Rivian, How Could Things Go So Wrong? R1T Gen 2 Dual Max 10% EV Road Trip Challenge

[@kqschwarz]

No one is like Kyle. He has no fear of giving an honest review and saying it like it is. I know Rivian will listen to him and fix the problems. They have great vehicles and I really hope they are in good enough financial shape to correct the quality issues.

[@grahamsiebring5227]

It really is excellent consumer journalism… hopefully his influence will have an impact

[@azorglub]

Looking forward to Rivian's answer

[@etiennepinaffaux7133]

He is a tesla simp. Still waiting for his update on the cybetruck 😂😂😂

[@grahamsiebring5227]

@@etiennepinaffaux7133 he seems quite fair to me…says the Rivian is one of his favorite vehicles. Tesla is just better at charging in comparison. That being said he also criticizes Tesla’s charging curve which results in slower charging than some competitors.

[@EUC-lid]

He needs to give them crap for not supporting ACP/AA. They’re going to lose a ton of R2 sales when potential buyers discover no CarPlay. 😢

[@mikerpm4x4]

One of the reasons this channel is so successful is because you give as close as an unbiased opinion as you can. From watching many of your other videos, I am aware of how much you love Rivian as a company. I'm sure you took no pleasure in making this video.

[@Jodywshelton]

As a gen 1 owner I've been wanting to upgrade but been hesitant because the charging performance isn't better. This video solidified my reasoning. I think you weren't harsh enough.... Rivian has got to fix/upgrade charging now. I won't upgrade until they do. As an owner, I appreciate this video more than you know!! Thank you!

[@RedvinezYGO]

I think it all comes down to cost, they desperately need to cut cost or they’ll go bankrupt and many owners don’t know or care about DCFC performance

[@daadreeb6582]

Agreed. Rivian didn't address enough of the items I don't like in my Gen1 to upgrade, particularly charging. They need less emphasis on 0-60 times and more on charging performance.

[@AnonymousFreakYT]

Agree. Kyle has had far worse charging experiences with Gen 2 vehicles than I have ever had with my Gen 1.

[@Wasabi9111]

Also early gen 1 owner here. I have been itching to get a gen 2 as the car feels nicer w less wind noise, matrix headlights, less clunkiness w the drivetrain/ acceleration / regen, etc. what’s been holding me back has been the low resale value of my gen1. But after this review, I won’t be upgrading anytime soon.

[@lxrick]

@@daadreeb6582 This is what Tesla startet. 0-60 is suddenly more important than a useful car, buttons where needed, quality life saving brake systems. And every car company is jumping on it because of youtube videos. No matter how stupid it is.

[@darinbrazil5496]

If Rivian gets back to you please share your discussions to the extent that you can. Thanks

[@adampilling1325]

I second this! Please report back

[@a.r.hussein1773]

i third that motion!!

[@ModernDayMixtapes]

YOURE NOT BEING TOO HARSH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HONEST AND REAL FEEDBACK!!! You're saving A LOT of people headaches! As someone who road trips a lot AND almost got a gen 2 R1T, I appreciate you!

[@Zavarcerealtor]

You know, a few times before in older videos I've basically been annoyed at the length of the videos. But the one thing I never stopped to think about was the fact that you're legitimately impartial. Thank you for this video and for sharing this

[@SCWgreg]

I 100% agree with your comments too.

[@marioario]

Watch at 2x

[@StephenAldama]

I also watch at 2x. I want to say that it's still a fair criticism of some of these videos lolol.

[@AlienSasquatch14]

I 100% agree with your closing comments. I have a Gen 1 R1T and and Gen 2 R1S and you hit the nail on the head with all your points.

[@Wasabi9111]

Do you have any additional insight to share? Early gen1 R1T owner here. I’ve been itching to get a gen2 r1s as the gen2 felt so much smoother and quieter than my gen1 based on a short test drive. But it’s difficult to pass up my meridian and the low resale of my gen 1 doesn’t help.

[@AlienSasquatch14]

@@Wasabi9111 I own a 2024 Gen 1 R1T, and while I love the ride quality, I can’t say how it compares to a Gen 2 in terms of improvement. That said, I also got a Gen 2 R1S for my wife because many people mentioned the Gen 1 R1S had poor suspension, and the Gen 2 was supposed to be a significant upgrade. If that’s true, then the Gen 1 R1S must have been really bad, because I think the Gen 2 rides terribly-especially compared to my 2024 Gen 1 R1T. In my opinion, upgrading from a Gen 1 to a Gen 2 isn’t worth it unless you really want or need a new vehicle and are committed to sticking with Rivian long-term, perhaps for the promised autonomy features of the new Gen 2 vision hardware. For now, I’d actually prefer the more stable, more affordable Gen 1. When I bought my wife’s R1S, there were deals on the Gen 1 models, and if I had to do it again, I’d probably go that route. I’m sure Rivian will work out the kinks with the Gen 2 over time, but I hate being an early adopter and dealing with the bugs and build issues we’ve faced. In short, I love my Gen 1 R1T and would take the deal I got on it over the minimal upgrade you would get with the Gen 2. And I will not get another R1S Gen 1 or 2 when my wife's lease is up unless they actually fix the terrible ride quality. It is bad. If the R2 rides like the R1T then maybe I would get her that. But, if not I will be looking at the Scout for her cause it should release by the time her lease is up.

