James May does not like pickup trucks, or at least he says he never has. So a road trip across Virginia in a Rivian R1T, chosen for him by his companions Lucy and Eve, was always going to be a test of that position. The video is a travelogue more than a spec review, full of diners, frozen custard and an extended argument about contactless payment, but May lands on a clear verdict by the end: this is a pickup he actually likes. He praises the styling, calls the cabin comfortable and Scandinavian in feel, and is taken with the gear tunnel, the pass-through storage space behind the cab that doubles as a step and a seat. He also notes what the R1T gets wrong for him, chiefly the lack of Apple CarPlay, before deciding the truck drives more like a tall luxury car than a workhorse.
The R1T sits in a part of the market that barely existed five years ago: the premium electric pickup. Its most obvious rival is the Tesla Cybertruck, and May draws that comparison himself, joking that the Cybertruck would swallow more luggage while preferring the Rivian on looks and feel. For buyers, the trade he circles is the one that defines this segment. A truck like the R1T is heavy, fast, and loaded with clever storage, but it is also large, and May admits it would be too big for British roads. The gear tunnel is the kind of feature that does not show up on a spec sheet but changes how people use the vehicle, offering lockable, weatherproof storage that opens from both sides and that a traditional open bed cannot match. The video also points to a powered tonneau cover over the load bay and available bed power outlets, with Rivian selling a tailgate cooker accessory for tailgate parties. That practicality, rather than the headline performance, is what tends to win over skeptics.
On performance, May says the R1T he drove was the most powerful version, which he puts at around 1,000 horsepower when set to its highest mode, and the video shows him keeping it in a conservation setting, which he says runs front-wheel drive, for much of the trip to preserve range. The acceleration, when he does use it, clearly impresses him. His criticisms are specific and measured: the ride is a little firm on the large all-terrain tires fitted to this car, and he finds the steering somewhat vague when driving manually. He likes that the suspension and drive characteristics are adjustable, rates the interior storage including the large center console, and calls the cabin design comfortable and Scandinavian in style. The CarPlay omission is the one he keeps returning to, calling it a real negative. By the close, all three travelers agree they would choose the R1T over a Cybertruck, and May, who began the trip insisting he is not a pickup person, ends it saying he has finally found a pickup he likes.
Bottom line: celebrity road trip videos are not crash-test data, and May is reviewing vibe as much as engineering. But his reaction is still a useful signal: the R1T wins people over on the things you only notice after living with it, like the gear tunnel and the car-like manners, not on raw numbers or a spec sheet. If you want an electric pickup that feels like a premium SUV and rarely reminds you it has a bed, this is the one to drive first. If you need CarPlay or a truck that fits a tight driveway, look harder elsewhere. A self-described pickup skeptic ending the trip wanting one is the review in a single line.
Commentary on a third-party video. Figures and claims are as presented in the source and have not been independently verified. Spotted an error? Tell us and we will correct it.