Rivian R1T Performance Dual Motor vs. Quad Motor: What’s the Difference?

Key Points

• The Rivian R1T Performance Dual Motor and Quad Motor configurations both outperform the Ford F-150 Lightning.
• The Performance Dual Motor offers more overall range and access to the Max battery pack, while the Quad Motor has more power and torque vectoring for each wheel.
• Both configurations come with a 16-inch infotainment panel, but lack Apple CarPlay or Android Auto support.
• Driver+ safety features, including automated emergency braking and adaptive cruise control, are standard in both configurations.
• Rivian offers a stellar warranty with five years or 60,000 miles of coverage on the limited warranty and eight years or 175,000 miles of coverage on electronic components.

The Rivian R1T has made quite a splash on the EV market since its introduction. Prospective buyers might ask themselves about the differences between the Rivian R1T dual motor vs. quad motor packages.

Both offer stellar performance, especially when compared to contemporary electric pickup trucks. But, there are some notable differences between these two trim packages. Given the substantial price difference between the two, figuring out which is best for you can be a bit daunting.

If you’re in the market for an electric pickup truck, the Rivian R1T is a great choice. Before you take the plunge and start putting together your order, let’s take a closer look at the differences between these two trim packages. You might find one suits your needs far better than the other.

Rivian R1T Performance Dual Motor vs. Quad Motor: Side-by-Side Comparison

Both the Performance Dual Motor and Quad Motor configurations have some similarities as you can see in the above table. Their actual on-road testing is something else entirely, however.

Rivian R1T Performance Dual Motor vs. Quad Motor: What’s the Difference?

Both the R1T Performance Dual Motor and Quad Motor very easily outperform the Ford F-150 Lightning. There are enough differences present to sway which one might work best for you, however.

Performance

The Performance Dual Motor R1T is no slouch when it comes to power. Each of the motors provides over 350 horsepower, equating to 700 or so horsepower in total. Combined with a stellar all-wheel drive drivetrain, it makes for a truck that can work and play quite hard.

The Performance Dual Motor also has more overall range using the Large Pack option available from Rivian. You also get access to the Max battery pack, which can extend the mileage up to 400 miles when using 21-inch tires.

The Quad Motor option has more power on tap, with 835 horsepower available in its base configuration. It is certainly fast on the draw, going from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 3 seconds flat. The extra power comes with the caveat that the Quad Motor doesn’t come with access to the Max battery pack.

The extra power also makes the general range of the vehicle suffer with the 21-inch tire option clocking in at 328 miles at the maximum.

Both models feature a Rivian proprietary technology called Torque Vectoring. This essentially allows the vehicle’s differential to discern how much torque to place upon each motor. Torque Vectoring helps in navigating rocky terrain or inclement conditions.

The Performance Dual Motor features this technology for both the front and rear axles. However, the Quad Motor allows the R1T to distribute torque independently to each of the four wheels. If you’re a fan of off-roading, the Quad Motor might be a better overall fit.

Electronics

Both the Performance Dual Motor and Quad Motor come with a 16-inch infotainment panel that sits within a recessed space on the dashboard. The interface itself is easy to navigate, opting for options that slide out rather than multiple submenus.

A curious omission is the lack of Apple CarPlay or Android Auto support, especially for a vehicle in this price range. When you consider even the low-end EVs on the market have at least basic support for these options, the Rivian certainly feels a bit lacking.

Charging support is fairly standard across the board for both models. Rivian does have its own charging network, but the connection itself is a standard CHADeMO or J1772 charging port. These are plentiful across the country, so you won’t find yourself scrambling to plan a trip.

The Rivian infotainment panel does lack some of the functionality of a comparable Tesla, especially given the price point. It lacks the more robust media functionality you might expect of a high-end EV. Functionally, the operating system and features are functionally the same between both models.

Safety Features

Every model of the Rivian lineup comes with Driver+. This is a hands-free suite of safety features that allow for safer driving overall. Of course, it cannot replace an attentive and aware driver behind the wheel.

Both the Performance Dual Motor and Quad Motor configurations come with automated emergency braking, lane-departure warning systems, and adaptive cruise control features. These are fairly standard across the board for mid to high-end EVs, so it isn’t too surprising to see them here.

Driver+ also comes with parking assists, thanks to a full 360° of coverage with sensors and cameras alike. A wonderful feature that is part of this suite is the trailer assist. Thanks to the Rivian sensors, you can be aware of what is happening behind the vehicle while you’re actually hauling a trailer.

Overall, Driver+ is a solid suite of safety features. It may not do the Tesla AutoPilot self-driving, but there is more than enough to keep you safe on the road.

Warranty Information

Rivian has a stellar warranty when compared to other EV manufacturers. It is readily comparable to a company like Hyundai, at least in terms of the duration of the warranty itself.

You can expect five years or 60,000 miles of coverage on the limited warranty coverage. This will account for manufacturer defects, faulty construction, and other maladies where Rivian itself is at fault.

The electronic components come with eight years or 175,000 miles of coverage. This is quite a bit of coverage to cover both the transmission, batteries, and motors. Granted, all of those components should last for quite a while as is.

It is a better overall warranty package than offerings from both Tesla and Ford. Rivian sadly has not packaged together complimentary scheduled maintenance. That isn’t a knock against the R1T’s warranty coverage, however. Bundled maintenance coverage is more of an exception rather than the norm.

Rivian R1T Performance Dual Motor vs. Quad Motor: 6 Must-Know Facts

1. The Performance Dual Motor configuration has one of the highest overall ranges of any EV on the market.
2. The Performance Dual Motor configuration has more horsepower than the Ford F-150 Lightning.
3. The Performance Dual Motor can tow the same 11,000 pounds of cargo that any R1T can haul.
4. The Quad Motor has independent wheel control thanks to an engine per tire.
5. The Quad Motor is one of the highest-performance EVs available for commercial purchase.
6. The Quad Motor is the only readily available package available from Rivian.

Rivian R1T Performance Dual Motor vs. Quad Motor: Which is Better? Which Should You Choose?

When it comes down to it, it’s hard to recommend the Quad Motor outside of personal preference. What you lose in overall raw performance with the Performance Dual Motor is made up for by a longer range, lower price, and the same towing capacity.

Now, if you’re an avid off-roader or you’re planning on using the R1T for work, then the Quad Motor is a solid choice. If you’re just looking for a comfortable daily driver capable of work and play, then the Performance Dual Motor is a more sensible choice.

The major drawback to the Performance Dual Motor is it is not readily available for purchase in the same manner as the Quad Motor configuration. You can buy Quad Motor R1Ts readily at local dealerships, you’ll have to place a reservation to get a Performance Dual Motor.

This is bound to change as Rivian sorts out its own supply issues. If you need a truck now, get the Quad Motor. If you’re willing to wait, the Performance Dual Motor is a very sensible option.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©Miro Vrlik Photography/Shutterstock.com.