Tested Review: 2023 Rivian R1T Performance Dual-Motor Hits 60 MPH Before You Finish Reading This Title (by Edmunds)

[popoga]

Almost all AP.

Sponsored

 

[CharonPDX]

So it’s true. The performance dual is only "performance" while in Sport Mode. In All-Purpose mode it’s a standard dual:

"It's 2023 so riding in a 6,760-pound electric truck that hits 60 mph in 4.4 seconds is a casual event. But as quick as that time is, that's what the R1T Performance does in its default drive mode — All-Purpose."

Those of you with Quads, do you use All-Purpose for daily driving, or Sport? If I plan to drive in AP it seems like the $5000 Performance upgrade would be largely lost on me.

Yeah, unless you actually want to use it as a performance vehicle regularly, it's a pointless upgrade.

I've put my truck in Sport mode maybe half a dozen times in almost a year of ownership.

 

[Whataboykie!]

Performance numbers? According to Edmunds, they did a 11.7 run in the 1/4 mile at 110.9 mph with the quad motor truck. I can tell you that mine is quicker. I did 5 runs at Bradenton Sports Park and ran consistent 11.5 seconds. My best run was actually 11.47 seconds, all limited to 110 mph or so.
I could noticeably feel the power decrease about 200 - 250 feet before the end of the 1/4!
I think the truck is capable of low 11's and about 115-120 mph without the top end limiter.
C'mon Rivian, when I bought mine, they said the top speed was 124 mph. Lets just up it to 120 mph please.

 

[InsatiableAmos]

At least for me, Dual-Motor Performance is the only way to get Sub-4s 0-60 AND close to 400mi range (Max pack). I’d have to sacrifice range to go quad-motor.

 

[SDH]

Those of you with Quads, do you use All-Purpose for daily driving, or Sport? If I plan to drive in AP it seems like the $5000 Performance upgrade would be largely lost on me.

done 5k miles in R1T .... 98% of which in AP which suits just fine. I only used sport once on the twisty canyon roads in the dry. Remember, it's still a 5t truck, not a Porsche. Save your $ if I were you.

 

[NineElectrics]

I live in Seattle so there's an argument for offroad on most of our city streets. I use all purpose almost exclusively when in the city and switch to sport when out of the city on smoother roads.

Seattle streets aren’t roads? Please elaborate!

 

[usulio]

The dual-motor (standard) and the quad-motor variants make sense to me. I'm still trying to figure out where the performance model fits in. For $3000 more you can get a quad motor which seems like a good deal but if you are cost sensitive, you are probably going with the standard dual.

Call me cynical, but where it fits in is Rivian gets to pull an extra $5k out of some group of customers (however small) with a simple software switch that costs them nothing.

OP: if you're asking, I doubt you'll miss sport mode. Flooring it in AP is still an experience.

 

[Epicloop]

At least for me, Dual-Motor Performance is the only way to get Sub-4s 0-60 AND close to 400mi range (Max pack). I’d have to sacrifice range to go quad-motor.

Having the R1S & waiting since Nov 2018 on the elusive T max it just feels like the gap between what I ordered & what will be delivered just keeps increasing.
The range increase has been halved from 100mile to 50mile while the cost for that extra range has more than doubled for post March 22 order holders. I just wonder if they cancel the max altogether as they did with the Explore package due to lack of interest (many have already opted for the quad/large pack) and cost/viability.
The ? is losing it appeal but I need the range for towing.

 

[TheIglu]

I haven’t even tried Sport mode … yet.

WAT???

You gotta try "the party trick". My 7 year old begs me to do it for anyone new that goes for a ride.

 

[lawmangm]

So it’s true. The performance dual is only "performance" while in Sport Mode. In All-Purpose mode it’s a standard dual:

"It's 2023 so riding in a 6,760-pound electric truck that hits 60 mph in 4.4 seconds is a casual event. But as quick as that time is, that's what the R1T Performance does in its default drive mode — All-Purpose."

Those of you with Quads, do you use All-Purpose for daily driving, or Sport? If I plan to drive in AP it seems like the $5000 Performance upgrade would be largely lost on me.

I’m in AP 99% of the time.

 

[Ash]

Iiiiinteresting. So even in Quad the performance mode gives extra punch. I'm not sure why that's surprising to me. My intuition was that Sport Mode merely changed the suspension and handling. Now with 20% more torque!

The drive modes are tuned very differently in many ways. The difference in body roll and ability to keep a clean line through twistys is very noticeable between Sport and AP even at the same suspension height (they only share the low setting). The throttle response is super sensitive in Sport, plus it has more peak current. The dampening is stiffer (even when set to "soft"). They're all mapped completely different. This thing really is the Victorinox of EVs. Just consider all the variables they can tweak:

throttle response
power curve
front / rear ratio
left / right ratio (torque vectoring, especially with quad motors)
ride height (which also affects camber)
hydraulic anti roll system (virtual sway bars)
compression damping
rebound damping
regen

It's nuts, but it's awesome. Sometimes I just roll around in rally/high for the smooth trophy truck ride.

 

[cardad]

So it’s true. The performance dual is only "performance" while in Sport Mode. In All-Purpose mode it’s a standard dual:

"It's 2023 so riding in a 6,760-pound electric truck that hits 60 mph in 4.4 seconds is a casual event. But as quick as that time is, that's what the R1T Performance does in its default drive mode — All-Purpose."

Those of you with Quads, do you use All-Purpose for daily driving, or Sport? If I plan to drive in AP it seems like the $5000 Performance upgrade would be largely lost on me.

Sport will wear your tires much faster and even in conserve you have plenty of power compared to everything else on the road. I doubt most people notice the difference between a quad and a dual when driven in the “normal” part of the pedal stroke. Even in sport you absolutely must floor it to get the max torque and that is often pretty jarring and obnoxious for your passengers and possibly others on the road.

For off road use I think the lighter weight more than offsets the extra power. Still need to see a performance review to determine any differences. Many Rivian drivers aren’t that savvy off road to begin with and with the multitude of settings and configurations and the ease in which you can break the tires free it’s not that easy to tease out differences.

 

[AxelR]

AP in the city/town.
Sport everywhere else.

Still not a fan of any suspension setting in any mode.

 

[downranger12]

AP in the city/town.
Sport everywhere else.

Still not a fan of any suspension setting in any mode.

Try conserve, low, stiff if you haven't. My 21s are giving me a great driving experience and 347 miles of range.

 

[usofrob]

The drive modes are tuned very differently in many ways. The difference in body roll and ability to keep a clean line through twistys is very noticeable between Sport and AP even at the same suspension height (they only share the low setting). The throttle response is super sensitive in Sport, plus it has more peak current. The dampening is stiffer (even when set to "soft"). They're all mapped completely different. This thing really is the Victorinox of EVs. Just consider all the variables they can tweak:

throttle response
power curve
front / rear ratio
left / right ratio (torque vectoring, especially with quad motors)
ride height (which also affects camber)
hydraulic anti roll system (virtual sway bars)
compression damping
rebound damping
regen

It's nuts, but it's awesome. Sometimes I just roll around in rally/high for the smooth trophy truck ride.

This is what I've wanted to know for a while. Thank you!

Sponsored