The Jeep that we know has a rich history tied to it. It was a major part of the U.S. Army during World War II. American forces used this light military 4x4 to traverse tough conditions during the war. However, the popularity of Jeep continued post-war, and even after 78 years after launching the first vehicle, Jeep remains to be the epitome of an off-road vehicle. The Stellantis-owned brand produces only sports utility vehicles. Its line-up consists of crossovers, full off-road SUVs, and a pickup truck.

While Jeep arguably remained to be the sole leader within the "off-road" world, it now has a new nemesis in the form of Rivian in the EV world. Rivian is a relatively new player in the market and is dedicated to producing only EVs. Within just 14 years into the business, the California-based EV manufacturer has found a large customer base within the United States. The Rivian R1S and R1T are breaking new ground in the off-road department and many adventure enthusiasts are switching to these electrified beasts to satiate their hunger for adventure. Many even dub Rivian to be the Jeep within the EV world, and here we are to explore the same.

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Rivian Boasts Off-roading Prowess That's Synonymous With Jeep

Jeep has strategically placed itself within the automotive market to be symbolized with off-road special vehicles. As per the company, "Jeep" is associated with freedom, adventure, authenticity, and passion. Needless to say, the company has pulled that quite successfully by sticking to producing 4x4 go-anywhere, do-anything vehicles. Jeep has stayed true to its ethos for 80 years and promises to continue the same. It all began with the 4x4 army vehicle in the 1940s. Then came the Jamborees in the '50s, the Wagoneers in the '60s, the Cherokee SJs in the 70s, and XJs in the '80s. These were followed by Grand Cherokee ZJs and WJs in the '90s alongside Wrangler TJ. The 2000s saw the rise of the Wrangler Rubicon and Jeep's first step towards a small cross-utility segment with the Compass and Patriot.

Rivian seems to have mimicked this principle and stuck to the electric off-road SUV segment. However, the company had planned its first vehicle to be a sports car called R1. The mid-engine hybrid coupe was shelved as Rivian wanted to grab the market in a different and bigger way, thus were born the R1T and R1S. The company brought a manufacturing plant formerly owned by Mitsubishi Motors in Illinois that serves as its primary manufacturing facility. Rivian currently has two vehicles in its lineup. The five-seater electric pickup, the R1T, and a seven-seater electric SUV, the R1S. Both vehicles are hardwired for challenging terrains. A smaller and less-expensive version of R1S called the R2 is set to be launched by 2025.

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Specs That Can Rival Even Jeep

Jeep has set the benchmark when it comes to off-roading, period. The company has introduced the "Rubicon Trim" for the Gladiator and the Wrangler to showcase the same. The 2023 Wrangler Rubicon and the 2023 Gladiator Rubicon are equipped with a 3.6-liter V-6 engine that delivers 285 ponies and 260 pound-feet of torque. The powerful engine makes it easy for the Rubicon variants to overcome terrains that usually intimidate other off-road vehicles. Jeep even introduced the V-8-powered Rubicon 392 a few years back to up the ante.

Specs Comparison

However, the new player in the market that claims to take the off-roading experience to new heights has not only matched Jeep's special off-roading trims but also outsmarted them. Even the base R1S and R1T models equipped with a dual-motor deliver nearly double the horsepower compared to Jeep's Rubicon models.

Related: The Rivian R1T Is Considered The Most Off-Road Capable Electric Pickup Truck Yet; But Is It Really?

Off-roading Is In The Genes Of Both These Brands

As we discussed already, Jeep likes to raise the bar for itself, and it was clear from the Rubicon trims that the company introduced despite having a fleet of vehicles with impressive off-road capabilities. The 2024 Jeep Wrangler that goes by the "Wrangler Rubicon 392" nameplate has pushed the boundaries further. The Xtreme 35 Package is standard across this trim and can be equipped with the other models as well. It features massive 35-inch tires that give the vehicle a 12.9-inch ground clearance. The 47.4-degree approach angle and 40.4-degree departure angle ensure rocky roads do not act as a hurdle during your journey. The 34-inch water fording depth further ensures any surface is a road. While it is not surprising to see Jeep come forward with such extraordinary features and packages that make its vehicle an all-terrain beast, no one would expect the same from a relatively new player in the market.

However, Rivian has done more than a fine job in establishing its upper hand when it comes to manufacturing off-road vehicles. While neither R1S nor R1T could outdo the Wrangler Rubicon 392 in terms of approach and departure angles, they surely boast better ground clearance and water fording. Similar is the case with Jeep's closest electric offering — the 2024 Wrangler 4xe — a plug-in hybrid off-road SUV. This PHEV is equipped with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that delivers a combined 375 horses.

Off-Road Specs Comparison

What makes it even more interesting is that Rivian offers three drive systems for the customers to choose from. Those include — Dual-Motor AWD, Performance Dual-Motor AWD, and Quad-Motor AWD. The topmost trim is equipped with the quad-motor AWD setup as per the company's claims, that is the one you should go for if you need the ultimate off-roading experience. What makes the off-road vehicles from Rivian special is that even the base trim seems to have almost all (or even better) features and specs that of Jeep's 4x4s. Furthermore, the R1S and R1T feature independent air suspension, active damping, and hydraulic roll control.

Related: Why The Rivian R1T Is The Future Of Overlanding Vehicles

Rivian Has Earned The Rite Of Passage By Conquering The Rubicon Trail

While the news about EVs taking over gasoline vehicles was spreading, we were all concerned that these battery-oriented vehicles will be able to touch every base as their counterparts. High speed, efficient range, and off-road drive abilities were some of our major concerns. However, all the doubts were answered with time and Rivian holds a significant role in changing our perceptions about the off-road capabilities of an electric vehicle. The company claimed the R1S and the R1T could traverse any terrain and should be your ideal companion to conquer new challenges.

As a testament to the same, the Rivian R1S recently conquered the coveted "Rubicon Trail" to become the first production EV to achieve this feat. Rubicon Trail is a 22-mile-long route nestled in South Lake Tahoe, California. Jeep showcases the prowess of its vehicles in this trail. It also has a Wrangler and a Gladiator variant named after this trail. Now that Rivian has showboated what its R1S can do, it is certain that Rivian has major plans to penetrate the market that is now relished by Jeep. The stock R1S was equipped with a quad-motor setup and a set of 34-inch all-terrain Pirelli tires. The vehicle used approximately 75-percent of the total pack energy (equal to 3 gallons of gasoline) to complete the adventure. There were no mechanical failures reported.