THE PREMIUM ELECTRIC TRUCK THAT JUSTIFIES EVERY DOLLAR OVER ITS RIVALS

The variety of electric vehicles (EVs) hitting the market has increased over the past few years. You've got high-end ones such as the Cadillac Celestiq that's meant to compete with a Rolls-Royce or a Bentley, along with an increasing number of affordable models like the Chevrolet Equinox EV. If you want something rugged and utilitarian, there are also more electric pickups than ever before that are available in both utilitarian and premium segments.

However, most electric pickups today are on the premium end of the market. They already have a higher purchase price than their equivalent gas counterparts, whether with incentives or not. Among the sea of electric pickups already on sale today, this is the model that justifies its positioning versus its rivals.

The Rivian R1T Offers The Best Bang For Your Buck

Among all the premium trucks that are already on sale today, we think that the 2025 Rivian R1T justifies its premium positioning the most. To understand why that's the case, you have to remember that a pickup's primary function is, well, to be functional. Everything else follows through, and here's how the Rivian is able to fulfill just that.

Functionality At Its Core

The Rivian R1T was built from the get-go to be an adventure vehicle, and that's something that this electric pickup truly excels in. We've mentioned numerous times already how an EV that's built on top of a bespoke EV platform has tons of packaging advantages over an EV that uses an internal combustion engine (ICE) car platform that's merely adopted for EV use. Unsurprisingly, the R1T is the former, and as a result, this electric pickup has unparalleled functionality that its rivals--including the Tesla Cybertruck, don't provide.

One of the highlights of the 2025 Rivian R1T is its Gear Tunnel--a long storage area located between the cab and the rear axle. This was made possible thanks to the fact that the R1T doesn't need to accommodate a driveshaft. Gear Tunnel isn't even gimmicky because, with a voluminous 11.7 cubic feet of storage, its utility is unparalleled among pickups.

As a midsize pickup, its bed may not be the biggest versus the full-size F-150 Lightning or even its chief rival, the Tesla Cybertruck, but once again, it has a lot of clever features and storage space to compensate. The automated tailgate's gooseneck hinge enables you to maximize the bed's length, and the spare tire is located right underneath the bed floor. It doesn't just have a rear 120-volt power outlet, but it also has a built-in air compressor and bidirectional charging (otherwise known as vehicle-to-load or V2L). Finally, that same level of space ingenuity is found inside, wherein the rear under-seat storage is plentiful, and there are clever storage nooks where hidden features are placed, such as the built-in LED flashlight on the doors.

You Can Build On Top Of That Functionality

But what's truly even more impressive is how Rivian lets you build on top of the R1T's functional storage spaces to make this electric truck even more appealing. Remember that long Gear Tunnel storage area? Radical ideas were promised by Rivian to maximize its potential, but that was scaled down from the Camp Kitchen to the far simpler Travel Kitchen. This foldable induction stove costs $1,400, and it fits perfectly in the Gear Tunnel. It can also be used in other Rivian vehicles, too, hence this accessory being highly favored over the more complex Camp Kitchen.

The Gear Tunnel storage also gives you a place to store your optional Cargo Crossbars. These easily clip onto your R1T's roof or even your truck's bed, thanks to the adjustable telescoping fit. The Cargo Crossbars can also hold 250 pounds of gear while in motion, or up to 600 pounds when using the rooftop tent. Finally, some of the clever interior storage spaces can house an optional Camp Speaker, which is basically a wireless Bluetooth-enabled speaker that fits like a glove in the car's center console where it also gets charged when not in use.

Performance With Form

The 2025 Rivian R1T may have a lot of functionality and practicality, but all of this goes to waste if the pickup isn't capable of performing well, right? Thankfully, for as long as you avoid the base R1T Dual Standard and its so-so EPA-estimated range, you're getting a highly-capable electric pickup.

R1T Dual Max Is The Best Variant

A pickup's main duty is to be a functional vehicle, and the R1T Dual Max will fit your bill the most. The R1T Dual Max has the best combination of performance and range, since it's rated by the EPA to go 420 miles out of its 149 kWh battery. The Dual Max isn't short on power, either. No one ever said that 533 horsepower and 610 pound-feet of torque wasn't enough, nor is its impressive 4.5-second 0-60 mph acceleration time. Of course, there are faster, more powerful variants, including an obscenely powerful Quad variant with four electric motors that's good enough for a whopping 1,025 horsepower.

Performance Specifications

*Depending on the variant and when properly equipped

It Ranks Highly Versus Its Bigger Rivals

The 2025 Rivian R1T is in an odd position size-wise, because all of its key rivals are full-size pickups. Despite that, the R1T manages to stand strong and capable despite being on the smaller end of the electric pickup segment. The Cybertruck may have a higher payload, but its bed design limits the kind of cargo you can haul. The F-150 Lightning may be physically bigger than the R1T, but it has a lower maximum towing capacity. Yes, the R1T may be the smallest of the group, but it's by no means a less capable electric truck.

*Depending on the variant and when properly equipped

It Looks Great Inside And Out

Finally, a pickup should make a bold statement--one that easily grabs attention without looking obnoxious. That's what the 2025 Rivian R1T, as well as its siblings, thankfully posses. There's plenty of charm surrounding this truck, whether inside or outside.

Sleek, Minimalist Exterior

The 2025 Rivian R1T has the brand's signature minimalist design philosophy that's still fused with a lot of character. There's a horizontal light bar stretching across its face that connects the vertical LED headlights. The overall flat body panels give the R1T a very clean aesthetic, and that's complemented by snazzy wheels ranging from 20 to 22 inches. At the back, the horizontal LED light strip is mirrored to give this truck's design a sense of unification.

While the R1T has remained largely unchanged design-wise, the 2025 update brings a host of under-the-skin updates. The simplified electronics architecture has reduced the ECU count from 17 to just seven, while 44 pounds of wiring have been removed as well. This has resulted in increased computer and processor speeds. The Rivian Autonomy Platform is your suite of ADAS that's fitted as standard, which includes blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, and the Highway Assist hands-free driving. This is upgradeable to the Rivian Autonomy Platform+, which adds hands-free lane changes and Enhanced Highway Assist.

A Homey Interior With A Cute Mascot

Likewise forming a part of its minimalist design is its overall interior vibe. It is well-made with a combination of plush and sustainable materials ranging from real or synthetic leather, as well as a large expanse of wood. It's also durable, too, as Rivian has really designed this vehicle with outdoor use in mind. There's also a ton of standard features that will keep everyone happy, from the new electrochromic panoramic sunroof whose opacity can be adjusted, as well as two screens that act as the vehicle's central nervous system.

The software behind these screens is Google's Android Automotive, and though it doesn't come with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, the software is snazzy and responsive enough to be pleasant to use. Acting as the face of all Rivian vehicles is what you call Gear Guard, a fuzzy sasquatch that takes care of your R1T when you're away. Gear Guard is just the tip of the software icebeg as Rivian has designed its operating system is very video game-like. The graphics are powered by Epic Games' Unreal Engine, and that's why all the software functions, such as the display for the semi-autonomous driver assistance features and the various drive modes, are all presented in a very game-like fashion.

2025-01-07T08:13:55Z