The automotive world is slowly but surely shifting towards electric vehicles. More and more people are starting to adopt EVs as their mode of transportation. Of course, customers are like likely to choose EVs that would satisfy their needs and wants. It seems that the Rivian R1T electric pickup truck is the most satisfying EV to own this 2023.
Since the onset of this decade, carmakers have been bombarding customers with new EVs. Many of these electric cars directly compete with vehicles with internal combustion engines. Moreover, they have several features and elements never before seen in ICE vehicles. Nevertheless, with the onslaught of new EVs in the market, potential buyers may find it difficult to choose which they should buy.
Potential buyers, however, may turn to the most recent customers who bought EVs in the past year. These current owners are now able to tell their overall experience. J.D. Power compiled these experiences and translated them into satisfaction ratings. This should allow potential buyers to choose which EVs are the most satisfying to own in 2023.
Why The Rivian R1T Is Better Than Rival EVs
It is undeniable that Tesla Motors played a big part in pioneering the current EV revolution. Until Tesla, customers were adamant to consider EVs, no thanks to different factors such as lack of charging infrastructure and range anxiety. But Tesla proved EVs can be the future, and other carmakers started following the trend.
Interestingly, Tesla wasn’t the first carmaker to unveil an EV pickup truck. While Tesla unveiled its still-not-on-the-market Cybertruck in November 2019, Rivian Motors unveiled its R1T EV truck and R1S EV SUV a year earlier. Unlike the Cybertruck, though, the R1T still looks like the traditional pickup truck. While the R1T isn’t the first EV truck, it offers a combination of impressive performance and clever design.
Aside from the Rivian R1T, other EV trucks have already arrived in the market. These include the Ford F-150 and GMC Hummer. Soon, it will face harsher competition from the Chevrolet Silverado EV, GMC Colorado EV, and the Ram 1500 Revolution. The Cybertruck may count itself as a rival, but production issues are making customers impatient. The R1T answered the call for EV trucks, and soon, more will follow.
Rivian R1T Tops JD Power's Recent Ownership Study
Quite a number of Rivian R1Ts are now roaming the streets. They have been doing so since 2021, which means owners already have enough time to get to know their vehicles better. This means that the R1T is now eligible for inclusion in J.D. Power’s U.S. Electric Vehicle Experience (EVX) Ownership Study.
J.D. Power’s EVX Ownership Study measures EV owner satisfaction, with focus on the first year of ownership. For 2023, the study surveyed 7,073 owners of 2022 and 2023 model-year BEVs and PHEVs from August through December 2022.
To measure EV owner satisfaction in both premium and mass market segments, the 2023 study included 10 factors: accuracy of stated battery range; availability of public charging stations; battery range; cost of ownership; driving enjoyment; ease of charging at home; interior and exterior styling; safety and technology features; service experience; and vehicle quality and reliability.
According to the study, the R1T ranks highest overall and in the premium segment with a satisfaction score of 794 on a 1,000-point scale. The R1T topped seven of the 10 factors that influence the overall ownership experience, including vehicle quality and reliability, cost of ownership, and driving enjoyment.
Following the R1T were the Tesla Model 3 (759), Tesla Model Y (754), Audi e-tron (735), Polestar 2 (724). Interestingly, the premium segment has a high score average at 756.
R1T Has The EV Goods To Satisfy Its Owners
Powered by either two or four electric motors, the R1T can be as potent as 835 hp of max output. It can go as quick as three seconds, making it quicker than most pickup trucks in the market and on the road. It offers considerable range depending on battery pack and motor configuration, delivering between 260 and 400 miles of travel distance.
Furthermore, it can put a Ram 1500 TRX to shame, and is even off-road capable thanks to adjustable air suspension, available all-terrain tires, and carbon-fiber underbody shield. An outdoor enthusiast’s dream pickup, the R1T can maneuver through a water depth of three feet, and even rock crawl at a 100% grade.
Utility-wise, the R1T offers more than 62 cubic feet of storage, as spread between the truck bed, front trunk, rear storage bin, under-seat compartments, center console, and gear tunnel. Its gear tunnel is a surprise feature, adding more storage space. Rivian says the R1T has a towing capacity of 11,000 lbs and a payload capacity of 1,760 lbs. Range may drop when the EV truck is doing heavy jobs, though.
Inside, the R1T doesn’t have the usual aura of a rugged truck. Instead, the cabin is luxurious, laden with high-tech elements such leather, wood, a massive 16.0-inch infotainment system, and a separate digital gauge display. In fact, J.D. Power classifies the R1T as a premium vehicle.
Source: Rivian, J.D. Power