from routing to package organization. The co-developed Rivian EDVs hit the road in 2022 and are in use in most major cities across the country.
The vans were also the first Rivians on the road in Europe, requiring the automaker to open a service center in Dusseldorf, Germany, to maintain its European fleet. As of 2023, Rivian had ended its exclusive agreement with Amazon, allowing other companies to purchase the EDV.
In June of 2024, Rivian announced a joint venture with German automaker Volkswagen aimed at developing electrical architecture and software technology. Volkswagen plans to invest up to $5 billion in this partnership over the next few years.
This is an appealing partnership for both Rivian and Volkswagen: the generation-two R1 Platform showcases Rivian’s impressive engineering, significantly reducing and simplifying the electrical architecture of the platform.
