Rivian R1T or R1S obsoletes locking diffs?

[userdude]

Saw this on Ars Technica, had a bit of a laff. Extreme terrain? As someone noted in the comments, I didn't see anything about travel, articulation, breakover angle, etc. I think somebody got a little ahead of themselves.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2025/0...d-r1s-beat-the-competition-in-any-conditions/

The "tank turn" or whatever sounds like what we have already, but backwards: hard to use but probably legitimately works better (e.g. not likely to fry an axle...). One day! But what they're showing I doubt it's ready to show off for the bros at Moab, really.

Rolling dirty

The second half of my time behind the wheel was spent in an R1S Quad-Motor outfitted with the more aggressively treaded Pirelli Scorpion tires. That three-row SUV brought me up and over some astonishingly tricky terrain, including a sheer rock wall that, on foot, would have required a ladder.

Over loose gravel and tricky articulations, the new Quad showed its ability to lean on those tires with grip while quickly cutting power to those left hanging in the air. This is the kind of next-level traction management that trumps locking differentials and makes an R1 Quad-Motor a cinch to drive up even the most extreme terrain.

It was easy going down, too. On loose surfaces, with the regen set to maximum and the SUV's central display showing the output of the individual motors, I could see how each corner of the vehicle dynamically ramped its regen up or down to match the available grip. The result was a clean, straight descent.

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[Spooled]

To be fair, independent motors at each wheel would be superior to locking diffs IF the software is there to make it work well.

The tank turn feature is much like the trail turn assist, something you use sparingly and/or as a party trick. I would never use it on a trail.

 

[crenca]

I think somebody got a little ahead of themselves.

This reviewer:

https://www.roadandtrack.com/reviews/a65319881/2026-rivian-r1t-quad-motor-review-calculated-excess/

Who seems to have a bit more real experience (though is possibly just confused), comments how the Rivian programming in the end is not superior to real lockers despite praising it at first:

"...The flexibility provided by four-wheel motor control gives the Quad a leg up over lesser Rivians despite lacking any sort of genuine or simulated locker....Endless torque is an advantage off-road no matter how you shake it....That said, the independent motor control doesn't provide the same sure-footedness as a real differential. The Quad got over everything I threw at it without acquiring any new marks or dings, but it spun its tires over slick stuff in a way some might find disconcerting. Yet, while it's hard to train yourself to push deeper on the pedal when slipping on a boulder, that's the proper technique to employ...."

It appears the traction control programming is too loose, too close to an open or weak LSD. Seems like the Rivians (assuming they ever get out of the mall parkeing lot) will be digging even deeper holes on a trail near you as @7000lbs it has more to work with than your local Bro's in their F150's with bracket lifts and no lockers

 

[userdude]

To be fair, independent motors at each wheel would be superior to locking diffs IF the software is there to make it work well.

The tank turn feature is much like the trail turn assist, something you use sparingly and/or as a party trick. I would never use it on a trail.

Oh yeah, one day. Like I said though, a little early. It's hard to take a review about "off roading" seriously when they don't seem to really understand what it is about but are super wowed.

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