2023 AAA Car Guide Winner: 1st Place Pickup

The Rivian R1T is an innovatively designed, versatile electric pickup with lots of power and many clever features. Our test truck came with a powerful and responsive quadmotor setup – a single motor per wheel – good for more than 800 hp and 4-wheel drive.

The R1T’s cabin provides plenty of room for passengers. The steering has a good overall feel, and the adaptable air suspension delivers a comfortable ride – rare among pickups. Unique features include Camp Mode, Pet Comfort Mode, and Soft Sand Mode. An excellent lineup of ADAS features is standard. Road and drivetrain noise intrude into the cabin, however. The EV range is good – more than 300 miles if you’re not towing a heavy load – but the large, 135-kWh battery requires long Level 2 charging times.

Clever features include a gear tunnel between the cabin and bed, suitable for snowboards, camping gear, and the like; an automated, camera-based security system; a power-retractable tonneau cover; and a good-size front trunk. The auto self-leveling suspension provides a level camping surface atop uneven terrain. The R1T’s enormous 16-inch infotainment screen can prove distracting, however. And, oddly, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity are unavailable. We also noticed a fair amount of squeaks and rattles during our testing, indicative of early build quality issues. Finally, the panoramic sunroof has no shade option, and rear visibility could be better.