Can the identical car model sit each on the backside of householders’ scores by way of reliability and on the prime by way of general proprietor satisfaction? When that model is Rivian, the reply is a resonant sure.
Rivian ranked primary in satisfaction for the second yr in a row, with homeowners particularly giving their R1S and R1T electrical car (EV) excessive marks by way of consolation, pace, drivability and ease of use, based on the most recent Client Experiences’ (CR) proprietor satisfaction survey.
And Rivian homeowners’ love doesn’t cease there: 86% of them would purchase once more from the California-based EV maker. That places Rivian nicely forward of BMW and Tesla, the subsequent two contenders by way of proprietor satisfaction.
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But Rivian, a reasonably new EV producer, sinks to the underside of the CR survey by way of reliability.
“Since EV know-how remains to be comparatively new, automakers proceed to work the bugs out of their powertrains and platforms,” says Steven Elek, who oversees auto knowledge analytics at Client Experiences. “However we additionally see points with their non-EV parts, akin to the most recent infotainment and digital options.”
CR’s survey gathered knowledge from homeowners of about 300,000 autos of the 2022 to 2024 mannequin years. For reliability, it measures 20 hassle areas, starting from nuisances—squeaky brakes and damaged inside trim—to main bummers, akin to doubtlessly costly issues involving out-of-warranty engines, transmissions, EV batteries, and EV charging.
As CR notes, Rivian wasn’t the one automaker receiving mismatched scores by way of satisfaction and reliability. BMW, which got here in second by way of satisfaction, additionally obtained mediocre scores for reliability. Against this, Subaru was ranked as essentially the most general dependable model, whereas receiving common satisfaction scores.
“Proprietor satisfaction scores for a model or specific automobile won’t all the time match up with its reliability, particularly for brand new fashions,” CR says. “Even vehicles that require frequent journeys to a dealership restore store could make homeowners comfortable as a result of the new-car warranties take the monetary sting out of an unreliable car.”