Do you consider Rivian a Luxury Car?

[R1Guest]

Rivian definitely has a price point of a luxury vehicle, but we all know we pay a premium for EVs. While they do sometimes in collateral, Rivian seems to shy away from calling themselves a luxury brand.

Personally, I see it in the same category of the Acuras of the world rather than the Mercedes/BMWs. However, what you sacrifice in luxury you gain in utility.

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[electruck]

I would describe the brand as premium, not luxury.

 

[Polar]

4Runner with a $30k battery

 

[RivianRunner]

Where is the poll option of "No"? The poll assumes everyone finds Rivian in the luxury category.

I have a very dim view of "luxury" vehicles (and "luxury" most everything else). I always felt Cadillac and other luxury makers just made inefficient and overweight crap. That they slathered on a few hundred dollars' worth of more expensive materials and then pretended the car itself was worth twice as much.

This dim view of "luxury" extends into other product categories, like vacations. It's 90% appearances and 10% real.

On the other hand, I like products that are engineered better, stronger and lighter, with higher quality, more damage resistant materials. I'm willing to pay more for that, to me, "luxury" just means the illusion of quality.

 

[Zoidz]

Price does not imply luxury, but many people incorrectly believe it does. A Ford F350 can sell for $125k. Does that make it a luxury vehicle? Of course not.

 

[HighVoltOverland]

I thought we all bought the marketing jargon and agreed Rivian is adventure not luxury

 

[Hillbilly]

No, if a vehicle doesn't have real leather it's not a luxury car to me. I'd also expect thicker and stiffer body panels even at the expense of range in an EV.

I've had a range rover, Denali Sierra, bmw, Lexus, and Mercedes, and the range Rover and the Lexus were the only ones that felt like luxury cars. All the others were great, solid cars that didn't feel cheap, but not feeling cheap is different from that feeling of being in a luxury vehicle.

 

[Eeyore]

I didn't buy my R1T because it is a "luxury" vehicle. I bought it because it is the fastest vehicle 0 to 60 for the price point that can also haul lumber. I don't find the seats really comfortable, but I do like to go fast. I agree, "vegan" leather is BS so it's not luxury. There are other things missing from it to keep it from the luxury category. Even my ID4 has a powered roof shade.

On the other hand, I've never been happier with a vehicle than I have been driving my R1T. Not 1 moment of regret writing that $77K check.

 

[waveroamer]

Should one consider Tahoe/Yukon luxury? Their higher end trims are certainly luxurious and could reach price of Mercedes. Add in the fact that large battery packs are expensive, I think Rivian’s pricing is reasonable and makes sense for what it is. It’s just complicated because on this forum, 100k expectations are thrown around as if all 100k cars == specific kind of luxury and that those vehicles are identical across the line.

some of the past competition M vehicles were stripped down with limited luxury to accommodate trackability and inspire race like performance. I don’t hear many people moan about lack of features in those cars, probably because they know what they’re getting themselves into, vs Rivian needing to cater to a much broader market.

 

[moosetags]

Our R1T is a very nicely appointed truck which we love dearly. We bought her to be a supplement work horse to our Silverado Duramax. Our Silverado is of the highest trim level with features comparable to our R1T.

Even though these trucks cost as much as some luxury vehicles, they are trucks meant for work and towing.

Brian

 

[zefram47]

4Runner with a $30k battery

Not even close. I had a 5th gen 4Runner that I traded for my R1T. The Rivian is *way* better appointed than the 4Runner and it's not even close. It's easily closer to a Lexus GX, but still probably better than that. My 4Runner still had vinyl seats, but the vinyl in the Rivian is much better quality comes much closer to feeling like real leather. Funny enough, all those complaining that vegan leather isn't luxury...quite a few of the luxury brands (BMW/MINI as an example) have been using vinyl on their lower-tier cars with real leather as an upcharge if it's even available.

 

[mpw81]

Cadillac is luxury? hehe, I'd rather drive just about any stock toyota or honda.

 

[CrazyOne]

What is luxury? If you think Gucci, LV are luxury, then definitely no. If you like being comfortable, not car sick and safe, then yes. I have been sick in every Audi, except an A6.

 

[Brian-MS90D]

I chose Range Rover because that brand is the closest comparable IMO. The spot-on comparison vehicle is the Land Rover Discovery (at least for the R1S). Both are premium, but their ruggedness abilities and interiors keep them from being luxury.

The upcoming EV Range Rover will be luxury and rugged (and probably $150k - $200k?). The Land Rover Discovery and R1S are not that.

 

[KRG]

People try very hard to pigeonhole “luxury” into one very narrow category, but it’s really open to personal preference. Thinking leather is a staple of luxury is a BS and dated view imo. By some peoples’ accounts, Porsche is not a luxury brand. I think premium is a better word to use and Rivians are definitely premium. Also, I’d bet almost no one is cross shopping these with Acuras or Infinitis. They’re pulling people from Tesla, Volvo, BMW, Land Rover, etc.

The R1S seems to be the new Range Rover Sport of Southern California.

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