Consumer Reports has released its annual owner survey, revealing Rivian as the most beloved brand among all car manufacturers, earning a perfect 5 out of 5 stars. Rivian leads the “owner would buy again” category, with an impressive 86% of owners expressing their intention to purchase another Rivian vehicle in the future.
Despite earlier negative feedback from Consumer Reviews about the R1S, labeling it as one of the worst cars of 2023, consumer sentiment appears to contradict these findings.
Rivian emerges as a frontrunner across several key categories, including comfort, driving experience, cabin storage, and ownership cost, which encompasses fuel and maintenance expenses. Notably, electric vehicles typically excel in the latter category.
However, Rivian falters in one aspect: the usability of its interface, likely due to the heavy reliance on a digital touchscreen interface at the expense of analog controls.
Rivian’s remarkable performance ahead of competitors, such as Tesla, could be attributed in part to its smaller brand size.
With a product lineup consisting of only two vehicles, Rivian faces less variability in quality compared to more established brands, where individual models may vary widely in performance. Moreover, smaller brands often boast superior customer service standards.
Tesla, once a frontrunner with scores exceeding 90% in previous years, has now slipped to fifth place, receiving a 74% score in 2023.
Nevertheless, Rivian stands alone among 29 brands in earning a flawless 5/5 star rating, a testament to its exceptional standing among consumers. With approximately 330,000 participants contributing to the survey, Rivian’s achievement holds significant weight.
