Just watched TFL take the Rivian Gen 2 tri-motor and the new Ranger Raptor through an off-road course.
TL;DR: They gave the Rivian props for its improved slow-speed performance, loved the steering in rock crawl mode, and were impressed by the suspension clearance. It’s solid for typical trails, but they still think mechanical lockers on a dual-motor setup would make it better for more technical or challenging courses.
During the Raptor run, one of the guys said it was to avoid losing ground clearance. The other mentioned not bringing a compressor. If they tested both trucks at the same time, they could’ve used the Rivian’s built-in compressor, but maybe they wanted to keep the test consistent by not airing down either truck.
@Kingsley
From a comparison angle, I get it. But doing rock crawling at street air pressure feels so unrealistic. It doesn’t really show the full capabilities.
I watched this the other day. Is it just me, or does it feel like Rivian is focusing less on off-road capabilities and more on luxury and speed? All their recent updates seem to target comfort and features instead of improving off-road performance. Even the new quad motor setup feels aimed at the performance crowd.
@Stevie
To be fair, the R1T is excellent for most off-road situations. The main area it struggles with is rock crawling. Let’s be real, though—how many people are actually going to take a $100k truck rock crawling? Most hardcore off-roaders expect damage and bring tools like welders or spare parts, which you can’t really do with a Rivian.
It’s an amazing off-road vehicle for general use, but I don’t see EVs becoming serious rock crawlers anytime soon.
@Stevie
Rivian is probably targeting the Range Rover crowd now. Luxury updates are cheaper to implement and appeal to a broader audience than hardcore off-road tweaks.
@Stevie
It feels like they’re focusing on their core customers—those who want a luxury adventure vehicle—rather than the niche market of hardcore off-road enthusiasts. Over time, I bet Rivian or aftermarket companies will develop add-ons for better off-road performance.
@Stevie
Actually, Rivian quietly improved off-road performance on the Gen 1 quad motors early on. They didn’t make a big deal out of it, but it got better with software updates. I wouldn’t be surprised if they do something similar with the newer setups over time.
@Stevie
The R1T isn’t meant to be a hardcore rock crawler—it’s designed for rough forest service roads and general off-roading. It’s too expensive to cater to the typical off-roading crowd, but once you learn how to handle it, it’s very capable in its own way.