Questions for people who have switched from Tesla to Rivian [ADMIN WARNING: NO POLITICS / NO ELON DISCUSSIONS]

[NinjaWrap]

I know that FSD is light years ahead of anything else, and honestly that's a big thing that would hold me into owning a Tesla, but aside from that part, how are the other basic things a Tesla owner is used to, like dog mode, sentry, etc? How is the app experience?

Is there anything you miss, anything you loved about your Tesla that frustrates you in your Rivian, or on the flip side anything that frustrated you about Tesla that Rivian does right?

Very tempted to get an R2, but want to know the pros and cons of the Rivian experience compared to Tesla, aside from FSD.

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[CharonPDX]

FSD is only the head of the pack in the US, because we don't get any of the Chinese EVs.

Yes, I have had two Teslas (2014 and 2016 Model S, the first pre-AP1, the second FSD.)

My primary annoyances between them are based solely on having an old Tesla with grandfathered in "things that are now paid subscriptions." Premium connectivity, mostly. With Rivian, it's a monthly fee if you want to use its cellular for entertainment apps. I refuse to pay monthly fees for hardware I already own, so I don't pay for Rivian Connect+, which means I can't use the native apps for Apple Music, Spotify, Audible, etc.

It's a minor inconvenience that would be completely negated if I were willing to pay that monthly fee.

And I'd have the same complaint about my Model S if my Tesla didn't have premium connectivity.

 

[Redmond Chad]

FSD works more places, but most of those places i don't want to use it because it makes enough mistakes i have to watch it so carefully it doesn't feel like a benefit. Where i would use it on the freeway, our Rivian does well. Other opinions vary, but my wife and I don't miss FSD at all.

Tesla's app and software is ahead, but not by much anymore since Rivian just added better voice control (Alexa was awful) and text messaging. Other physical things - like automatic hood lift - mean more to us.

My wife still prefers her Tesla, but largely because she has been driving the same thing since 2012 and she doesn't like to learn new controls. I prefer the Rivian.

 

[carsly]

Have owned four Teslas - X, S, Y and Cybertruck in that order. Still have the Cybertruck and a year+ ago picked up a R1S Dual Large so have experience with both sides of this.

Rivian has come a long way in a short period of time, no doubt, but there are some drawbacks to be aware of:
- app experience: flawless with Tesla - PaaK always works and works instantly, preconditioning works every time, no delays in remote lock/unlock, setting charging levels, etc. It all just works. On the Rivian side it's not as clean. Often times even with Apple Car Key the Rivian won't unlock. 1/5 times you have to open the app to unlock. Preconditioning may indicate it's on in the app, but it's not actually on in the vehicle - this is especially true for heated/cooled seats. Setting charge levels is wonky, there is a slider but due to latency in server synchronization (it's trying to sync while you're using the slider) it's tough to get it set where you want. That said, Rivian UI is brighter/fresher and friendlier.
- vehicle heating/AC - pretty instantaneous in the Teslas, all of them, whether it was resistive heat or heat pumps. Both the Cybertruck and R1S have heat pumps, only one can heat the vehicle to temp in under 5 minutes when it's sub-freezing out and it's the Tesla. The Rivian will run for 20-30 minutes of preconditioning and never reach 70 degrees in the cabin when it's sub-20 degrees out. Cooling is similar, super fast with the Cybertruck but very slow with the Rivian. You'll really want a reflective sunshade with the Rivian as it's HVAC can't cope on hot sunny days. Flip side is the cooled seats work great on the Rivian and are almost completely ineffective on the Cybertruck.
- vehicle dynamics - getting the vehicle in motion from a dead stop is slightly discontinuous in terms of pedal pressure with the Rivian, super-smooth with the Tesla. On center steering feel in the Rivian is numb, and it requires constant corrections to track straight - this has never been an issue with any of my Teslas. Suspension tuning on every Tesla I've had is much better than the R1S (yes, even the Y Performance). Rivian struggles to manage the weight of the battery pack and chassis while maintaining give over bumps so ride, even in comfort mode, is rougher than it should be. Cybertruck, also using an air suspension, is next, next-level - can be sports car tight or Cadillac cruising comfort absorbing bumps and shocks. Rivian's air suspension (not in R2) just doesn't have the tuning to be reasonable in any of these scenarios, even when compared against my Land Rover Defender.
- charging - pretty similar for both. Oddly enough, have never DC fast charged the R1S for a reason I'll get to so Level 2 charging at 32 amps nightly works great. Cybertruck is my road tripper due to easy Supercharging and the better suspension, I had thought I'd use the R1S for this but the smaller pack (109 kwh to 123 for Cybertruck) doesn't help.
- efficiency - I'm averaging sub 2 mi/kwh in 15 months with the R1S on 22's with all seasons. In similar conditions/usage the Cybertruck is 2.7-2.8 mi/kwh and will top 3 regularly in the summer despite being on 35" all terrains to the R1S on 33" all seasons. Add in the smaller pack size to the lower efficiency and you can see why I don't road trip the Rivian. In highway travel expect 50 miles to be 20% of the large pack = best case of 250 miles of northeast highway range. Cybertruck will be 300-350 miles of highway range in the same conditions. Huge difference. Practical example is I took a 50 mile (each way) day trip on Sunday and it burned off about 45% of the pack to cover 100 miles. The week before I drove up to Boston and could have covered the entire 280 mile distance without charging and had 10-12% to spare while running FSD the entire route. My bladder, however, didn't have the same range.
- self-driving/drivers assistance - Cybertruck has come a very long way in 18 months from the first release of FSD Supervised for the truck. I did a 280 mile road trip without touching anything, the truck even backed itself into the charger and ran it's way through Back Bay in Boston with odd street crossing, traffic controls, stop lights, etc. without a hitch. The Rivian, not so much. I've never broken the half-mile mark on the highway with Autonomy+ without needing to intervene. It seems to struggle with merges from the right and left-exits. Welcome to NJ. No traffic light controls (but it sees the lights) and will not respect stop signs. Not sure I'd trust it around pedestrians. I let my free Autonomy+ trial lapse, it's closer to Autopilot from 2019 than FSD today - I do have paid FSD on Cybertruck.
- seat comfort is comparable. Tesla's seats from the Model S/X refresh in 2021+and 2024+ in Model 3/Cybertruck and 2026+ in Model Y are all very good. Rivian's seats are a little more slippery in the R1S. Seat designs are better in the Rivian though.

