Rivian buy back: what should my next vehicle be?

[Winger]

I’ve had many brands of ICE cars and electric Tesla, MB EQS and Rivian.

The best purchase experience has been Tesla and Rivian - can’t deal with the car salesman sleaze, from arguing 20k markups on Raptors to an hour to pick up MB while they try to convince me to buy extended warranties.

Service departments (at least where I am) are slow to drop off and deliver or/and sleazy (try to sell you stuff you don’t want or need).

Rivian and Tesla remote service are a breath of fresh air.

My R1T has had a bad 12V and a bad RFID receiver on the door handle - both fixed at home. Took it in once for a recall and it took an hour.

Tesla was just as good when I owned one, although I haven’t heard good things about the CT.

As far as what to get after the R1S, if interior space isn’t an issue, Macan EV would be top of my list. I’ve owned multiple ICE Porsches and other that service department shenanigans, the cars have been flawless.

MB EQS is a NO for me, I had all sorts of electronics gremlins on mine.

Land Rover service is notoriously expensive, but my wife’s RR has been pretty reliable except for a random check engine light that fixed itself after a software upgrade (car play still disconnects randomly).

I would be curious to own a PHEV and the Cayenne would top my list.

Sorry, but that Lucid looks like a station wagon, an ugly one at that, so it is a no for me.

Caddy Lyric is also ugly as sin.

I think that the Hummer is kinda cool, but if Rivian reliability is a deal breaker, I can’t imagine GM is any better, plus it isn’t a particularly practical vehicle.

CyberT is ugly as sin and pretty impractical.

As much as Elon has become a troll and a tool, I think the Model X is kinda nice, and Tesla still has the best smart cruise control, even with all the unfulfilled self driving promises (IMHO). So unless you’re worried about them going bankrupt due to his inability get over himself, it could be an option.

The BMW dealer network is not completely awful, so I could be tempted by one of their models, but I’m not too familiar with what they have in a large PHEV or electric SUV (Given the option, I wouldn’t use an ICE vehicle as a daily commuter)

Audis are probably just as good as Porsches, but I don’t have any personal experience with them.

Long story bearable, if I was getting a new SUV it would probably be a Cayenne PHEV. Since I prefer a truck and don’t want or need a full size, my next one will be another Rivian or if my experience with my current truck sours, a Tacoma TRD Pro. (Maybe a Sierra EV if I feel like gambling and can convince myself I want something that big)…

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[Winger]

Thinking more about it, if I had to switch to something else and another Rivian wasn't an option, a DBX707 would be the only thing I'd look at. The only problem with that is if price is a concern.

You can get some VERY good discounts on DBX and great prices on slightly used.

My deal breaker is that the infotainment on the DBX is the previous gen MB system (at least when I test drove last year) . In other words, not very good.

 

[mkg3]

Sorry, but that Lucid looks like a station wagon, an ugly one at that, so it is a no for me...

Not that ugly in person and EPA rating is 450 miles range and weighs 1,000 lbs less than R1S.

Unless off roading is a priority, its a real contender as a family EV.

https://www.motor1.com/reviews/756565/2025-lucid-gravity-first-drive/

 

[FutureTruck]

If you don't buy an R1S (I understand what you went through, I probably wouldn't either in your situation) the only two other EV's that get me excited would be a Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo or a Mercedes G 580.

 

[Donald Stanfield]

You can get some VERY good discounts on DBX and great prices on slightly used.

My deal breaker is that the infotainment on the DBX is the previous gen MB system (at least when I test drove last year) . In other words, not very good.

That would probably annoy me too. I’m not sure I could go back to a poor OEM infotainment either.

 

[iansriv]

You can get some VERY good discounts on DBX and great prices on slightly used.

My deal breaker is that the infotainment on the DBX is the previous gen MB system (at least when I test drove last year) . In other words, not very good.

Thought Aston update that in 2025.

 

[Great Gatsby]

Strongly discourage the EV9. I bought one and traded it in within 3 months for the R1S. Took a $15k depreciation hit on it. While it rides nice and is super quiet, it drives quite dull and the tech just does not work. I'm not talking infotainment per se (thought it does have shortcomings), I'm talking PAAK, KIA app and general vehicle behaviors. Its definitely more akin to a gas car in how it behaves than an EV. The frunk is a joke and honestly does not feel all that fast. I was also bored of its look in like a week. Headrest are comfortable though.

For ICE SUVs, I'd consider an Acura MDX Type-S for reliability or, as someone else said, an Audi SQ7 if you want performance. For EV, Gravity and EX90 are the only real competitors right now. The Sierra EV looks interesting in the pickup space. You'll definitely miss the tech aspect of Rivian though, as only Tesla or potentially Lucid can only rival Rivian at this point in the game.

 

[Golfer04]

Hey!
I’ve lurked here for many years, but my time with Rivian is coming to an a sad but optimistic end.

After 11 different trips to the service center and over 4 months of SC stays, Rivian is buying back my R1T. I can’t trust it anymore. I still love the thing but I won’t be holding the bag when the warranty is up.

looking for an SUV- anyone like me who has made the jump, or if you HAD to jump….In which vehicle would you land? Don’t say Tesla.