[@rototiller53]

A change to 800v architecture would likely have very little impact on the charging issues on display here. It could help with cabling and the charging stations themselves, but this issue is on the cell level with Rivian. They switched battery chemistries with the Gen 1 to Gen 2 with the 50g to 53g cells. This allowed the capacity increase and lower costs on the batteries, but it comes at the expense of being more sensitive to thermals. Given that Rivian did not switch away from their cooling plate between the stacks of cells design, this should not be unexpected. To help their charging, they either need to redesign the pack to have more adequate cooling (likely would lead to less efficient packaging and a capacity decrease) or they need to have cells with a lot more cobalt. Which would also hurt capacity, but give them a lot more leeway on thermals. Cylindrical cells with minimal cobalt simply need much better cooling systems to charge well. I get this nuance is hard to discuss and display, but it is the fundamental issue on full display here.

[@OutofSpecReviews]

Absolutely! I should have explained this better in the video but you’re totally correct, voltage wouldn’t help the thermals of the HV battery at the cell level 🫡 - Kyle

[@football0552]

​​@@OutofSpecReviewsI really don't think it's normally the temps. I've done several thousand miles on a Gen2 dual max without seeing that 115kw drop. It typically does 200kw for about 10% and then drops to a constant 175ish kw. Doesn't seem to matter where or when. Haven't seen it yet controlled by max temps like my Gen1 does. It's still a better road tripper than the standard pack overall (see my reddit link for several charging curves overlayed on each other and compared to your standard pack test). As with the original commenter, the damn 53G cells just seem to be super sensitive to temps. BUT I've also been pretty open about saying I'd be quite annoyed with the charging performance if I paid 100k for the vehicle. There is no reason a 100k "halo" vehicle should charge like this.

[@rototiller53]

@@OutofSpecReviews Selfishly I'd love a deep dive on cell format, chemistry, and cooling strategy. It goes so far to explain the fundamental differences in charging performance between different automakers. The differences in pouch vs cylindrical and high nickel vs high(er) cobalt drastically change how the cars perform and the charging curves that various vehicles have. Then alongside that the goals of what they are trying to achieve with their strategy. In some cases COGS and scalability outweigh outright performance.

[@Yielar1]

I'd have to disagree. Higher voltage would help bring down the thermals and allow much faster charging in different ambient temps

[@football0552]

@@Yielar1 It wouldn't change much on the internal battery temps. Once you get to the cell level the voltage is the same. I've also watched my Gen2 temps over many fast charging sessions and the max temps aren't what's limiting it. They need to move on from the Samsung cells IMO. I fully agree with the original commenter here.

[@thedukeofmiddleville]

Thanks for providing an honest critical review. This is the only way to get real product improvement. I will also hold off on getting a Gen 2 until they fix all the bugs. At this point there is no way I will give up my Gen 1 because its awesome.

[@macktap]

I love Rivian, but they need this reality check. The charging was not good on gen 1, it is unacceptable that it is worse with a gen 2. Also, i don't know when you did this review but supposedly they fixed the audio in Gen 2 with 2024.43.30. It could be worth a second listen after an update.

[@Wasabi9111]

As an early gen1 own who’s been itching to get a new gen2. What’s holding me back has been the low resale value of my gen1. The 2nd highest factor is that I don’t want to give up my meridian for a crappy audio system - something I use all the time.

[@lakejindsay]

I did the OTA update two days ago (saturday) and noticed no improvement. It's still rubbish.

[@document6]

This review is from a Rivian fan btw ugh we’re all rooting for Rivian I want them to succeed and grow ❤❤❤

[@aussie2uGA]

Absolutely. The worst thing for a company is to gain a bunch of non critical fans that don’t point out issues.

[@RealDKuz]

Rivian is awesome, and we need to push them to be even better.

[@bradhaines3142]

rivian definitely looks the best of the ev trucks

[@keithmcdonnell4485]

One of my pet peeve's with modern cars is not defaulting to "dumb" cruise control if there is a problem with the adaptive cruise system.

