In ours Rivian R1T First Drive pickup last September, we discussed eight battery-electric pickup driving modes. The five main modes are: All-Purpose, Conserve, Off-Road, Sport and Towing. The Off-Road setting is actually made up of four sub-modes, providing a total of eight ways to auto-configure. vans for different terrains and driving styles. Rivian put together a video showing where each mode would be used and how the pickup would respond, removing (almost) all the readings needed to see what R1T has in its dynamic arsenal.
If you want a quick explanation before using the visual aids, what you need to know is that each mode adjusts four key parameters: Ride height, ride quality, brake regenerative power, and activated stability control. There are five stroke heights, from as low as 9.9 inches to a maximum of 15.4 inches. The ride quality can be soft or hard, braking can be standard or high. The stability control system offers three settings, off, down, or on. The summary of each mode is:
- All-Purpose: The default mode for everyday driving, starting at standard cruise height (11.9 inches) and dropping low (10.5 inches) at highway speeds to reduce drag. Smooth ride quality, standard braking system, stability control.
- Conservation: Delivers greater efficiency by prioritizing the front engines, lowering vehicle height to the lowest (9.9 inches) during cruise and back A/C dials. The ride quality is soft, the braking is high, the stability is reduced.
- Sport: Set the truck to low cruising height and reduce stability control, unlocking four-wheel skid and light tail spin on hard surfaces. Set ride quality to hard, brake to standard.
- Off-road: For light trail work from fire to craggy rocks (slightly). Starts at height (13.5 inches), offering up to 15.4 inches as an option. Braking is standard, stability control is on.
- Off-Road Drift: For loose surfaces, start at standard height, can go up high. The torque bias is at the rear but naturally allows for more speed difference between the front and rear axles. Vehicle is set to hard, high braking, stability control disabled.
- Off-Road Rally: To run R1T like a Ford F-150 Raptor in places other than sand dunes. Starts at standard and high, with braking also high but stability control reduced to the flowing behavior of the rear end.
- Off-Road Rock Crawl: Keep in mind this is an everyday pickup that isn’t fitted with a 40-inch rubber, this is for overcoming larger granite obstacles. Start at high altitude, offer maximum options and unlock maximum suspension articulation. Braking is high, stability control is on.
- Towing: When it’s time to tow the wagon, this setting automatically activates when the trailer is connected. Standard stroke height, rigidity, high braking and stable control in work.
A graph in the upper right corner of the video shows how torque is distributed during whatever maneuver the truck is performing at the time, for the full information. The only sub-menu that’s missed is the Sport Launch mode, which will skip the R1T’s estimated 0-60 mph time of 3.0 seconds, but after watching the video you’ll image received (in motion).
