Do you consider Rivian a Luxury Car?

[Noplacelikeloam]

Im hoping we have moved beyond luxury. If I made a blackberry phone a luxury item, think "Vertu" back the day. How did that go down? Badly.

Is an Iphone a luxury product? No, but the experience is a premium execution of how a product can influence your day to day life. Thats how I would describe my R1T for the most part.

Sponsored

 

[daeHelkcunK]

I think they’re one generation and real leather seats from being a true luxury vehicle . Definitely a premium vehicle

 

[Eric9610]

I don't know what most have driven in / owned. The R1 platform is a luxury car being marketed as adventure based. I have owned many "luxury" cars and the quality on the Rivian in all segments is = or better.

I just drove a new X5 M competition for 3 days and what a POS other than the engine. I have also owned a G-Wagon and that was 100% a Luxury Truck. in my experience the best quality interiors are on 911's and any top tier MB (S, AMG, G, SL, GT), Rolls Royce, and Aston Martin. BMW and MB have used vinyl for over 40 years as the standard interior and quite honestly the interiors are trash now.

All the people I know (5) who picked up Rivian's this year came from "luxury" brands. 2 BMW X5 hybrids, 1 X7, 1 G550, 1 Range Rover.

I think the sign if Rivian is a "Luxury" brand is where the current purchasers are coming from, and my bet is 80% are coming from traditional luxury brands.

 

[thrill]

To become synonymous with luxury Rivian will need to focus heavily on repeatability in the quality of assembly with strictly specced and tested parts. When one person has constant wind noise and another has roof glass that sticks up and another has axle ticking, etc., then they're still some way from knowing internally and more importantly, widely externally, that every vehicle that goes out the door is as well assembled as it can be and with minuscule variability. In the modern software-defined-product world this also extends to their post delivery OTA updates and people also expect that in rapid response time and low frequency of service.

 

[s4wrxttcs]

I think it helps to define what I expect from a luxury vehicle.

• The fit and finish are solid - My Rivian R1T passes this test.
• The mechanical operation of the doors sound solid - Definitely a pass for the Rivian R1T
• The mechanical operation of accessories sound good - Absolute failure because the tonneau cover is too damn loud, and sounds like it will break at any moment.
• Suspension noise is minimal - Hard failure because the suspension noise is excessive in my Rivian R1T
• Drive Train noise is minimal - My Rivian R1T is still a failure, but went from a hard failure to a soft failure once the Service Center was able to mostly remove the tock noise.
• With an EV I expect minimal motor noise -> My Rivian quad-motor R1T has excessive motor noise especially around 40-50mph.
• Heated Steering wheel should get at least moderately warm, and to stay warm -> This is a hard failure for my R1T. It's over 10degreees colder than the Jeep Wranglers heated steering wheel.
• Seats should be heated and cooled and should be comfortable -> I believe my Rivian R1T passes this test
• Ride Quality should be adjustable and the driver should be able to get a good balance between Sport and comfort -> This used to be a failure for my R1T, but recent changes have made it a slight pass.
• Wind noise should be minimal -> Fails this test. Overtime its gotten worse and I'll likely need to bring it in or fix it myself.

Overall I'd say it fails at being even an entry level luxury vehicle due to excessive noises. Mostly from the drivetrain, and suspension noises.

It also fails in some of the glitches that anyone the least bit OCD would notice. Like how the maps rotate all by themselves even when I'm not turning.

 

[Kelvn]

Coming from a GLE53, I miss the fit and finish, the refinement in ride and noise, the "German" feel at highway speeds, and the plush seats. I wouldn't go back, but there is definite compromises. It's a premium vehicle, not a luxury.

 

[MXA121]

Feature set is up there with other Luxury products. Namely: Semi Active Air Ride suspension, heated/cooled seats, autonomous driving modes, glass pano roof, premium lighting all around, high performance powertrain, premium materials in cabin like wood dash, etc.
Every time I drive a rental car I'm reminded how nice the Rivian R1 really is.
(My last rental was a BMW X5 and I was completely unimpressed)

 

[BCondrey]

C'mon folks. This is a troll post. Look at the dudes history. DON'T FEED THE TROLLS!!!

 

[Glembi2]

I like my Rivian because it improves my language. Getting into and out of my other vehicles ends up with me swearing at how cramped each is or how messed up my back will be from sitting in them.

Driving on paved roads is not what I enjoy most about the truck. Driving on crappy fire roads and not worrying too much about how I’m going to navigate the next washout does it for me. I wouldn’t want to take a luxury vehicle where I want to go. So for me, the R1 is an Adventure vehicle with good road manners.

 

[R1Guest]

C'mon folks. This is a troll post. Look at the dudes history. DON'T FEED THE TROLLS!!!

Are you talking about me? I don’t think I have much of a history to be considered a troll

 

[moondoggy]

I think the sign if Rivian is a "Luxury" brand is where the current purchasers are coming from, and my bet is 80% are coming from traditional luxury brands.

This sounds right. Though it's likely a not so insignificant amount of people are currently choosing Rivian over LR, BMW, etc., because of the lack of comparable EV options from these legacy luxury manufacturers.

 

[NeedSumCoffee]

Prices does not equal luxury.
Luxury features equals luxury.

Hell a Rubicon 392 costs more than a R1S… no one would ever say a Jeep Rubicon is a luxury vehicle.

 

[usulio]

It's simple, the R1 is an Adventure Vehicle with numerous luxury features. And the reason for that is simple, only rich people buy $80,000+ cars and rich people demand luxury features.

 

[srnyoung]

I selected "Premium" - I don't believe Rivian's R1 series is Luxury, nor do I think Rivian is going for that.

Premium is a good way to put it.

As of right now, they most people who know of Rivian, but don’t own one, would consider it a premium brand with the price tag.

That might change with the R2 and 3.

It’s sort of like Patagonia or Lulu. Not luxury, but not cheap and sort of a premium brand if you will.

I thought immediately of Patagonia as well. The recent "campcore" fad not withstanding, Patagonia is an expensive brand for a reason; they make high-quality gear made to last and using thoughtfully sourced materials. (I just retired a Patagonia thermal I got in 1997 and have used constantly since then.) I hope Rivians prove to stand the test of time as well - the jury is out on that one.

Rivian isn't remotely "Luxury", its fundamentally built around functionality...
What luxury vehicle has onboard air? Or a flashlite in the door, or a bluetooth speaker?
What luxury vehicle is built for offroading and camping...TBH, if Rivian was a luxory brand I bet more than half the people here wouldn't own one (myself included)...maybe the only thing "luxury" about it is the price...

What's the difference between the two? Do you want a flashlight or a blemish-free cowhide seat? Just different customer preferences and I agree, I'm much happier with the torch than I would be with dead cows over vinyl.

Luxury is refinement. Rivian lacks refinement, overall, as a brand. So does Tesla. They are not luxury because the brand experience was never designed to be luxurious. Disruptive, different, adventurous: ok. But, luxury they are most definitely not.

This is a big one and knocks Rivian out of the Luxury tent for sure. Fit/finish issues at delivery, terrible service center system, guide/purchase system that is full of holes, are all reasons that the brand doesn't act like a luxury brand, nor even a premium one. Though there's little indication they care about improving on those things, that would be the easiest thing to shift, if they care to.

I expect there is a strong correlation between Patagonia and Rivian customers given the premium quality, 'adventure' focus. I truly hope Rivian can grow into that same space.

Sponsored