[@youmakeitreal]

There has to be some "legal" reason why they can't. Like someone driving off the road and blaming the manufacturer

[@bradhaines3142]

​@@youmakeitrealsome can but the ways arent specified and often hard to find. toyota for instance, if you hold down the cruise button for 10 seconds, it disables radar cruise. works the old way just fine

[@anton_grahn]

The 10% Challange number (or something very similar) should be standard as a EPA number alongside EPA range! Great job on these tests 🙌

[@Madrn7768]

Thank you Kyle for being so honest. This is what people need to hear about these vehicles. This is a lot of money that people have to spend so your honesty helps them make the right choice and gives them an idea of what to look for when they are considering a purchase. Please keep doing what you do!

[@Eric-xp1kl]

Kyle, great info as always. We traded our 22 Quad for a 23 PDM Max which I feel like we stole compared to the price of a Gen 2 now. But our charging (DC) is really good...much better than what you are seeing. The BUT is, that we always turn off the climate when DC charging...go for a walk, use the bathroom, etc. If we are road triping 1,000 miles, the last thing we want to do is just sit in the truck while we are charging.

[@BMWI35433]

Love how honest you are we need more people like this on KZbin and in general!

[@Eric-xp1kl]

Kyle, keep hammering Rivian! I love this company, but I will not buy another until they fix all the issues with the Gen 2. Hopefully, Gen 3 will be better. If I were shopping today, I would probably buy a GMC Sierra EV. Great charging with a huge battery.

[@Wasabi9111]

Haha. I was thinking a lot about the sierra ev this weekend on my road trip. I kept thinking how much better the sierra charging performance and super cruise would be on the long road trip.

[@privettoli]

​@@Wasabi9111 think again. They have "service campaign" (not official recall) for SuperCruise not working (when people paid extra for it) with the status "no available remedy at this moment". Imagine paying so much money and not getting SuperCruise…

[@dennislyons3095]

As a Gen 1 R1T owner I looked at the Gen 2 to decide about upgrade. I carry my 12V fridge in the frunk & the removal of the plug up front squashed that. In cost cutting some of what I like about the truck was removed, another reason to keep Gen 1. This video cemented my decision. Thanks Kyle. (I pre ordered in Dec 2018)

[@daadreeb6582]

Removing the 12V in the frunk for later Gen1s and now Gen2 was just stupid.

[@intrepid81]

Thanks for the transparent review and commitment to helping Rivian grow! I’m an early VIN Gen 1 owner who has started to have FOMO with Gen 2. I think I’ll wait until Gen 3 comes out to upgrade - as long as the electrical architecture/charging is improved.

[@brandondevahl552]

I love that we can trust Kyle for honest reviews so many KZbin reviews are nothing but positive almost like commercials for the manufacture. This shows review has some work to do.

[@0600Zulu]

I'm in the same mindset. I have a Gen1 R1T, 25k miles, and it is the best vehicle I've ever owned. I considered Gen2, but what I've seen from folks like you definitely makes me satisfied to keep with my Gen1.

[@JeffMaf]

Hi Kyle, as a Gen 1 and now Gen 2 owner (R1S), I agree with everything you are saying, especially the sound system. It’s embarrassing how bad it is. They need to stop everything and focus on fixing it ASAP. Heat pump, is also embarrassing how loud it is. Suspension, I’ve been ok with mine. That being said, I hate how my suspension is always in auto and you have to manually turn it off. Annoying and Rivian should subsidize my tires if they want to force auto suspension on me. The only thing I don’t agree with, is the charging. While I am sure you are accurate and correct in your response, I’ve done road trips and haven’t cared that much about a charging curve etc. it’s fine I feel for 90% of the people. The last thing I wanted to say is I completely agree with you that Rivian is distracted. I don’t give a sh*t about getting an owl sound. I want better audio. Put resources into making this product as good as you said it would be. Wondering is Wassym’s new role is the problem. Lastly, on my road, Driver+ is great! So that’s a positive I guess. Sorry for your experience. I’d love to hear updates from you when the engineers respond to you. Please share what you learn. And let them know everyone with a Gen 2 is concerned. I hope it’s not a writing on the wall type of thing. I love the brand and the product but not enough to deal with a subpar product.

[@CyberSpartan]

As a Gen 2 owner, thank you for the harsh words. It’s needed. They need to work on fixing bugs instead of introducing new pointless features like Halloween mode, which also brought new bugs. Our adaptive cruise control faulted like yours with the yellow light randomly last night after driving through a Christmas lights display. Like why.

[@markmonroe7330]

Excellent presentation. Thank you. A huge thanks for keeping it real Kyle. Folks need this info to make good decisions about their transportation. Rivian must get this stuff dialed in especially considering the 6-figure price tag of this truck. With stock prices being about 140 three years ago Nov 2021 and being about 10 now three years later with dips into the 9's, these issues are going to destroy them. All of the cash input from Amazon and VW wont save them.

[@jamessink3736]

Thank you for helping me with the resale value of my gen1.