All in all, it really depends on what you need. If you want something that just works - the first time and every time - without thinking about the app, heating/cooling, etc. it's tough to top the Tesla experience soup to nuts. However, if you want a boxy SUV with some light off-road capability Tesla doesn't have any of them. I'd look at the Volvo EX60 and BMW iX3 along with the R2 and Model Y. Volvo and BMW generally have higher quality interiors and pricing is very similar to R2. Volvo has struggled on the software side of their EV lineup but seems to be getting there. For all three of those vehicles - iX3, EX60, R2 - you're looking at first model year vehicles on new platforms so expect growing pains all around. At a similar price, you might want to consider a used R1S/T

I also have a review of the 2026 Tesla Model S Plaid on my channel if you want a sense of the Tesla experience. Happy shopping!

 

[NinjaWrap]

@carsly thanks! That's very in depth. I currently drive a Cybertruck as well, had a very low VIN Model 3 RWD in 2018, then 3 Performance, and wife had 2021 YP and now 2025 Y RWD. Very familiar with all things Tesla.

My main gripes with Tesla are creaking and rattling (wife's new Y seems to be perfect) and service, since our closest service center is 2.5 hours away and they've now cancelled plans for one near me 3 times. Rivian has a SC just over an hour away. A part of me wants to go back to a 3P but then I can't haul anything at all again, while R2 would at least let me carry long boards with the rear window down!

 

[NinjaWrap]

FSD works more places, but most of those places i don't want to use it because it makes enough mistakes i have to watch it so carefully it doesn't feel like a benefit. Where i would use it on the freeway, our Rivian does well. Other opinions vary, but my wife and I don't miss FSD at all.

Tesla's app and software is ahead, but not by much anymore since Rivian just added better voice control (Alexa was awful) and text messaging. Other physical things - like automatic hood lift - mean more to us.

My wife still prefers her Tesla, but largely because she has been driving the same thing since 2012 and she doesn't like to learn new controls. I prefer the Rivian.

Are you comparing to HW3 FSD? I sit back with my hands in my lap all over and aside from a couple incorrect lane places, some wrong speed limit areas and one bad spot where it swerves out of the lane, I barely touch the wheel anymore.

 

[carsly]

@carsly thanks! That's very in depth. I currently drive a Cybertruck as well, had a very low VIN Model 3 RWD in 2018, then 3 Performance, and wife had 2021 YP and now 2025 Y RWD. Very familiar with all things Tesla.

