Photo: Rivian
A Tesla Model S owner test-drove a Rivian R1S while considering a switch and found some issues could be hard to live with. His main concern was the air conditioning system, which struggled to keep the cabin cool at 91 degrees outside.
With the number of EV models launched in the market expanding by the day, you'd think carmakers would address more customers. Still, the reality is that EV buyers are not that many, and some of those who buy a new model already own another EV. Since Tesla was the first EV maker, it's understandable why most EV buyers used to drive a Tesla before considering a switch. Some even keep several EV models in their garage, sometimes from different brands.
We've seen in the past how switching from one EV model to another turned out, with some appreciating the new EV more while others regretting the move. I also wrote about a funny case where a Tesla Model X owner praised the Rivian R1S he bought to replace it. He sold the Rivian one month later because he couldn't stand it anymore and bought a Tesla Model Y instead. And he was not the only one to do so, as spending more time with a new car sometimes makes you appreciate the previous one more.
A 2022 Tesla Model S owner has a different story to tell, as he is still deciding whether he wants a Rivian R1S. As would anyone considering buying a new car, he scheduled a test drive to experience the Rivian first-hand. After driving it for half an hour, he already made a first impression, but he still had a lot of questions he asked in the Rivian subreddit. The R1S left him mostly a positive impression, but he considers some issues unforgivable on a luxury vehicle.
Reddit user u/lochnespmonster appreciated the R1S's ride quality, which seems on par or better than the Model S. He had mixed feelings about the build quality, as he owns a flawless Model S, whereas the Rivian had a couple of issues. Software-wise, he considers Tesla superior, while Rivian "felt very uninspiring and lacking features." Still, there's another issue that he considers a deal-breaker: the air conditioning system.
He took the test drive on a typical summer day at 91 degrees Fahrenheit (33 degrees Celsius). The cabin was hot, and the air conditioning barely managed to cool it down a notch during the half an hour test drive. The advisor cranked the AC to the max, turned on the ventilated seats, and it took more than 10 minutes to cool the cabin to a less uncomfortable level. It never got completely comfortable during the entire duration of the test drive. He admitted he had never had to run air conditioning on max setting continuously in any vehicle before.
The weak air conditioning is a known issue with Rivian vehicles that many people complained about. Intriguingly, other owners claimed they had no problem with the air conditioning. This suggests that Rivian might have inconsistent quality control as far as the air conditioning system is concerned. Either way, this can put off a potential customer who tests a Rivian on a hot summer day.
We've seen in the past how switching from one EV model to another turned out, with some appreciating the new EV more while others regretting the move. I also wrote about a funny case where a Tesla Model X owner praised the Rivian R1S he bought to replace it. He sold the Rivian one month later because he couldn't stand it anymore and bought a Tesla Model Y instead. And he was not the only one to do so, as spending more time with a new car sometimes makes you appreciate the previous one more.
A 2022 Tesla Model S owner has a different story to tell, as he is still deciding whether he wants a Rivian R1S. As would anyone considering buying a new car, he scheduled a test drive to experience the Rivian first-hand. After driving it for half an hour, he already made a first impression, but he still had a lot of questions he asked in the Rivian subreddit. The R1S left him mostly a positive impression, but he considers some issues unforgivable on a luxury vehicle.
Reddit user u/lochnespmonster appreciated the R1S's ride quality, which seems on par or better than the Model S. He had mixed feelings about the build quality, as he owns a flawless Model S, whereas the Rivian had a couple of issues. Software-wise, he considers Tesla superior, while Rivian "felt very uninspiring and lacking features." Still, there's another issue that he considers a deal-breaker: the air conditioning system.
He took the test drive on a typical summer day at 91 degrees Fahrenheit (33 degrees Celsius). The cabin was hot, and the air conditioning barely managed to cool it down a notch during the half an hour test drive. The advisor cranked the AC to the max, turned on the ventilated seats, and it took more than 10 minutes to cool the cabin to a less uncomfortable level. It never got completely comfortable during the entire duration of the test drive. He admitted he had never had to run air conditioning on max setting continuously in any vehicle before.
The weak air conditioning is a known issue with Rivian vehicles that many people complained about. Intriguingly, other owners claimed they had no problem with the air conditioning. This suggests that Rivian might have inconsistent quality control as far as the air conditioning system is concerned. Either way, this can put off a potential customer who tests a Rivian on a hot summer day.
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