[@Bobby-King3]

Really appreciate how honest you were in this! I want Rivian to succeed as well, I know there are many passionate talented folks there. Wondering if they are spreading themselves too thin? Feels like most of the engineering resources is being spent on R2 and R3. At same time - they changed a significant amount of the stuff under the hood for the Gen 2. it’s possible that this was rush to market to meet their profitability goal for Q4 instead of launching it when it was ready. Hope they are able to get this worked out.

[@TheBowerbird]

FWIW - There is a bug in the software version this truck was running (Gen 2 only bug) which results in improper audio playback. A quick infotainment reset fixes it. It is almost certain that you had that crop up during this test.

[@jacobpeterson7048]

I have a Gen2 max pack and I see the exact same charging behavior. Initially I thought something was wrong and had a service appointment for Rivian to look at it a few weeks ago. They did some test charges and said there were no faults and it followed what they have seen with other Gen2 max packs. I was quite surprised seeing the charging performance degrade from the previous generation, which was already pretty weak. Incredible vehicle aside from the software quirks, audio, and charging performance.

[@KaleCreech]

Not harsh. Honest. Always appreciate these tests/videos. The data you’re collecting and sharing is awesome.

[@m4zr4]

Really appreciate the honesty and your perspective as a Gen1 owner. It's obvious you love the brand and want them to do better. It doesn't come off as a hit piece or anything like that. Keep it up

[@daadreeb6582]

Thanks Kyle. For me, adventure by definition means road trips so 400 miles of real world range, improved charging performance and Driver+ coverage on undivided highways are essential. When asked, I always tell people range, charging and Driver+ coverage are the Achilles heel of my R1. Like you, I really want Rivan to be successful, but they can’t seem to get out of their own way when it comes to executing across the board on their various initiatives. As a result, they find themselves in a very precarious situation.

[@EricDrummondBPCP]

Great video bro. See this is the one major problem with some of these EV car companies when you do manage to get out a really good first generation product. When it's time for generation 2 and you're trying to figure out what things you can cut and save money. It then becomes really hard to maintain a good standard of quality and performance for the second generation product. And this is why a lot of Evie car companies are struggling because you have to find a way to be more efficient and save money. Yes but again that should not sacrifice overall quality and performance. You should have a baseline of the quality and performance that needs to be achieved when going from generation 1 to generation 2. Hopefully they get it together. I've been following Vivian for a long time. I've been following all this EV stuff for a long time. I'm really just looking for a really good small size electric SUV but we don't really have anything in that category here in the states so the wait continues. But keep up the great work bro. Have a good one and I'll catch you in the next one. Hopefully your day gets better with the next test.

[@HenryBabcock]

Yeah hopefully Rivian irons out some of these issues with R2, R3.

[@adampilling1325]

I appreciate the honesty, especially as a Gen 1 Meridian T owner. The criticism makes them better. I expected the Gen 2's to be high 800v architecture, with a better battery thermal management setup. Unfortunately neither seems to be the case. As a Gen 1 owner, like yourself, I find transitioning out of a Gen 1 Quad for a Gen 2 Tri, doesn't make sense yet until those issues are properly addressed.

[@damon8864]

Kyle this video came at a great time. I currently have a 23 R1T Quad and nowhave a deposit on a new Gen 2 dual large battery... I have been reading many comments on the forums about all these issues. This makes me want to cancel and wait until they fix all these issues... I hope Replies to your emails and they address these problems soon. Everyone has been saying the stereo is very bad.. ugh I think I will cancel my order... Cheers and thank you for your awesome work!!

[@andrewhurstcars]

With all that experience these companies should be at Taycan 320kw levels of charging.

[@mattc6854]

taycan blows everything away

[@chengcao418]

​@@Vamanos46 the taycan curve is way better. Lucid has a tesla like curve and drops below 200kw very quickly. Taycan is like 280 at 60%

[@KiRiTO72987]

Especially for a truck that gets mediocre efficiency and has a huge battery it really should

[@RONderluck]

The Taycan is junk though

[@RONderluck]

@@mattc6854I disagree

[@newscoulomb3705]

Thanks. Still been waiting on the Sierra EV/Silverado EV 10% challenge. I know they had a software issue with HVAC while DC fast charging, but on paper, they should easily do 120+ miles in this challenge. As you say, it could impact purchasing decisions. The world wants to know.

[@KyleConner]

We’ve done it! Idk if it’s been posted yet

[@newscoulomb3705]

@KyleConner Awesome! Looking forward to it. 🙂

[@blackbeardSCBC]

​@@KyleConnerlink plz

[@Mmn2709]

Thanks for the honest review. I really hope Rivian gets things sorted out. Especially the adaptive cruise control and sound system. I currently have a model 3 performance and I’ve only taken it on one road trip where I needed to go from charger to charger. I did a 5000 mile trip over two weeks from Houston to New Jersey and back and this type of charging that the Rivian is doing would’ve killed that trip. I commute 100 miles a day for work and plug it overnight at home every night so this probably wouldn’t even be an issue but I also don’t need a max pack for driving 100 mile commute. Sounds like the LFP is the way to go.

