Rivian Is Final In Client Reviews’ Reliability Checklist. House owners Nonetheless Love Them

What’s just a few software program glitches, powertrain points and battery faults between you and a automobile you actually love?

Two just lately launched research from Client Reviews could be known as excellent news and unhealthy information for Rivian. In two new surveys, the California-based electrical car startup discovered itself on the prime of 1 listing and the underside of one other: first in total proprietor satisfaction, but useless final in reliability among the many manufacturers the nonprofit journal was in a position to check. 

This marks the second consecutive yr that Rivian’s R1S and R1T scored prime honors in proprietor satisfaction, which is predicated on survey responses from Client Reviews members who’re requested if their new autos “met or failed to satisfy clients’ expectations in varied essential methods.” A whopping 86% of Rivian house owners who responded to the survey additionally indicated they’d purchase from the model once more. 

“We’ve offered the manufacturers that almost all fulfill house owners in particular areas: total consolation, driving enjoyment, cabin storage, usability, and possession value,” Client Reviews mentioned. Rivian led the 2024 survey, adopted by BMW, Tesla, Porsche and Lexus, in that order. 

Photograph by: InsideEVs

Photograph by: InsideEVs

However because the publication notes, that does not essentially imply a problem-free driving expertise. Subaru was ranked CR’s most total dependable model however was solely midpack when it comes to proprietor satisfaction. BMW too solely completed in the course of the reliability surveys, whereas Chevrolet—the highest non-luxury model in satisfaction—was even decrease when it got here to reliability. (In order for you a automobile that ranks excessive in each, get a Lexus.) 

House owners ranked their Rivians excessive for consolation, pace, drivability and ease of use. They could even have been received over by the automobiles’ specs. Whereas their giant dimension and brick-like form can harm their electrical effectivity, Rivian’s EVs provide between 260 to 400 miles of vary or extra and boast among the most superior software program options obtainable within the U.S. EV market, together with continuous over-the-air updates. 

Photograph by: InsideEVs

However as we reported earlier this week, as a result of they symbolize a brand new kind of know-how that is much less ironed out than the purely inner combustion autos made over the past century, EVs and hybrids do appear to have extra points than their typical counterparts. Fortunately, CR advised InsideEVs in an e mail, that is altering shortly. “On common, EVs from the previous three mannequin years have had 42% extra issues than gas-only automobiles, in response to our unique survey information. Which may sound like quite a bit, however the determine represents a major enchancment over our earlier yr’s survey outcomes when EVs had 79% extra issues than gas-only automobiles.” 

Rivian’s points weren’t unusual to some new EVs: issues with charging methods and electrical motors, frustrations with in-cabin know-how just like the central touchscreen, local weather system complications and extra. But a few of Rivian’s high quality issues additionally converse to the character of being a startup that is new to creating automobiles: paint and trim points, noises and leaks, {hardware} points and extra. “All of that confirms what our survey information has advised us for years,” CR mentioned. “Tried-and-true designs are usually extra dependable, and customers could be clever to attend just a few years earlier than buying a car that’s been designed—or redesigned—from scratch.” (CR lacked adequate proprietor information for different newcomers like Polestar and Lucid.)

Photograph by: InsideEVs

The publication actually is not incorrect there and one other EV startup is an effective instance. For years, Tesla additionally ranked on the prime of proprietor satisfaction surveys however the backside of reliability and high quality studies. But whereas it nonetheless struggles with new mannequin launches, Tesla’s total construct high quality has gotten a lot better through the years; automobiles just like the Mannequin 3 and Mannequin Y scored “common” in CR reliability studies. The model as a complete nonetheless ranks towards the underside of CR’s rankings, nevertheless, however above conventional automakers like Volkswagen and Jeep.

The takeaway right here? Individuals love what their Rivians can do for them, however like many startups, the corporate has a methods to go to enhance its total construct high quality and the way seamless its person expertise will be. Hopefully Rivian can do that because it continues to ramp up its Regular, Illinois plant and expands into an all-new one in Georgia. 

Do you personal a Rivian? What’s your expertise been with it, good or unhealthy? Tell us within the feedback.

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