2025 Rivian R1T Tri-Motor First Test: Why Does This Truck Exist?

Rivian’s second-gen R1T invites you to take a $20,000 step up from its dual-motor electric truck and unlock what we found to be not the quickest, the most efficient, or even the most capable truck in the lineup.

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Can You Spot the Second-Gen Changes?

You might miss some of the aesthetic changes that separate the 2025 R1T from its previous generation, which include a shrunken frunk, tweaks to the lighting, redesigned door handles, and upgrades to the audio system. Even less obvious is the push toward zonal architecture, a design philosophy that cuts down on the number of ECUs, reducing costs, complexity, and weight. Each R1T sheds 44 pounds over the previous generation, with 10 fewer ECUs on board (just seven remain, and they’re 10 times more powerful) and 1.6 fewer miles of wiring.

The R1T Tri has a single drive motor up front and the same rear dual-motor assembly as the quad-motor R1T. All Rivian motors are now oil-cooled for improved heat management during low-speed off-road maneuvers and for better efficiency on the highway. Both the front and rear motors are also built in-house on the same production line.

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Electric Sports Truck?

Launch mode is now found on the tri- and quad-motor R1Ts and takes a moment to activate as the truck lowers and conditions the battery. “Acceleration this quick is truly in the category of ‘takes your breath away,’ and it takes a moment to unglue yourself from the seat after the initial launch,” our test driver wrote. Our test team noted a bit of shake to the steering wheel at triple-digit speeds, but overall, the feeling was generally stable. With 850 horsepower, the Tri and its 2.8-second sprint to 60 mph beats the Dual's 3.4-second result, but that’s not the quickest time of any Rivian electric truck. That would be the new Quad, which we tested to 2.5 seconds—the quickest truck we’ve ever recorded.

Stomp the other pedal on the R1T Tri, and you’ll need 124 feet to bring the 7,016-pound truck to a halt. The R1T Quad does the same task in 104 feet but uses slick summer rubbers versus the Tri's beefy all-terrains. The dual-motor R1T scrubbed off that speed in 120 feet. Outside of panic braking, we found the pedal travel on the long side but easy to modulate through turns. Bear in mind, however, this heavy truck will understeer hard if you misjudge that braking zone. Nail the brakes, though, and you can truly feel the power bias toward the rear end as you exit a corner, no matter the drive mode.

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Off-Road Issues

Stepping up to the R1T Tri affords you Rock Crawl, Drift, and Rally drive modes, just like in the Quad. The dual-motor R1T is limited to All Purpose, All-Terrain, Snow, Sport, and Soft Sand. We put the Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus tires to work in the dirt and were pleased with how the 20-inch wheels and beefy rubber (part of the $3,950 All Terrain package) smoothed out rougher tracks. Each of the Tri's off-road drive modes are also uniquely tuned for various trail scenarios—whether that’s kicking out the back end in the open desert or nimbly picking a line among boulders. Our R1T Tri did overheat its pair of rear motors while briefly climbing a high-angle rock face in Rock Crawl mode. The truck unexpectedly cut power and forced us to roll backward (safely). A quick cool-off and power cycle seemed to remedy the issue, but we climbed no more rocks that day. We found the R1T Tri adequately capable on the trails, but we cannot overlook the loose and unrefined feeling in the suspension over lightly bumpy dirt roads.

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How Far Can the R1T Tri Take You?

We were generally thrilled to hop in the tri-motor R1T, select Conserve mode, and see more than 400 miles of range on the display after a full charge session. As we tested the truck’s efficiency on our out-and-back MotorTrend Road-Trip Range test, we squeezed 267 miles out of the 140-kWh Max battery pack. To accomplish this, we traveled at a constant 70 mph on a relatively flat route in All Purpose drive mode, unladen, with only the driver in the truck. In similar conditions, the Rivian R1T Quad used all but 5 percent of its battery 24 miles sooner than the tri-motor. The R1T Dual-Motor hummed along for 340 miles during our test, traveling nearly another hour before needing a recharge. The Tri’s Road-Trip Range also lands squarely between the Tesla Cybertruck Beast (229 miles) and dual-motor models (295).

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Verdict: Why Does This Truck Exist?

If it is not the quickest, most efficient, or most capable R1T, why does the R1T Tri deserve your attention? Well, it’s the cheapest way to get those Rock Crawl, Drift, and Rally drive modes. You also get the unique handling characteristics of the tri-motor setup. And yellow brake calipers. The Quad is quicker and more powerful with a motor at each corner to split up the torque on trickier trails, and it starts only about $10K more (and gets teal calipers). The Dual Max is a cheaper option with about 50 more miles of range but makes do with silver calipers.

After driving the R1T Tri on the trails, on an extended-range highway slog, and on the track, though, we’re not sure the Tri makes a great case for purchase versus its lineup mates, but there’s no denying it’s a capable, comfortable, and luxurious electric truck.

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