[@mikemills4873]

Love your videos Kyle, and appreciate the honest unbiased approach and review, unfortunately it’s the last result I wanted to see 2 days before taking delivery of my Gen2 Tri motor. Crushed after being so excited. 😩

[@Jho-og4nh]

Same here! Picking up a Gen2 Tri tomorrow morning. Wish I hadn't seen this review although Kyle's gripes aren't show-stoppers - just his disappointments given his high expectations for the Gen2 and the company which is more than fair. Still, I should be excited to take delivery and that feeling has been replaced with worries.

[@jawadzafar3679]

As a Model X owner who has been thinking about making a switch to Rivian R1T…I think I am gonna wait a little longer! Till they fix some of these issues! Awesome video as always! I have learned so much more about EVs then I had ever known!

[@griffd2004]

Great video. LOVING my Cybertruck. Charges really fast, amazing sound system, incerible steering, awesome air suspension, very comfortable and relatively quiet, FINALLY has FSD (w/end to end vision on city and highway), and NO issues thus far. Just saying. People make fun of the Cybertruck but it's actually a really REEAAAALLY good product.

[@Ghostiator]

Interesting data honestly. Our Gen2 R1S in northern colorado has weird charging inconsistencies. Sometimes just out right stopping, then restarting itself. The day we took delivery it wouldn't take a charge at all and it lived 3 weeks in service in Denver. Not sure how I feel on the Gen2's from a confidence perspective, but the Gen1 R1S was flawless for us.

[@blackbeardSCBC]

When did you take delivery? Did cold temps have anything to do with it?

[@Ghostiator]

@@blackbeardSCBC Oct. 19th -- No, they said they weren't sure about the charging issue but they replaced a harness near the rear motor and felt like maybe that was the culprit. That did help the car charge, finally. Though now it will randomly stop charging during normal temps, and cold temps.. then restart. So far it's been fully charged in the mornings, but we plug it in very early in the evenings to mitigate those issues. Previously we've had 2x Teslas and 1x R1S on the same charging outlets (we have 2x Nema 14-50r's in the garage, independent of one another) for the last several years without downfalls. So, I'm not sure what the issue is but.. we're living with it.

[@thewaywayback7284]

Absolutely fair and accurate criticisms, Kyle.. Please stay on them. We thank you! These vehicles are expensive so a more polished product is to be expected. Gen2 R1T LFP owner here. Software is kinda buggy--whenever I get in the vehicle I always wait to see what/if errors appear...and that's just not something I regularly worry about with my Mach E. As for the bane of every Gen2 owner's existence, the stereo system used to be a blazing dumpster fire, but after some updates, it's now just a regular trash can fire...hey, progress is progress! It's like Rivian aimed to make the worst stereo system you can get for $70k+. Despite its issues tho, I still absolutely luv the truck...great road manners, wonderful interior, amazing utility. Hopefully most of the owners' complaints will be remedied or mitigated through software updates.

[@be-golf8374]

I've seen your comparisons between the large and the max pack with regards to charging. It is 100% the reason why I went with a Gen 1 R1S LARGE dual motor performance with 21" road wheels back in March. I road trip a bit and I consider that to be the "road tripping spec" based on the balance of range and charging performance (vs the Max pack). I've done about 13k miles on it so far with several road trips. I have not had these types of charging issues at all so I am very happy with my choice. In fact we just (one day ago) completed a road trip from Colorado to Indiana and it seems to hold over 190kW to about 45% or so very consistently. I see a lot of people getting max packs because they want to road trip (and have had a lot of those same people argue with me that the max pack will road trip better than the large pack) but this confirms it for me, large Gen 1 is the way to go! Might just have to keep mine until it dies.

[@smackyp]

Thanks for the video, Kyle. I have the same feelings with my Gen2 Dual Standard. I am so disappointed with the "Premium Audio" and the constant bugs and having to reset all the time. I love Rivian's vision, but this specific product seems off of that mission. I'm hoping they do a better job with their future cars.

[@gn0s1s]

Keep up the candor in your assessments, its definitely something really sets the Channel apart from a lot of other EV reviews.

[@OM61777]

Cutting costs to the extent that the vehicle is not obviously better than Gen 1 is a mistake. Rivian has about eight quarters left before they're out of cash, so the cost cutting is understandable- but it smacks of desperation instead of optimization.

[@user-oo3uj5ku9r]

Kyle you are the man. Never change. Call it how it is. You should be wicked proud of what you built, keep it up man.

[@GARYM.GITTLER]

Thank you Kyle warning about R1T gen 2, will not trade in and will keep and continue to enjoy and love my 2022 R1T gen 1 large pack quad with the great Meridian stereo!

