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The 2022 Rivian R1T is MotorTrend’s truck of the year. The R1T is the first mass-produced electric pickup truck available in America. The electric truck is a gamechanger, but is it really truck of the year?

The 2022 Rivian R1T steamrolls the competition

The 2022 Rivian R1T electric pickup truck is tough to compare to other pickups. Why? The R1T uses a quad-motor system. These four motors give the R1T power that few trucks will ever achieve.

According to Edmunds, the R1T’s quad-motor system makes 835 horsepower. The electric truck’s large battery pack gets 314 miles of driving range. Its max range battery gets an estimated 400 miles of range.

The Rivian R1T electric truck is novel to the automotive industry in more ways than one. The R1T isn’t just the first electric truck to hit the market. It’s also the first electric adventure vehicle.

The 2022 Rivian R1T is the first electric truck that is built for adventure

A gray 2022 Rivian R1T electric pickup truck.
A gray 2022 Rivian R1T | Rivian

In the years to come, the automotive industry will see plenty of electric work trucks. The 2022 Rivian R1T is the first electric pickup truck that is designed for camping and off-roading.

The R1T has a whopping 14.9 inches of max ground clearance. It has a wading depth of over 3 feet, so it can even drive through shallow water.

The Rivian R1T has already proved its off-road capability through multiple tests. The electric pickup was able to conquer the Hell’s Gate trail in Moab, Utah. The R1T’spowerful quad-motor system allows it to power through most off-road obstacles without stalling the way a gas-powered vehicle would.

Rivian offers an entire Adventure Gear Package for the R1T that includes a slide-out camping kitchen and a camping tent with a collapsable ladder. The electric truck’s many accessories make camping feel much more like glamping.

Should you buy a Rivian R1T?

A gray Rivian R1T is on display.
A gray Rivian R1T is on display | Michael Brochstein/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

The Rivian R1T is the first of many new electric trucks to hit the market and one of the most expensive electric trucks. Unfortunately, the average consumer won’t be able to afford the $68,000 pickup. The R1T is reserved for the lucky few who can afford it, and its exclusivity is reasonable based on its specs.

The R1T has more power than the Ram TRX, as well as amazing off-roading capabilities. If you can afford a Rivian R1T, there are few trucks as exciting as the electric pickup.

The 2022 Rivian R1T is MotorTrend’s Truck of the Year because it has power and utility that isn’t offered by any other automaker at the moment. The R1T is the first electric adventure vehicle, and that novelty comes with a high price tag. The R1T is Truck of the Year, and if automakers don’t step up, it will claim the title next year as well.

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