Rivian vs Scout

[Noplacelikeloam]

I was extremely excited about Scout when first announced as the battery electric version on paper is my ideal vehicle. Then came the delays and the (potentially indefinite) de-prioritization of the BEV in favor of the EREV. So I cancelled my day 1 reservation.

The latest news today from VW is also not encouraging: https://www.reuters.com/business/wo...ns-50000-more-job-cuts-memo-staff-2026-07-13/

Same, but in all reality, by the time they get around to making the EREV, battery tech could eclipse the need for EREV for the majority and sadly that could be the reason it all falls over. I dont envy them or any EV manufacturer at the moment.

Sponsored

 

[DCFC]

I never wanted to go on a long distance trip in my Rivian because it would brick or have major issues randomly. Maybe only once or twice per year but that's enough to ruin a long nice trip. Once on a day trip the rear window wouldn't go back up and it rained the whole trip back. That window issue required two mobile visits and one in shop. Lots of crap like that over the 3.5 years of ownership. My Ram 1500 was never in the shop for the 7 years I owned it, which I traded for the Rivian. My Volvo EX90 is in the shop monthly.

So I'm hoping for something a bit more trustworthy honestly.

I think your Rivian had build quality issues. That was/is unfortunately common. All it takes is for one connector with intermittent signal to cause chaos. Those that are built well really don't have issues like you mentioned.

The Scout will still be heavily software defined. But it will be on the Rivian -VW joint venture tech.

 

[Christopher1000]

Same, but in all reality, by the time they get around to making the EREV, battery tech could eclipse the need for EREV for the majority and sadly that could be the reason it all falls over. I dont envy them or any EV manufacturer at the moment.

Well now, this seems to be the crux of the problem here, all of these iPad centered cars are revolutionizing technology so quickly that half assed versions get out before they are perfected. We buy them excited they'll do everything they promised (they don't), but addicted to the high performance and driving of an EV compared to combustion. My current Volvo ex90 is the best driving car I've ever owned or driven - it drives as quiet and smooth as a Rolls Royce, the stereo system is top 3 in the industry (according to Marques Brownlee and Out of Spec), and yet I'll be selling it after only 6 months because of all of the quirks and shop visits.

I'll be onto my next half finished EV soon...

 

[Gen(R3)Xer]

Yes but... they are probably holding off now because of our anti EV president and the economy now. There aren't enough Americans interested in buying $90k pickups.

Yeah, I mean even Rivian didn’t come out with an R2T for a reason. The EV pickup truck market is in limbo right now with the F-150 Lightning canceled, RAM going EREV, etc. We’ll see how Slate and Ford’s $30K Ranchero EV do.

Hopefully we can clean out all of these anti-EV politicians in the next few years and get back to creating sustainable affordable transportation, like the rest of the world. I bet the tax credit might come back in some form too. They did it in Germany and the market is growing again. We’ll hit parity eventually.

 

[VandalSibs]

Towing with the Rivian or really any EV isn’t much of a joy either.

Don't paint us all with the same brush. I love towing with my R1T.

 

[GT-Papa]

Interesting article about a BYD truck in the US. Looks like an awesome rig. and he seems to be getting away with driving it in the US, "near the border" for now, but I wonder how easy this would be the further away you get from the Mexican border.


Why can't one of the Big 3 make something like this?!

 

[justinkitswa]

I'm in the "Scout isn't real" camp.

I did plonk down a few $$ for the reservation, mostly because I think it's a neat concept and I've always had a soft spot in my heart for the original International Harvester trucks (not that it means anything, the modern Scout is just a name, nothing else)

I mostly am bearish on Scout because of the Volkswagen group. They've got a long history of making monumentally horrible business decisions. It seems everything they want to develop ends up taking 10X longer than it should, costs 3X more than it should, and looses nearly all the things they said it would have/do.

The direct-to-consumer battle they're going to keep fighting with legacy VW dealers in the US is going to be a nightmare - it means the VW dealer service centers won't touch these things no matter what, and VW corporate isn't going to cough up the cash to build a direct-to-consumer service center network like Tesla/Rivian did.

Sadly I feel very much that it's doomed to fail unless they pivot and sell these as a nameplate VW brand through their dealer networks.... I don't see VW corporate having the determination to make Scout work in the marketplace.

 

[Christopher1000]

I think your Rivian had build quality issues. That was/is unfortunately common. All it takes is for one connector with intermittent signal to cause chaos. Those that are built well really don't have issues like you mentioned.

The Scout will still be heavily software defined. But it will be on the Rivian -VW joint venture tech.

I appreciate your comment and positivity about Rivian, given I'm still a stockholder, but I'm not the only one who had/having frequent issues with my Rivian. I think they're quite common. But not necessarily more than other Evs - my Volvo ex90 has had many many (I'll be selling that soon).

I know many hate Teslas for various reasons but they seem to actually work (I owned a model s and my gf has one).

I'm still a fan of Rivian as a truck and company but not a vehicle I'd want to own out of warranty.

 

[Schroederhc]

Merge them.

 

[justinkitswa]

"Why can't one of the Big 3 make something like this?!"

They did... And of course, like all American automakers, they decided it should MSRP around $120k

 

[Hillbilly]

I have deposits on both scouts. Cancelled my R2 deposit. It's more of what I would have wanted Rivian to be from the start. And add much as I like our R1T and R1S, I've never come around on the stupid Rivian headlights. I hate them.

 

[Hillbilly]

"Why can't one of the Big 3 make something like this?!"

They did... And of course, like all American automakers, they decided it should MSRP around $120k

My eyes have been wandering to the Hummer. It's just too ridiculous. I would be embarrassed driving one.

 

[Hillbilly]

The number of people who need to tow long distances is small, likely < 25% of truck buyers.

https://www.thedrive.com/news/26907/you-dont-need-a-full-size-pickup-truck-you-need-a-cowboy-costume

Some other sources quote a smaller number, as low as 10%.

Evs aren't "real" trucks and EVs that may pass for "real" trucks are expensive for now.

I'd wager most don't tow with them because it's not great for towing...yet.

They're great for towing except for the affect on range.

 

[mkg3]

I never wanted to go on a long distance trip in my Rivian because it would brick or have major issues randomly....

So I'm hoping for something a bit more trustworthy honestly.

Sorry to hear that you have had issues that prevents your confidence in taking long road trips in your Rivian.

That said, I would argue that your experience, while not uncommon, is not the norm. I have 2023 R1S with 43K miles and multiple roadtrips between 1,500~2,800 miles. I believe it's a mistake to paint with a broad brush that EVs re not trustworthy. In fact, they are just as, if not more so, reliable than ICE vehicle on the roadtrips due to less part count and no fluids.

My point is that while issues like what you have suffered is real and exists, that is not the case for most people. It's sort of like the range anxiety. As long as one understands what is expected using an EV for road trip, then it works out fine.

Last thing is, I fully agree with you that EREVs do make sense today. If one goes off the primary routes and major city pairs, charging infrastructure still needs improvement. Solid state battery vehicles will not change that equation. Only more fast charging locations do.

 

[justinkitswa]

My eyes have been wandering to the Hummer. It's just too ridiculous. I would be embarrassed driving one.

I was in the same boat. My wife said "If only it was about 25% more grown up and about 25% less "Tech Bro" it would be perfect"

GM missed the mark on it, much the way Tesla did on their 'attempt' at a truck.

Sponsored