Rivian R1T (pickup) vs. R1S (SUV) for "overlanding"

[jkam]

First Rivian rolls off the production line.

Rivian's first R1T electric pickup truck rolls off the production line

The era of the all-electric pickup truck has drawn a great deal closer today, with the very first vehicle rolling off the production line at Rivian's factory in Illinois, as revealed by CEO RJ Scaringe on Twitter. The arrival of the R1T comes just a few years after the EV-startup introduced its…

newatlas.com

 

[Grassland]

Just played with the builder online. In CAD my truck of choice cost more than my remaining mortgage. It's going to be a decade before regular folk can buy electric trucks and SUVs it seems.
We can't justify $115k for any vehicle, nor comfortably afford that and we are in the higher median for income in our province.

 

[MarcusBrody]

Just played with the builder online. In CAD my truck of choice cost more than my remaining mortgage. It's going to be a decade before regular folk can buy electric trucks and SUVs it seems.
We can't justify $115k for any vehicle, nor comfortably afford that and we are in the higher median for income in our province.

Ford's Lightning XLT starts at 68k in Canada, though to get the Rivian to the 115k range, I assume that you checked a good number of boxes on the Rivian (fancier trim, max pack battery, off road package), so the Ford XLT might be below what you're aiming for. Still a similar configuration (XLT, crew cab, 4x4) ICE truck starts at 51k. Knock a 2.5-5k off the Lightning for point of sale tax credits and you're looking at a 12-15k difference in price. That's certainly not nothing, but I would expect that you will recoup that over the life span of the vehicle just in fuel savings, much less any ancillary benefits (no oil changes, much rarer brake replacement, etc.). I would expect that anyone who could afford a new F150 Crew Cab 4x4 could afford the electric version.

 

[Grassland]

Ford's Lightning XLT starts at 68k in Canada, though to get the Rivian to the 115k range, I assume that you checked a good number of boxes on the Rivian (fancier trim, max pack battery, off road package), so the Ford XLT might be below what you're aiming for. Still a similar configuration (XLT, crew cab, 4x4) ICE truck starts at 51k. Knock a 2.5-5k off the Lightning for point of sale tax credits and you're looking at a 12-15k difference in price. That's certainly not nothing, but I would expect that you will recoup that over the life span of the vehicle just in fuel savings, much less any ancillary benefits (no oil changes, much rarer brake replacement, etc.). I would expect that anyone who could afford a new F150 Crew Cab 4x4 could afford the electric version.

from what I can tell the F150 isn't on the list of electric vehicles that qualify for Canadian tax grants. As well we have a price cut off of $55k, so vehicles that don't seat seven that cost more than 55k don't qualify for incentives.
The Rivian started at 90k Canadian and I did click on options that we would realistically want, and things quickly got out of hand.

 

[texascrane]

I also think it's safe to say that Rivian with the R1T/S, Rivian is targeting more of the Land Rover market, not the F150 market (although there's certainly some cross-over in price points these days - pickups have gotten expensive). The R1T/S is a halo vehicle and they'll offer vehicles at lower price points in the future. Tesla did something similar by offering the S and X and then introducing the 3 and Y.

 

[MarcusBrody]

from what I can tell the F150 isn't on the list of electric vehicles that qualify for Canadian tax grants. As well we have a price cut off of $55k, so vehicles that don't seat seven that cost more than 55k don't qualify for incentives.
The Rivian started at 90k Canadian and I did click on options that we would realistically want, and things quickly got out of hand.

I'll be interested to see if they release a version that is under $55k to qualify (which I believe Tesla did with some model). Ford is releasing a version in the US that could be under that cost threshold without funny business, so it seems silly not to release it in Canada. I'll be curious to see if it ends up on the list when it's actually released for orders (though the the Cybertruck is on the list as a pre-order, which Tesla claims it is despite being in about the same place as the Ford).

I suspect that the Ford could get out of hand too, but the base model also looks like a pretty cool vehicle (and to me, the base Rivian looks awesome with maybe just the off road wheels and underprotection added, though that's still pricier than I'd want to pay). There are a lot of people driving trucks in the price range of the Lightning, so I expect to see a lot of them.

 

[Todd780]

from what I can tell the F150 isn't on the list of electric vehicles that qualify for Canadian tax grants. As well we have a price cut off of $55k, so vehicles that don't seat seven that cost more than 55k don't qualify for incentives.
The Rivian started at 90k Canadian and I did click on options that we would realistically want, and things quickly got out of hand.

Yup. I did the same. If I was ever in the market for a 115 K electric truck, I think I'd look at the Hummer 1st over the Rivian.