[@thepandolfster8510]

Kyle, so glad you tell it like it is. Unfortunately, I don't think Rivian will listen. Instead, they'll probably dis-invite you from future press/KZbinr events like they have done with others who told the truth. I love the look of their products and I want an R1T but it's this kind of stuff that keeps me from spending $90k for the configuration I want. Thanks for all you do. I appreciate your work.

[@rsfpc05]

Thanks Kyle. Keep it honest. May hurt you from a corporate perspective but the viewers like me appreciate it. Really thought the gen2 is what I’ve been waiting for (heat pump) when I heard the announcement but boy, seems like it’s not. Great thoughts about them being distracted possibly.

[@nonlocalitykat]

I'm glad I stumbled upon your channel at the beginning of the year. I also appreciate your work and honesty when it comes to companies making ass products/vehicles. The price for vehicles is getting stupid and anything to save people from buying an expensive, crap vehicle is a good thing.

[@sinoevc]

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and experience. It has been incredibly valuable to me. I look forward to the opportunity to learn more from you in the future.

[@Mmn2709]

Thank you for the honest review. I’m really disappointed at the results you got. I really want a R1T. I have a reservation for the R2. Hope Rivian is listening and gets these problems sorted out.

[@jeffreygeiger3824]

I've had my R1S get 2 for 3 months now, taking it on the first long road trip across country for Christmas in a few weeks. I am nervous about the charging, we've owned 3 Teslas. Roadtripping has never been an issue, but at the end of the day, if it charges amazing or sub par, it's still my favorite vehicle I've owned. For most instances if the drive is over 500 miles we will usually just fly anyways.

[@vxmine]

Thanks for your honest review. I'll admit, I'm a little nervous as I'm about to move from an ICE to an R1T Gen2 Dual Large(delivery is about 2 weeks away). If everything else about the truck wasn't a positive, I wouldn't be buying one. I sure hope they're able to smooth this out and improve the charge rate and consistency.

[@slowercuber7767]

This video makes me appreciate my Model Y even more. The Model Y is not perfect, but things I care (price, charging, ADAS, quickness, tight steering, infotainment, low maintenance, convenience features like camp mode, sentry mode, dog mode, … ) about are great and given my experience with my Y, if I had to buy a truck today, it might be the lowest spec cybertruck that is available (can’t afford the high power models, but might pay a little more for more range)

[@jeffg8482]

Thanks Kyle for the honest review. Was not sure but decided based upon your review to cancel my order. The charging is one thing but the new heat pump noise is way too much for me, plus a bad sound system, really??? Will see if Rivian corrects these issues but not going to invest this much into a new R1T now. Thanks again for saving me the problems!

[@thomasbeveridge8144]

Just got an R1S gen 2 in September and I have experienced the issues you described here. I mostly charge at home so the charging times don't affect me (yet). Hopefully the audio improves with the .43 update which is currently rolling out. I have had a lot of software glitches that usually resolve with a soft or hard reset. Currently my driver display is not showing any other vehicles other than directly in front but the cruise and the driver+ works no problem. It had some door rattles that needed a mobile service visit then a service center appt (sat for 2 weeks before they could look at it) and they are better. Agree this does not feel like a 100k vehicle (R1S DP max). But I had pre- price hike pricing locked in and the 7500 fed tax rebate that would have expired 9/30/24 so it was now or never. Not exactly buyer's remorse because it's a blast to drive, but hopefully they will sort out some of these issues. I cross shopped the Lexus GX 550 but I still think I made the right decision.

[@AlienSasquatch14]

lol, speaking of how loud the A/C is outside the Gen 2. My wife had a guy walk up to her in a parking lot and ask if it was an electric vehicle, which she replied yes. He then said wow, I though they would be quieter commenting about how loud the A/C fans were.

[@50cts]

I appreciate the honest opinion. No need to sugarcoat rubbish performance.

[@codedGiraffe]

Thank you for being critical of these flaws. We all benefit

[@BitJam]

Thanks Kyle! I think you answered my question about why there was no Rivian in the I-90 Surge.

[@Mike-vh1ur]

You are honest with ur car reviews that's what I like about u and keep up the good content

[@vfanz22]

Great stats! It needs to be harsh so the team can hopefully listen and correct! It’s the only way to evolve

[@darrynappleton]

Very helpful. I don’t think it can stressed enough how important the 10% test is for EVs. It should be a standard metric each EV has to report because it really captures extremely user centric data.

[@wavshrdr8452]

Great vid. I was net new into the Rivian ecosystem. I couldn't decide between a G1 and G2 truck or SUV. After driving them back to back, I noticed many of the things you mentioned about HVAC noise. The G2's didn't seem put together as well (felt cheaper). Only real upgrade I see and feel was the improved suspension in the R1S. All the stuff I was reading in magazines didn't seem to materialize when I drove the G2 trucks. Suffice to day, I went with a G1. The G2 wasn't worth the additional cost especially since there were such good deals on almost new used ones. Hopefully the R2 I have on order will be a lot closer to the mark. If they had gone with an 800V architecture I would have been more inclined to hold out for a G2 quad motor. The AC noise though was really loud in the G2 trucks so that was a major turn off since I live in a hot climate. As mentioned the G2 sound systems suck compared to G1. I was shocked how much worse they were. Not sure if a SW update can fix this. Love my G1 R1T quad so far. It is an amazing vehicle.

