Ben Gjebre from the YouTube channel Gjeebs has owned a Tesla Mannequin Y for over 4 years now and over that point has used his channel to share his ideas on the automobile, each good and unhealthy. Final 12 months he branched out from Tesla and has been driving a Rivian R1T for six months now. He has just a few complaints, however like with the Mannequin Y, most of his time behind the wheel has been constructive.
The scale of the Twin Motor R1T has been very best for his household of 4. Though to accommodate a moderately massive rear-facing automotive seat, the entrance passenger seat needs to be pushed up fairly far. “My spouse and I are each 6 toes tall, so we’re just a little smooshed within the passenger seat,” Ben explains. “It’s higher than the Mannequin Y, you’ve just a little bit more room. However if you happen to’re taller, simply know that you simply’re probably going to have just a little little bit of a problem.”
Ben says that the scale of the truck and its versatile design give it a broad enchantment. “I’m not somebody who ever needed to personal a truck. And that’s what I believe Rivian has carried out extraordinarily properly. They’ve produced a bundle and a model that brings folks in that may have by no means considered proudly owning an enormous SUV or a truck.” The air suspension, efficiency and off-road capabilities enchantment to a market completely different from the typical truck purchaser.
He makes good use of the R1T’s gear tunnel for storing golf golf equipment, groceries, or different small gadgets with out taking over any house within the again seat or the truck mattress which he solely makes use of for lugging outsized gadgets.
The inside additionally will get excessive reward for its high-quality supplies and a few very intelligent touches similar to the power to stow away the cup holders within the middle armrest when not in use. The seats are one other excessive mark and hold you cool because of the air air flow. Though they’re extra agency than the seats in a Mannequin X or Cybertruck, they’re a lot comfy for lengthy drives.
The air compressor is a principally nice function to have, though he doesn’t just like the precise performance. When he units the stress to the automobile’s most popular 48 psi, it doesn’t appear to mechanically shut off as soon as that psi is reached. As a substitute, it continued to fill his tire, on one event getting as much as almost 60 psi earlier than he realized what had occurred.
The air suspension alternatively he completely loves. “Right here’s what I actually like. The automotive has a function known as ‘Kneel’. You place the truck in park, it should decrease itself to a cushty peak so that everybody can get out.” It’s also good being able to enter off-road mode with just below 15” of floor clearance.
That’s loads to like, however like every goal automotive proprietor, he has run into just a few points. One minor gripe is that considered one of his rear headrests is not going to lock into place, making it troublesome for taller folks to take a seat in. The opposite one does work correctly so that is one thing that might want to get addressed by Rivian. He additionally finds the subwoofer within the again passenger door to be fairly annoying since it should often rattle loudly whereas listening to music.
The proximity sensor for the important thing fob has been irritating him as properly. When he passes by his storage door with keys in his pocket, he can hear the automobile lock and unlock itself. It’s a minor grievance, however he prefers the performance of his Tesla Mannequin Y which requires touching the door to unlock it.
The most important disappointment with the automobile might be the steering. “The texture by the steering wheel. The disappointing half is the NVH. You’ll suppose you have been driving like a Honda Civic with the way in which that it feels.”
He has particular preferences concerning the completely different drive modes within the R1T, however the ‘Sport’ mode is certainly probably the most participating. “It’s insane! 3.5 seconds to 60. However after I put it again into regular mode or all-purpose mode I can get 341 miles of vary out of this.”
He recommends protecting the automobile ‘Experience Really feel’ in ‘gentle’ mode moderately than ‘agency’ for many driving eventualities. “In agency, this is sort of a go-kart with no suspension on it. It’s the stiffest automotive I believe that I’ve ever pushed.”
Ben has a whole lot of further ideas and particulars about his intensive expertise driving each the Rivian R1T and the Mannequin Y. So if you happen to’re contemplating choosing up a Rivian and need to hear his full overview, you should definitely click on the complete video above.