Nothing against the Rivian, I think it's a fine truck it's just due to dealer network / serviceability for the GM.

 

[Todd780]

I'll be interested to see if they release a version that is under $55k to qualify (which I believe Tesla did with some model). Ford is releasing a version in the US that could be under that cost threshold without funny business, so it seems silly not to release it in Canada. I'll be curious to see if it ends up on the list when it's actually released for orders (though the the Cybertruck is on the list as a pre-order, which Tesla claims it is despite being in about the same place as the Ford).

I suspect that the Ford could get out of hand too, but the base model also looks like a pretty cool vehicle (and to me, the base Rivian looks awesome with maybe just the off road wheels and underprotection added, though that's still pricier than I'd want to pay). There are a lot of people driving trucks in the price range of the Lightning, so I expect to see a lot of them.

I believe the Lightning 'Platinum' or 'Limited'.........whatever it's called will be north of 100K in Canada as well. All way too rich for my blood.

And I'm just not sold on 100% pure EV yet. Hybrid sure. EV maybe a few more years....

 

[MarcusBrody]

I believe the Lightning 'Platinum' or 'Limited'.........whatever it's called will be north of 100K in Canada as well. All way too rich for my blood.

And I'm just not sold on 100% pure EV yet. Hybrid sure. EV maybe a few more years....

I imagined that I would have one more ICE (or hybrid) vehicle before going full electric, but now I'm not so sure. I outside of Las Vegas, where gas is expensive by electricity (esp. in my town) is cheap and from hydro. We basically do three types of trips. Most my my exploring is done on day trips and the range of current electric trucks would be totally sufficient. I bet I rarely go over 200 miles. Push that a bit farther and you have weekend trips, a lot of which are really in the same range as day trips, but you can add Zion/Death Valley/Joshua Tree, all of which are within 200 miles (one way), so I'd need one (possibly quick) charge round trip. Obviously if I wanted to do substantial off road driving at the end point, I would need to be more careful with charging. The third type of vehicle supported adventure we do are very long, meandering multiweek road trips to see my parents in the East, but which we go via the Pacific NW/Idaho/MT/etc.. There are a lot of dirt roads and remote camping on these trips, but then you pass TR National Park in ND and it's mostly highway and campgrounds for the rest of the way. An electric vehicle probably wouldn't be the best for these trips still as we wouldn't be able to charge at the end of the day.

We have two vehicles though, and we could at first keep taking the long road trips in our current van, while doing the others in an electric truck. I think that electrification is starting to hit a tipping point, so I suspect that within a few years most places I would worry about now won't be problems for electric vehicles. I tend to keep my vehicles a long time, so I'd be basically buying now with the assumption that I'd be using it for 10+ years and the second half of that would have less inconveniences than the first.

My original plan was to buy a cheap, stopgap truck/SUV, use it for 3-5 years, then replace it with something electric, but with used prices so high I'm looking more at new vehicles, and then I start thinking if I want to be driving an ICE vehicle in 10-12 years. I do agree that there are some compelling hybrid options now. I was discussing it somewhere else on these forums, but I love the van form factors for travel, so the new hybrid Sienna looks pretty great. Add a Journeys lift and you have pretty much the ideal dirt road trip car. The new Maverick also looks really good to me as an efficient dirt road trip vehicle if they come out with a AWD hybrid version. So we will see!

 

[Todd780]

I imagined that I would have one more ICE (or hybrid) vehicle before going full electric, but now I'm not so sure. I outside of Las Vegas, where gas is expensive by electricity (esp. in my town) is cheap and from hydro. We basically do three types of trips. Most my my exploring is done on day trips and the range of current electric trucks would be totally sufficient. I bet I rarely go over 200 miles. Push that a bit farther and you have weekend trips, a lot of which are really in the same range as day trips, but you can add Zion/Death Valley/Joshua Tree, all of which are within 200 miles (one way), so I'd need one (possibly quick) charge round trip. Obviously if I wanted to do substantial off road driving at the end point, I would need to be more careful with charging. The third type of vehicle supported adventure we do are very long, meandering multiweek road trips to see my parents in the East, but which we go via the Pacific NW/Idaho/MT/etc.. There are a lot of dirt roads and remote camping on these trips, but then you pass TR National Park in ND and it's mostly highway and campgrounds for the rest of the way. An electric vehicle probably wouldn't be the best for these trips still as we wouldn't be able to charge at the end of the day.

