Rivian Is Final In Shopper Experiences’ Reliability Listing. Homeowners Nonetheless Love Them

What’s a couple of software program glitches, powertrain points and battery faults between you and a automotive you actually love?

Two just lately launched research from Shopper Experiences could be known as excellent news and unhealthy information for Rivian. In two new surveys, the California-based electrical automobile startup discovered itself on the prime of 1 checklist and the underside of one other: first in total proprietor satisfaction, but useless final in reliability among the many manufacturers the nonprofit journal was capable of take a look at. 

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 Shopper Experiences members who’re requested if their new autos “met or failed to satisfy clients’ expectations in varied necessary methods.” A whopping 86% of Rivian house owners who responded to the survey additionally indicated they might purchase from the model once more. 

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

Picture by: InsideEVs

Picture 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. (If you’d like a automotive that ranks excessive in each, get a Lexus.) 

Homeowners ranked their Rivians excessive for consolation, pace, drivability and ease of use. They might even have been gained over by the automobiles’ specs. Whereas their massive dimension and brick-like form can damage their electrical effectivity, Rivian’s EVs supply between 260 to 400 miles of vary or extra and boast a few of the most superior software program options accessible within the U.S. EV market, together with continuous over-the-air updates. 

Picture by: InsideEVs

However as we reported earlier this week, as a result of they characterize a brand new sort of expertise that is much less ironed out than the purely inner combustion autos made during the last century, EVs and hybrids do appear to have extra points than their typical counterparts. Fortunately, CR informed InsideEVs in an e-mail, that is altering rapidly. “On common, EVs from the previous three mannequin years have had 42% extra issues than gas-only automobiles, in accordance with our unique survey knowledge. Which may sound like rather a lot, 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 expertise 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 knowledge has informed us for years,” CR mentioned. “Tried-and-true designs are usually extra dependable, and shoppers can be clever to attend a couple of years earlier than buying a automobile that’s been designed—or redesigned—from scratch.” (CR lacked adequate proprietor knowledge for different newcomers like Polestar and Lucid.)

Picture by: InsideEVs

The publication actually is not improper there and one other EV startup is an efficient 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 significantly better through the years; automobiles just like the Mannequin 3 and Mannequin Y scored “common” in CR reliability studies. The model as an entire 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 may 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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