- 1. Rivian R1T controls could be better
- 2. Rivian R1T rear seat flips in the wrong direction
- Consumer Reports says it’ll keep an eye on a few things
The 2022 Rivian R1T is all the rage these days. This hot new electric pickup truck is turning heads, and there’s plenty to love about everything it has to offer. Still, there’s always a critic or two ready to point out a few flaws that buyers should know before making a purchase. As it happens, Consumer Reports weighed in with its evaluation of the R1T, with two key points they disliked. Here’s what Rivian lovers need to know about this new electric truck.
1. Rivian R1T controls could be better
2022 Rivian R1T | Rivian
The 2022 Rivian R1T doesn’t have great controls, according to Consumer Reports. Rivian used Tesla’s approach inside the truck by providing an oversized central touchscreen. As a result, the cabin is dominated by the infotainment screen, which is required to control all internal functions. Furthermore, it suffers from the same fate as the Tesla models. Using a centralized touchscreen looks good and feels great for specific functions but isn’t always necessary.
As pointed out by CR, the driver has to go through the screen to activate unlabeled steering wheel buttons to make steering wheel and side mirror adjustments. Additionally, the only way to change the direction of the air vents is to use the touchscreen. Although technology and improvements are excellent most of the time, sometimes we don’t need them. Things like volume knobs, manually turning air vents, and steering wheel controls are better as physical buttons and switches. This way, the driver (or front passenger) can change settings quickly and safely, barely taking their eyes off the road, if at all.
2. Rivian R1T rear seat flips in the wrong direction
Rivian R1T electric pickup truck | Rivian
Next, Consumer Reports doesn’t like the 2022 Rivian R1T‘s “wrong-way flip action.” Many pickup trucks provide extra storage space by lifting the rear seat bottom. In almost every other model, the seat flips back, staying in place, unveiling an extra cubby for storage. However, the electric pickup truck’s seat flips forward and doesn’t stay in position.
We’re not sure what the benefit of flipping the seat forward could be. In short, it’s an odd design choice and makes using the rear seat storage much more inconvenient than it should be. Thankfully, Rivian is very innovative in many other areas, providing tons of extra hidden storage. Although most people won’t use the rear seat storage too often, it’s one of the only negatives the EV pickup has to offer.
Consumer Reports says it’ll keep an eye on a few things
Next, the publication says there are a few things it wants to keep an eye on. These aren’t necessarily negatives, just things that could be good or bad long term. After all, spending a single day with any vehicle isn’t enough to determine the quality of every aspect. CR will keep an eye on the loud electric motors, truck capability (towing), rear-seat comfort, spare tire location, Rivian service, and buttons/actuators.
CR says the Rivian R1T motor emitted a louder whine than most other EVs. Additionally, the towing capacity seems too good to be true, rear-seat space is minimal, the spare tire location could be inconvenient, and a lack of Rivian dealers could make finding service availability challenging. Lastly, the buttons and actuators are hidden all over the truck to control the many features. CR says it could take a long time to remember where they are and what they’re for.
Keyword: 2 Things Consumer Reports Doesn’t Like About the 2022 Rivian R1T