We have two vehicles though, and we could at first keep taking the long road trips in our current van, while doing the others in an electric truck. I think that electrification is starting to hit a tipping point, so I suspect that within a few years most places I would worry about now won't be problems for electric vehicles. I tend to keep my vehicles a long time, so I'd be basically buying now with the assumption that I'd be using it for 10+ years and the second half of that would have less inconveniences than the first.

My original plan was to buy a cheap, stopgap truck/SUV, use it for 3-5 years, then replace it with something electric, but with used prices so high I'm looking more at new vehicles, and then I start thinking if I want to be driving an ICE vehicle in 10-12 years. I do agree that there are some compelling hybrid options now. I was discussing it somewhere else on these forums, but I love the van form factors for travel, so the new hybrid Sienna looks pretty great. Add a Journeys lift and you have pretty much the ideal dirt road trip car. The new Maverick also looks really good to me as an efficient dirt road trip vehicle if they come out with a AWD hybrid version. So we will see!

Agree. At some point this year I think I will be replacing my current truck. (inventory shortage not withstanding) I'd go PHEV but I don't think anyone will offer that by that time.

So, this next truck will be gas powered. Possibly the one after that electric if more infrastructure is set up.

For me a lot of our travel is rural while towing a 5,000 lbs travel trailer. So, I'd want to see some charge stations set up in small towns before I felt comfortable.

Day to day it could work for me now. It's the travel where I'd have issues.

 

[MarcusBrody]

Agree. At some point this year I think I will be replacing my current truck. (inventory shortage not withstanding) I'd go PHEV but I don't think anyone will offer that by that time.

So, this next truck will be gas powered. Possibly the one after that electric if more infrastructure is set up.

For me a lot of our travel is rural while towing a 5,000 lbs travel trailer. So, I'd want to see some charge stations set up in small towns before I felt comfortable.

Day to day it could work for me now. It's the travel where I'd have issues.

I don't tow anything right now, but I have the same worries about rural travel. But I would consider going electric now and just using the van for long rural trips. It limits how hairy the route can be, but

I was really excited for PHEVs, but now I'm not as sure. I thought the PHEV Wrangler was going to be the perfect vehicle (or it would be in Gladiator form), but the mileage being lower than other standard engines when it isn't running on full battery somewhat put me off that. I like the Pacifica PHEV a lot (again, love those vans...) and it how has a Journey lift for a bit of extra ground clearance, but the PHEV doesn't come in AWD. Overall that might be fine as we're more often ground clearance than traction limited on our adventures.

 

[Grassland]

Outside of towing our trailer for road trips or even some of our longer distance long weekend trips, the Rivian could do everything, for a personal vehicle.
My gas 3.7 F150 is my former fleet vehicle for work, which currently does tow duty and otherwise usually doesn't go anywhere.
In theory the Rivian COULD replace my Wife's 2019 Grand Cherokee 3.6, but she loves it too much and it's paid off. As that vehicle is used as the daily and some day trips.
An electric F150 with a real bed and not a crew cab might be workable for the business, but the electric Transit commercial van would be perfect. (Especially since the 2018 Transit 250 3.7 we have now averages 16l/100 and gas has jumped to $1.42 a liter) Unfortunately seeing these price premiums, we'll be stuck burning fuel for quite some time yet.

 

[Ultima Thule]

I think the Rivian R1T looks great, been watching them since they were first announced. If I were to be in the market for an electric vehicle, it would likely be my first choice. Unless I could get a 4xe Gladiator probably. The thing is, there is no infrastructure in rural Tennessee, and I don’t see it happening very quickly. I have contacted both Tesla and ElectrifyAmerica to attempt to get chargers at my restaurant, in a tourist area. Neither has seen fit to even return my call and email requests.

I would honestly like to have an R1T, but don’t see how it would work for me as an only vehicle. And that is kind of aggravating…I really, really like the idea of the truck, and I think it is very good looking, unlike the nightmare inducing Cybertruck whatsit.

And that is to say nothing about the infrastructure requirements for the power grid to supply all these things. I am a complete layman, but it would seem to require some rather major improvements to our systems nationwide. We will probably get a good feel for the issues when California loses what little is left of its mind and goes all electric soon.

 

[plainjaneFJC]

Looks like the 400 mile version is at least one more year away according to TFL yesterday

 

[Ultima Thule]

And I think I saw it is an additional $10,000 on top of the base price. Yikes. I’d probably stick with the base model 300 mile range. Or spend the same $10k on other options More likely. Unless I won the lottery, in which case I’d max that sucker out!

And to the OP, sorry for the thread drift! I would prefer the truck, but in your case, the SUV would make sense.