[@craigt8432]

What ppl don't realize too about Kyle's criticism of the truck is he's not only saving the potential consumer time and money, he's saving the infrastructure for the ppl who are current owners. Station are more efficient with vehicle that charge well and if you keep the ones that don't away, everyone wins!

[@Michael37924]

Build quality has fallen off a cliff and they lack the service infrastructure to support their customer base. It is frustrating. I own an 2024 R1T Dual that I picked up new in April... it has been in for 3 critical issues in my 7 months of ownership. It had to be towed to the service center 4 hours away twice. I love the truck but until they fix build quality and fix up their service infrastructure, it is going to be a mess.

[@Bb-br3xg]

this happens to every company... happened to tesla.. initial model s was wonderfully built... after years they needed to cost cut to expand production and quality fell.. same thing is happening to rivian. they are cost cutting, sacrificing build quality for production speed to try to make any profit, and its hurting consumers... so sad

[@Wasabi9111]

I’ve owned my rivian for 2.5 yrs and service has been horrible lately. Takes forever to get an appt, takes forever for them to fix the issue, and then they end up causing more issues after they fixed it. This has happened to me several times this yr.

[@quibbs9848]

We had one of the first LE R1Ts (Forest green) in my state (same for 2013 Tesla Model S). We kept the Rivian for less than a year. The service was terrible and we had several issues with build quality. Good general design, good looking, but service/support was all over the place. If my experience had been better I'd consider a Rivian again. Unfortunately I won't entertain another vehicle from them until I start seeing some kind of proof that those kind of issues have been greatly reduced.

[@trevorross1311]

Yep, I agree we definitely need to go and have a chat with them. For the price of the truck, this was not good.

[@chrissmith8711]

Hope you hear back from Rivian soon. Appreciate the honest/balanced reviews.

[@dRadddd]

I get worse charging in my R1T at a Tesla SC than at EA or RAN (gen1 large dual). And it’s not because of derating, like you said it has 500 amp available, but the truck behaves differently. Could be a contributor to the result.

[@riviantrackr]

Great video, I think you hit the nail on every topic. There's a lot of work for Rivian to do and as much as I love the brand, I know it has a lot of flaws right now.

[@bigheadrec]

I think that you are correct! The honest feedback is what is keeping me coming back for more. Even if this EV was half the price, all of the things that you mentioned would be something that I would expect to work flawlessly. The only thing that I didn't like is your parking job at the end of the video, lol.

[@xelnaga18]

My Gen 1 max pack outperform these results. I believe the Tesla magic dock adapter is overheating and the truck is curtailing the charging speed before the supercharger is via the outlet temp sensor. If you move to another cooled dispenser the truck jumps back up to 200kw+. Take a Max pack to a EV-Go Ultium station and re run this test.

[@aussie2uGA]

But then you lose the flexibility of tesla super chargers which are everywhere. It’s like saying the gas car stops having problems if you fill it at the station with Sunoco 95octane.

[@EarlGr3yHot]

Sold my Gen 1 R1T Large pack because I needed the cash for a house. I miss that truck, but man, charging it for long trips was a pain. Plus, the truck itself wasn't very efficient, and the driver-assist features were total garbage. If one camera was dirty or a sensor was blocked, the whole system would shut down, including cruise control. Why can't they just let us use regular cruise control when something's wrong with the fancy stuff? I'm rooting for Rivian, but I'm a bit underwhelmed by Gen 2. Hopefully, the R2 will allow them to make major improvements to the R1's

[@croked]

all things considered, that truck is beautiful

[@blackknightruffneck3205]

good job being honest and wanting the best for your money

[@steveyoung9687]

They seem to go through these issues with everything new they release. Same happened with v1, and has been seen with many updates. They need to drastically increase their focus on QC and not release things that aren't ready. They're damaging their brand and not helping the service center backup problem at the same time.

[@Badgerpat83]

Love to see the same test with the base battery pack. That could be an interesting combination that I might consider.

[@stopthefomo]

So now I’m hesitant about my excitement for R3X in 2 years

[@Del_987]

"Gen2" is just a BoM cost optimization. No reason to upgrade especially if you have a Merridian system Gen1.

[@Wasabi9111]

Haha. As much as I want to upgrade to gen2, the meridian is one of the top reasons holding me back.