I've now owned 35 vehicles in my life and one stands above the others. I would buy a Range Rover Sport SUV over again. I will stay EV, but doubt I go for an R1T again. On my third one, and the constant issues get old. I put an order in for a Scout pickup. I need a pickup if at all possible and will keep this Tri until they are available.

 

[Ngkgb]

Hey!
I’ve lurked here for many years, but my time with Rivian is coming to an a sad but optimistic end.

After 11 different trips to the service center and over 4 months of SC stays, Rivian is buying back my R1T. I can’t trust it anymore. I still love the thing but I won’t be holding the bag when the warranty is up.

looking for an SUV- anyone like me who has made the jump, or if you HAD to jump….In which vehicle would you land? Don’t say Tesla.

How was the buy back process for you? Did you go through a lawyer?

 

[Chinna]

These are 2 EV pure software defined vechicles .
Volve EX90 ( next version will come with 800v volvo official confirmed BUT NO ONE KNOWS when it will be)
LUCID Gravity (its checked all box but looks like wagon)

Edit: cadalic Vistiq also available

 

[lefkonj]

Audis have always served me well but I would imagine the range on a Q6/Q8 Etron might be a deal breaker. BMW EVs are always a good choice but not everyone likes the IX style.

 

[TLDR_71]

There are few choices out there that I'd consider.

ICE:
Wagoner Overland Edition
Defender 110/130
Range Rover PHEV or Sport
Audi Q8/Q7
Porsche Cayenne
BMW XM (I hear you can get a really, really good deal for one now)
Volvo XC90

BEV:
Gravity
MB-G EQ (wait for it)
MB EQS/EQE
BMW IX
Volvo EX-90
Porsche Macan

And if you really want to move up, there are Aston Martin DBX707, Lambo Urus, Ferrari Purosangue.

Edit: forgot to include Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo (wagon)

I would consider an EV9 or the Volvo EX90 (which finally got mentioned 34 posts in by @mkg3) if you want three row seating both have an 6 passenger captains chair option for the second row. If my EB raffle ticket came in a winner I would have loaded up an EX90 to replace a family members Model Y (sadly not a winner this year).

Thank you for entering! This year's EV Raffle winner actually chose a Tri-Max R1T: https://www.rivianforums.com/forum/...any-ev-before-they-sell-out.39441/post-752629

I saw a nice review of the EX90 by Marques Brownlee (), but something about the exterior just feels kind of robotic and boring to me, I don't know why. I'm very happy with my 2023 R1S but I know OP doesn't want to continue with Rivian.

I picked up a R1T after ditching my 2019 Volvo XC60 T8 (hybrid). So many issues with that car literally weeks after the warranty ran out after 3 years (and only ~30k miles). Volvo is now a Chinese-owned company and my real-word experience matches some of the reviews about their reliability. Just my $0.02

 

[RivnSoon]

Hey!
I’ve lurked here for many years, but my time with Rivian is coming to an a sad but optimistic end.

After 11 different trips to the service center and over 4 months of SC stays, Rivian is buying back my R1T. I can’t trust it anymore. I still love the thing but I won’t be holding the bag when the warranty is up.

looking for an SUV- anyone like me who has made the jump, or if you HAD to jump….In which vehicle would you land? Don’t say Tesla.

Sensible SUV: X5 50e
Not so sensible SUV: X5 M

 

[Hereforthesnacks]

Strongly discourage the EV9. I bought one and traded it in within 3 months for the R1S. Took a $15k depreciation hit on it. While it rides nice and is super quiet, it drives quite dull and the tech just does not work. I'm not talking infotainment per se (thought it does have shortcomings), I'm talking PAAK, KIA app and general vehicle behaviors. Its definitely more akin to a gas car in how it behaves than an EV. The frunk is a joke and honestly does not feel all that fast. I was also bored of its look in like a week. Headrest are comfortable though.

Did you have a GT or GT Line? I’ve never heard of any of these issues except Kia app is lame and frunk is small.

 

[Great Gatsby]

Did you have a GT or GT Line? I’ve never heard of any of these issues except Kia app is lame and frunk is small.

I got the wind trim, since that's the highest you can go with the bench seat in the second row (I have a dog, so the captain's chair makes things more challenging, so a bench was must). I then paid $1,000 for the HP boost to get it to the power of the GT-Line trim. The actual GT trim has not been released yet for the EV9.

I do not want to derail the thread, but I can go into extensive detail as to why my EV9 ownership was so short. The car rarely detected my phone (or apple watch) as key. I would try and start it and it just kept saying "no key detected". It also has a fingerprint reader that was more hit than miss. You would have to set one pedal drive EACH time you got in as it default to cruising. The app was super laggy and I could not use the remote HVAC controls. Unlocking the car from the app took an eternity. Proximity sensors are more hit than miss. If you treat it like a traditional car with a keyfob in hand and don't use the app, then maybe it would be ok? Was still super annoying though. Can't recommend it. Maybe once Kia figures out the software, as the chassis was great, but on its current iteration, it was the most annoying car I've ever owned.

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