Does the rear seat in the hummer fold up? I haven’t paid attention to that. I like the rear seat in my F-350 as it can fold up to allow more room and there are dividers that fold flat into the floor that I can pop up to create a box for containing stuff. My dogs prefer being on the seat to enjoy the view out the windows.
Reviewers seem to like complaining about the R1T cameras. This is weird to me because the camera quality is OK. Not great, but right on par with or better than most everyone else. On par with the rear camera in my Model S, better than the potato cameras in my Model Y or my Fords. That’s why it’s weird they say it’s not good. I’d love to know which vehicle cameras these reviewers think are actually good? The auto industry as a whole just kinda sucks at cameras and tech, with the exception of the engineering teams they’ve put together for driver assistance/ autopilot stuff. I can’t compare with the Hummer until I sit in the Hummer. It’s too bad that R1T does not have underbody cams like the Hummer, that would be a welcome addition with its off-road focus. The lack of a 360 camera view is weird although I expect them to add it via software since all the cameras are there. Same with trailer camera. Rear camera is good, we just don’t have the extra guides and features we see in other trucks that seem to mostly be a software addition if they do it.
I think one thing that throws people off about the Rivian camera quality is their use of screen space. They zoom the camera view to cover that 14” screen and the ”low” resolution and compression become very apparent. We had some of this in the Tesla S/X with the vertical display before the interface change. Every example I’ve seen of camera views in the Hummer have a smaller camera image in the middle of the screen. While it’s small, it helps it appear way clearer/sharper by not scaling it up.
R1T interface is a bit laggy, yet has seen noticeable improvements with regular updates. I would say it’s close to the same as Tesla’s MCU2 in terms of lag/performance, like almost there, which everyone wants to use as the benchmark. Rivian’s navigation is excellent.
As for satellite radio, I get some people like it. I personally can’t stand Sirius/XM as a company and their pricing shenanigans or constant telemarketing, er.. harassment. I suppose I’m not a fan of talk radio anyway and aside from sports, it always seemed to be the same stuff over and over again and paying monthly and still having commercials. Ugh. Having stuff while out in the middle of nowhere is important. I plan on building a new camp trailer soon and will be equipping it with StarLink.
As for Hummer and practicality, I really don’t see how it would fare better than the R1T in an overall score. It is a bit roomier inside. The bed is a few inches wider and 6” longer, yet 5” shorter when the tailgates are down. Hummer has no power outlets in the bed and no integrated spare tire storage. R1T has built in air compressor, spare tire/storage compartment, secure cable lock. Frunk is indeed smaller on the R1T but that gear tunnel is a huge deal. You don’t realize just how significant it is until you see it in person. I think it’s funny how everyone points out the lack of a glove box on the R1T. Sure, no traditionally placed glove box, but each seat has it’s own storage compartment and there’s way more storage/ cargo space on the R1T than the Hummer. Maybe I’m missing the allure of a glove box, so perhaps someone can enlighten me. I look at the glove box in all my vehicles and what’s in there…. Printed owners manual, registration. Yep, not going to miss having that space. I know some carry first aid kits or other small tools. I carry such things, just not in the glovebox as most cars it’s too small or awkwardly shaped.
Not sure Hummer will win on quality either. R1T quality is top notch. GM has a ton of convincing to do, at least for me, to show me they can build a reliable and quality vehicle of this size with these specs. If they’re using the same flat and unsupportive seats they’ve been using in the Sierra and other trucks, I wouldn’t buy the Hummer just for that reason alone. I’ve bought enough GM/Chevy trucks over the years to convince myself that I’d never buy another…. And then the Hummer EV comes along and I plunk down a reservation. Waiting for GM to convince me. I think the Hummer is cool, but I’m losing interest fast with the 1300lb cart, 7500lb towing and 329 mile rated range while it weighs 9000lbs and has a 200KWh battery. GM people dancing around the 3s 0-60 claim they’re unable to demonstrate and making excuses for — I always though that was being overstated anyway. And every time I see the truck accelerate or brake it has spongey rocking-horse suspension.