[@davidbaker9943]

Early morning Kyle is spicy!! Also Kyle is correct. Your not being to harsh they deserve it on this one. The charging curve is terrible. I just canceled my gen 2 order. Rather have a gen 1 not sure why they didn’t address the charging curve

[@jeffevey5763]

Great review. A summary of takeaways might be nice for me, but great review overall.. Doing a gen1 and gen2 hogback test is something I am watching for now - that would be super interesting to me.

[@joshuagreen5820]

Love my gen 1 R1T. I recommend used large gen 1. Until 800v/nacs comes out.

[@danburkland]

Transparent and candid as always, thanks Kyle!

[@freedo201]

Please update on rivians response! Hope they’re watching this and putting their heads together to solve these issues

[@MikeKantorskiTech]

Thank you for sharing this, I'm sure Rivian will see this and hopefully wake up.

[@electrifiedmotors]

Hey Kyle, I'm telling people that they are much better off getting a Gen quad with large pack for 50-60k now then the new gen2. I went deep into analysis and reasoning for the upgrade and I will keep my Gen 1 u til the wheels fall off. It's a great truck I got the launch green one early Vin an d it has been super consistent even for the road trips. I don't do towing. Love my sound system the new Rivian system seems pretty bad compared to mine. Too much base just bad. Cost cutting is felt. Maybe gen3 will be the one to jump for.

[@joemahan311]

Really appreciate the solid data collection and real world testing!

[@darinbrazil5496]

Looking forward to the range test. Thanks for all you do.

[@justinjwolf]

This was the rage test :) oh, you meant range!

[@darinbrazil5496]

@@justinjwolf Lol that was good but not intentional.

[@ansonhargrove166]

I just road-tripped my CyberTruck from Lubbock to Starbase to watch flight 6. No problems charging at all. Average charge time was 30 minutes hitting 254 kwh with a good charging curve!

[@danielberning1240]

When you were speaking about the sound in the new truck, that hit home with me. I work at a Mazda and Volvo dealership and have been there 8 years now. I have a total of 28 years in the auto business. So I have lots of real life experience with different brands and different sound systems over the years. But let's just talk about the now. Mazda's Bose systems have gotten really bad IMO. The sound seems to blast from the front no matter how you adjust it unless having it faded 100% to the rear. They have put so many gimicky settings that it's near impossible to get a nice sound. I even think they somehow made the standard 6 speaker system worse. But I think the biggest change I've seen is with the Volvo Bowers and Wilkins. Two years ago they made several changes that were supposed to "improve" the system. I think it went from being a fantastic sound system to being ok. Not good for an additional $3,200 bucks!! My boss currently drives an XC90 with the B/W system and he said his last one was way better.

[@oury2442]

Thanks for the feedback on Gen 2, Kyle! As a Gen 1 owner myself who has a Dual Motor, try running Stability Mode setting as Reduced to do all time AWD. That’s my favorite setting for around town.

[@samatwesu]

Gen 2 pulled out one too many modules and wires for cost cutting

[@lakejindsay]

More like 50

[@LarsDennert]

Not a positive outcome but I think most people don't drive in this manner 99 percent of the time. With the max pack I'm stopping for lunch for a while after driving 400 miles. That would be 800 miles a day charging once on the road. The cannon ball runs just don't happen much in my world. Even towing, I'm not exceeding 200 miles at a stint. The average start to finish just seems to be 120kw and the peak speed only matters if you need a splash to get home or something.

[@searcey]

If Rivian reads this, bring back door handles from gen1! Plus everything said in the video.

[@Paninja87]

Great job Kyle . I just bought a brand new GEN two dual motor Max pack and you have hit the nail on the head. This truck is significantly worse than the GEN one. So sad.

[@trstrean]

It seems most vehicles have this charging issue. I can't wait to learn what response you get from Rivian. Rivian's focus is on profitability, so I don't think it could focus on improving charging at this juncture. For such a large battery, they need better charging.

[@JorgTheElder]

He specifically said the Silverado and other vehicles he has tested, including his original Rivian do not have these problems.

[@noway6238]

I have a gen 2 LFP R1S and I share a lot of the sentiments you have here. Also I dont think the LFP is the one to get. The range hit gets really large the faster you go and in Florida traffic trying to maintain 80mph, your range drops to less than 200 quickly. Ive also had sensor and adas issues. my gps randomly goes out of alignment. Reminds me of early tesla issues but really not that long ago maybe 2021 is where I had similar issues with my model y and they got worked out. I am hopeful, but I really hope the partnership with VW doesnt instill old corporate oem mentality vs being an agile startup able to make changes fast. I love how active they are on reddit and take users immediate feedback to changing things. Their customer support is above and beyond what I have seen with Tesla or even other luxury automakers. Overall, still really happy with my gen 2 and really hope most of the issues are software bugs that can be ironed out over the coming months.

[@nathansmith6638]

Love these tests. Currently between Cybertruck/rivian for a future purchase and these tests help.