My main gripes with Tesla are creaking and rattling (wife's new Y seems to be perfect) and service, since our closest service center is 2.5 hours away and they've now cancelled plans for one near me 3 times. Rivian has a SC just over an hour away. A part of me wants to go back to a 3P but then I can't haul anything at all again, while R2 would at least let me carry long boards with the rear window down!

In terms of creaks/rattles it seems like many of your Teslas were before the latest round of refreshes. My 2023 MYP was pretty solid and even my early build 2021 Model S Plaid was pretty good though the 2026 Model S Plaid service loaner I had recently was effectively perfect. How has your Cybertruck been in that regard?

Unless you need something smaller, I wouldn't trade a Cybertruck on a R2. Cybertruck has SBW, FSD and a much better suspension along with fantastic range, roadholding and audio system. I inadvertently omitted that in my prior post but Rivian sound is closer to rental car grade than anything I've heard in a long time. If you only listen to podcasts, or no music at all, then it may not matter but you won't find anything close to the Cybertruck (or Model S) sound system in a Rivian - R1 or R2.

Oh, and the R1 platform is plagued with A pillar wind noise issues. It's quite bad. above 60mph I've been in to service twice for my R1S and they replaced some parts but it's still not good at all. Cybertruck and even Model Y are very quiet, Rivians to date aren't there yet.

 

[natcc99]

One of the things I don't miss are the frameless windows.
I had a Model Y and the window would rattle when closing the door. Rivian doors have a frame and simply feel more solid.

I also like how my Rivian has self closing frunk. For the Tesla, when opened, it was too tall for my children to close so I had to close it for them. Note: For R2, it doesn't close automatically, but does have soft self close once you latch it.

 

[JacobAZ]

When it comes to software, overall Tesla is well ahead of Rivian, as it should be.... Tesla had a 8 year head start. Rivian is catching up quickly and is ahead in some areas. My Tesla was a 2020 model Y. My Rivian is a gen 2 R1T. In general I like the RIvian implemetation and User interface better than Tesla. It appears Rivian looked as how Tesla implemented things, then looked to improve upon it. Things like dog mode, Sentry (gear guard) are equally matched. Cell phone charging pad performance is the same in both (okay, not great). For me PAK always works in both. Rivian has more glitchy little things than Tesla, but Rivian is pretty good about addressing ... eventually. A few areas Rivian is better include, less severe phantom breaking, the new rolled out voice commands appears to have a lot more potential than Tesla. Bottom line there is nothing I miss from Tesla (I did not use FSD, it made too many errors ... it was like a student driver).

 

[NinjaWrap]

When it comes to software, overall Tesla is well ahead of Rivian, as it should be.... Tesla had a 8 year head start. Rivian is catching up quickly and is ahead in some areas. My Tesla was a 2020 model Y. My Rivian is a gen 2 R1T. In general I like the RIvian implemetation and User interface better than Tesla. It appears Rivian looked as how Tesla implemented things, then looked to improve upon it. Things like dog mode, Sentry (gear guard) are equally matched. Cell phone charging pad performance is the same in both (okay, not great). For me PAK always works in both. Rivian has more glitchy little things than Tesla, but Rivian is pretty good about addressing ... eventually. A few areas Rivian is better include, less severe phantom breaking, the new rolled out voice commands appears to have a lot more potential than Tesla. Bottom line there is nothing I miss from Tesla (I did not use FSD, it made too many errors ... it was like a student driver).

I've been very vocal about FSD issues, and even now have a few spots that are not good. But V14 has been almost good enough for me to never touch the wheel at all around where I live. I can drive 2.5 hour to the service center without touching anything, which unfortunately I've had to do a couple times now.

 

[NinjaWrap]

How has your Cybertruck been in that regard?

Mostly good but I do have a bad steering column rattle that I fixed with a piece of foam wedged in there. My early VIN Model 3 was pretty good. My second Model 3 rattled like crazy. Wife's first Y was mostly good. Her 2025 Y is, dare I say, perfect (knock on wood).

