Owners and industry watchers know that Gear Guard has been a standard feature on every Rivian product built to date, and its feature set has evolved over the years thanks to over-the-air (OTA) software updates. New features pushed this past year to both first- and new second-generation vehicles include Road Cam, which acts as a built-in 360-degree dash cam, and Gear Guard Live Cam, which allows owners with a Connect+ wireless subscription to receive alarm notifications and view live images from any camera on the vehicle from their phone when they’re away from it. Previously, owners could only watch recordings of incidents picked up by Gear Guard from the infotainment screen in the vehicle after the fact and only toggle the system on and off from the mobile app.

These systems operate with only as much user interaction as the owner chooses. Road Cam runs silently in the background, watching but not recording unless triggered by an emergency maneuver or a crash or manually enabled by the driver to record their journey. Gear Guard, when enabled, turns on automatically when the vehicle is locked and discerns what incidents are worth recording. The cameras are easily monitored from the Rivian mobile app, and all videos, regardless of how they’re generated, can be downloaded from a USB-C port in the vehicle to a drive or laptop. Live Cam streaming is also end-to-end encrypted to protect privacy.

Setting Rivian apart from other similar systems is the accessory Gear Guard cable available for the R1T pickup truck. The braided steel cable features proprietary connectors that plug into receivers in the pickup bed and lock and unlock with the vehicle’s doors. Cargo in the truck bed can be secured with these cables and monitored by Gear Guard from the bed-facing camera on the roof of the truck both in the vehicle and through the Live Cam mobile app feature.

Live Cam requires a $15 per month Connect+ subscription, which also includes streaming music and video, satellite imagery in the maps and navigation, Amazon Alexa personal assistant, and an in-vehicle Wi-Fi hot spot. All of the other camera functions are included free of charge and make for an exceptional value. (The Gear Guard Cable costs $100.)

The software functionality is further enhanced in new second-generation R1S and R1T vehicles by a reduced power draw. Rivian’s new electrical zonal architecture lowers the amount of power required to run Gear Guard by 66 percent compared to first-gen vehicles—from roughly 6 miles of range lost per day of use to about 2 miles—thereby reducing the draw on the battery whether driving or parked and extending range as a result. Future updates are targeting a further 9 percent reduction to around 1.5 miles of range lost per day of use.

Gear Guard exemplifies the opportunities automakers have to repurpose built-in hardware for new features not even imagined when a vehicle was initially developed. Rivian has given owners a great security system and the rest of the auto industry a lesson in how to leverage software for a better customer experience.

2025 MotorTrend Best Tech General Excellence Finalists

Audi panoramic glass roof with switchable transparency: Sunroofs are hugely popular with buyers, though they tend to vary in execution. Physical shades, when present, range in quality and light blocking and often impinge on headroom. Electronically controlled transparency is a huge boon to occupant comfort, but with several other automakers doing similar things, Audi’s setup doesn’t break enough new glass ground.

Lexus RZ Dynamic Sky Panorama roof: Much like Audi’s system, the Lexus execution, while impressive, also doesn’t offer enough breakthrough technology to earn the nod.

BMW digital instrument cluster: Nearly every vehicle has either a standard or an optional digital instrument cluster these days, but disappointingly few truly take advantage of the freedom screens bring, instead recreating digital copies of traditional analog gauges. BMW is among the cutting-edge few exploring new and different ways to present information to the driver but didn’t take it far enough to score the award win.

Genesis 3D instrument cluster: To help stand out among the sea of digital instrument clusters, 3D technology offers an interesting new aesthetic, giving the graphics a greater depth of field without being unduly distracting. Unfortunately for Genesis, it isn’t the only game in town, and its gauges appear to be lower in resolution than the best offerings on the market.

Bugatti Tourbillon gauges: Eschewing the digital instrument cluster trend for mechanical clockwork instruments, Bugatti’s Tourbillion gauges are works of art as much as they are functional indicators. It’s a delightful departure from the norm for those who appreciate old-school craftsmanship. But they’re accessible only to a select few, and at the end of the day, they’re still just gauges and aren't transforming the industry.

Kia Connect downloads: The ability to download not just vehicle control software and new functionality but also fun personalization features opens up myriad possibilities for connecting with customers, though Kia’s Connect selection of offerings isn’t quite extensive enough yet.

Rivian Pet Mode: Harnessing the ability to fully run climate control while the vehicle is off to keep pets safe while you’re away from the vehicle is a huge EV benefit. That said, while Rivian pioneered this idea, the system doesn’t materially stand out from that of its peers.

Tesla Dog Mode: Similar in scope to the Rivian setup, Tesla’s execution of an existing idea is impressive, but also like the Rivian mode, it doesn’t meaningfully distinguish itself.