Make the Switch from Tesla to Rivian?
This month has brought out a lot of hype around Rivian and ever since they first announced their truck I have been keeping an eye on them. I know that I want to eventually get an electric truck and I thought that it was a done deal that it would be getting the Cybertruck. I have had my order in for that for almost two years now, but I am starting to reconsider..
So what could make this Tesla fan make the switch? If we compare specifically the Rivian R1T and the Tesla Cybertruck a few things stand out. First and foremost, the design. The Cybertruck can be very hard to look at; while the rest of the Tesla suite of vehicles is sleek and sexy, the Cybertruck is pure functionality. The Rivian on the other hand, is one handsome machine. it looks sleek, has an awesome pull out camping feature, and it really targets the adventure crowd. Let’s get a bit more in the weeds and compare the two in more detail
The Range
This is tough to say at this point as there is still a lot that can change, but the primary reason I am still leaning towards the Cybertruck is the supposed 500+ mileage of the tri motor model. That is incredible. For anyone who has ever gone on a road trip in an EV, having a tank of 500+ miles would be a game changer. That is enough to get you between basically any major city and the next closest in the US. The Rivian right now is looking to have a mileage that will be close to 400, which is a little more than most Tesla models as well as most other EVs. It’s not bad but I would really like more for a new gen vehicle at that price point, especially a large vehicle like a truck and SUV.
- Tesla — 500+ with Tri-motor model
- Rivian — 400+ with Adventure model plus max battery add-on
The Features
There are many things to consider here and I will try to hit the most important factors as well as some of the unique features such as ATVs, camping, and cooking. Who would have thought that these would be factors when choosing a new truck.
Truck things
Bed size
- Tesla —6.5 feet
- Rivian — 4.5 feet gate up 83.6" gate down.
Tow capacity
- Tesla — 14,000 lbs., max payload 3,500 lbs.
- Rivian — 11,000 lbs., max payload 1,760 lbs.
Charging
All things considered, this category is mostly a toss up as we are moving towards a world where all EVs can use any charger. What we can compare though is the charging rates that the vehicles can handle. Right now Tesla has a slight leg up but looks like Rivian will make up for this in the later model.
- Tesla — 250 kW
- Rivian — 200kW (moving to 300kW later)
The Performance
*There are several configurations to consider here so for this article I will focus on the top tier for both companies.
- Tesla — tri-motor AWD, 800 hp, 1,000 lb-ft torque, 0–60 mph in 2.9s, 16 inch clearance
- Rivian — 4 motor AWD, 800 hp, 900 lb-ft torque, 0–60 in 3s, 14 inch clearance
The Look
Ok so we have already pointed out the elephant in the room here, the Cybertruck is pretty ugly. Maybe it is something that would grow on us, maybe not. What we can’t deny though is that the Rivian is one good looking machine. It stands out just enough without being gaudy. So you still get that EV flex.
Tesla has gone with pure functionality and the aim to keep costs low. By using a stainless steel body with sharp angles they have achieved very low costs by reducing the machining and manufacturing costs and at the same time drastically increasing the durability.
The Rivian on the other hand has stuck to a traditional truck design with some added EV flair. The grill area immediately pulls the attention with the custom headlights and sleek front known to EVs.
Exterior:
- Tesla — dent proof, bulletproof
- Rivian — Awesome paint options
Interior:
- Tesla — Stark, minimalist, futuristic, *yoke steering*
- Rivian — Luxury, premium, traditional, *dual touch screens*
The Price
We can’t ignore the price point when having these conversations.
- Tesla — single: $39,900 dual-motor: $49,900, tri-motor: $69,900
- Rivian — adventure model: $73,000, Explore model: $67,500, max battery: $10,000
There are other factors in play here as well such as tires, paint, self driving, off-road packages, and other add-ons. I’ll keep this discussion at the stock level for the highest range configuration of each vehicle.
The other thing to consider is the tax credit which may get you $7,500 to $12,500 depending on what passes in congress and which vehicle you choose.
The company
Normally this wouldn’t really be a major point when discussing vehicles but when it comes to EV it becomes much more important. If the company fails then there are a lot of software issues that may become a major issue with your car. A lot of the time you can’t exactly go to your local repairman to fix issues if they come up so you will need to have trust that the company will be able to help you out.
Tesla has been around for a while, has a $1T valuation and has proved itself over several years now. They are established and there isn’t much concern over them not sticking around. Tesla definitely has it’s issues as any other manufacturer can attest to but overall they are solid.
Rivian is brand spanking new. They have $0 profit so far and have just started shipping out to non employees. Their valuation and stock is doing really well but personally, I will need them to be around for a couple of years and show profit before I can really call them a reliable manufacturer.
Summary:
*Many things may change in this analysis as neither of these vehicles have hit the road fully yet and Tesla has actually removed the specs and prices of the Cybertruck from their website. So take this opinion with a grain of salt as many things may change in the near future.
Tesla — better range, cargo and towing capacity, and price. Con — looks a bit ridiculous
Rivian — space utilization (cargo/camp stove slide out), modern/traditional look
Thank you for being a reader! As always, if you have any other questions feel free to reach out in the comments and I’m happy to talk to you through email as well. I’d love to hear your Tesla story and chat about the challenges or successes that you have had.