 

[Effopec]

My Model 3 is a 2018, so ride quality and quietness are far better in my Gen 1 R1T. My truck has an upper dash rattle that they can't seem to fix, but other than that it is a much better and more solid ride. I think Driver+ is pretty much as good as the Tesla HW3 with FSD on the freeway, but of course it doesn't work on surface streets. Overall software is a bit better in Tesla, but Riv is improving quickly. Would like faster charging but the range on my Riv hasn't noticeably dropped in 2.5 years while my Model 3 is down about 15% from new. So even though it is less efficient and has a lower peak charging rate I think total time road tripping is still faster in the Riv. One thing I miss in the Tesla - the green light ding. Rivian does ding when the car in front starts to move, but not at the light change if you are at the front of the pack.

 

[iamnid]

My R1S (Gen 2) has a lot of rattles - my Model Y did not.
I basically find that anything related to the app is hit or miss (mostly miss). I simply cannot rely on the app to do anything. Want to cool down the car before you get in -- probably going to be told the car is sleeping and/or there's a connectivity error. Same goes for remotely unlocking or anything else in the app, really. I thought the remote viewing of the cameras on my Model Y was laggy and/or buggy -- it's nothing compared to the R1S where I think I've gotten it to work once and it took about 30 seconds to open up.

User interface in vehicle is a lot slower than Tesla's. The software and features are generally pretty good though. I miss certain things like being able to not have it run the cameras while parked at a "favorite" location or not have the auto lock/unlock work at a "favorite" location (so it's constantly locking, unlocking, locking, unlocking when visiting our cabin).

The vehicle itself is nice (minus all the rattles) but the software is something you are very much going to miss when you switch. The autonomous driving that's available on Rivian is a joke compared to what Tesla has. Currently, with the paid subscription it can do what my 2020 Model 3 could do for free (i.e. stay in a lane and adjust speed based on vehicle ahead of me). The only difference is that it can do that without requiring me to have my hands on the wheel and it can do a lane change if I put on my blinker -- that's it. Obviously, this will get better but if you're the kind of person who has been using FSD to drive you places, you will be in for a rude awakening.

 

[NinjaWrap]

My R1S (Gen 2) has a lot of rattles - my Model Y did not.
I basically find that anything related to the app is hit or miss (mostly miss). I simply cannot rely on the app to do anything. Want to cool down the car before you get in -- probably going to be told the car is sleeping and/or there's a connectivity error. Same goes for remotely unlocking or anything else in the app, really. I thought the remote viewing of the cameras on my Model Y was laggy and/or buggy -- it's nothing compared to the R1S where I think I've gotten it to work once and it took about 30 seconds to open up.

User interface in vehicle is a lot slower than Tesla's. The software and features are generally pretty good though. I miss certain things like being able to not have it run the cameras while parked at a "favorite" location or not have the auto lock/unlock work at a "favorite" location (so it's constantly locking, unlocking, locking, unlocking when visiting our cabin).

The vehicle itself is nice (minus all the rattles) but the software is something you are very much going to miss when you switch. The autonomous driving that's available on Rivian is a joke compared to what Tesla has. Currently, with the paid subscription it can do what my 2020 Model 3 could do for free (i.e. stay in a lane and adjust speed based on vehicle ahead of me). The only difference is that it can do that without requiring me to have my hands on the wheel and it can do a lane change if I put on my blinker -- that's it. Obviously, this will get better but if you're the kind of person who has been using FSD to drive you places, you will be in for a rude awakening.

Sadly, Tesla has now removed basic autopilot, so you have to pay the $99/mo (and maybe going up) to have any kind of assistance. But if you have FSD on a HW4 vehicle, yeah, it's pretty freaking amazing.

 

[CharonPDX]

FSD works more places, but most of those places i don't want to use it because it makes enough mistakes i have to watch it so carefully it doesn't feel like a benefit. Where i would use it on the freeway, our Rivian does well. Other opinions vary, but my wife and I don't miss FSD at all.

Are you comparing to HW3 FSD? I sit back with my hands in my lap all over and aside from a couple incorrect lane places, some wrong speed limit areas and one bad spot where it swerves out of the lane, I barely touch the wheel anymore.

LOL. "Other than that, Mrs. Kennedy, how did you enjoy the show?"

HW3 can be amazing at times, and infuriatingly dangerous at times. I never take my hands off the wheel. It regularly tries to drive me into a curb - at an entrance to a Supercharger. Of all the places, you'd think a place that dozens/hundreds of Tesla vehicles drive into daily would be mapped well enough that it wouldn't try to drive me into the curb. (It also sometimes tries to turn into the *OUTGOING* lane of the parking lot, and other times tries to turn into the driveway for a "no exit into the main parking lot" bank drive-through lane instead of the main parking lot entrance.)

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