Still have my reservation and I’m not going anywhere yet. Plenty of time for GM to convince me on this one, if they can. It seems I wouldn’t be able to get mine for over a year anyway.
Hummer vs R1T
Practicality
Size in Parking lots and garages. The Hummer is 6” wider, but the same overall length, all of the extra width shows up in the cab, bed and frunk, so from a packaging efficiency standpoint the Hummer uses its overall footprint more effectively. The Hummer also utilized 4 wheel steering which in parking lots makes space centering much easier, and on trails switchbacks much easier. Crab Mode… 4 wheel steering is a game changer in a lot of situations Costco or mall parking lots included.
Interior storage, the Hummer has glove box, rear seats backs that open for secret storage and under rear seat storage.
Rivian has the gear tunnel, which is cool, but has limited real world use outside of the camp kitchen. I also think it’s only a matter of time until people in shorts start making complaints about walking into open gear tunnel doors that have some odd angles and will gash some people sooner or later. Rivian’s long tailgate mechanism is an overthought and complicated solution that the first time you are hauling topsoil or bark is going to get all gummed up and be broken.
Payload,
R1T with off road package has 1400 lbs payload, so a very slight advantage, and 11k lbs towing , which is a definite Rivian advantage over the Hummer EV.
Range,
The Rivian with a highway setup is 314 miles, but with off road tires Rivian says 10-15% less, I tend to think that because Rivian said 10-15% less, its closer to 15% in most circumstances, or Rivian would have just said 10% less. So that means the R1T with the 10.85 X 33” tires is 267 miles, and cut that in half while towing, hmmm, 130 miles 100% to zero, towing is basically worthless. Hummer with 12 X 35” off road tires has 329 miles of range, so a full 25% more which is very substantial. We need 3rd party range and charging data to go further on this conversation.
Off roading
The Hummer EV is a serious off roader, and will spank the TRX, and Raptor in most situations, just due to traction management, ground clearance, and approach/ departure angles. The Hummer is set up with rock sliders, and serious underbody structure, GM says you can high center it on a rock and drive off without damaging the battery. In most off roading situations the Rivian i going to look silly just due to the lesser traction tires. Rivian’s Pirelli tires are a compromise compared to the goodyears on the Hummer
***Hummer was also designed to clear 37” tires with no modifications, Rivian is maxed out at 33”
Tech,
This is the big one for the Hummer EV, GM packed this with all kinds of technology. GM’s camera system offers over 20 different views, including bed views, and trailer hitch direct
views, GM also offers hookups for trailer mounted cameras, and the overhead, and trailer eliminating views are useful as anyone with a current loaded GM truck knows. On the pickups when you hit the turn signal the view down that side of the trailer automatically comes up, which I find very useful. Then GM’s best feature is the rear view camera mirror, which is helpful with a load, people in the truck, or at night in a dark area.
Supercruise with fully automatic lane changing, and hands free is vastly superior to Rivian's features at this time.
Graphics GM has far superior vehicle graphics, and capabilities, drift gauges, suspension position gauges, etc etc etc.(Rivian has Gear Guard mode)
Walk up lighting, and charging display
800V series charging for the Hummer
Cool Factor
4 wheel steer and crab mode
Watts to Freedom launch mode (pre torquing the drivetrain so when all the power is unleashed it does not tear itself apart) The Rivian launches from a stop much softer, and most people who have driven in both say the Hummer is quicker, and far more brutal at launch.
Removable sky panels
Frameless doors, and drop down rear glass, to give the almost jeep like open air experience.
Looks
The Hummer is by far the better looking vehicle, and this one is not even close, I like the Rivian R1S, but the R1T is awkward looking and some of the proportions are just wrong, the Hummer Design is vastly superior.
Quality,
There have been many reports of R1T’s having quality issues with their build and even in Doug’s video you can see some poor fits, etc… Rivian is designed to be more luxurious, HummerEV more in your face, I like the Rivian better for a family car, and the Hummer better for an off roader.
Production, have any Rivian’s been sold to real customers yet? None that I have seen, and Rivian has been awfully quiet, seems like more delays are being quietly announced, and latest reports from the factory say lots of trucks are parked outside and not moving, are they having parts problems?
