Rivian R1T vs GMC Hummer EV Electric Pickup Trucks Powerhouse Performance

I've driven all 3 electric pickup trucks on the market here's why I'd buy the Rivian R1T over the F-150 Lightning or Hummer EV

• I drove all three electric pickup trucks on sale in the US.
• The Rivian R1T, Ford F-150 Lightning, and GMC Hummer EV are three very different takes on the electric truck.
• They all offer more than 300 miles of range and lots of interesting features.

Sleek Teslas got Americans interested in electric vehicles. Big pickups could launch them into the mainstream.

After all, Americans love their trucks.

And there's good news for anyone considering swapping their gas-drinking F-150 for something a little greener. Three battery-powered pickups are now on sale in the US, up from zero just over a year ago.

To some, they might all seem about the same. They all have a bed and some electric motors, and none come particularly cheap.

But the Ford F-150 Lightning, GMC Hummer EV, and Rivian R1T couldn't be more different. I drove all three and learned all about their highs, lows, and special features.

F-150 Lightning

The F-150 Lightning is the most traditional of the bunch. It looks nearly identical to the gas-powered F-150 inside and out and that was the point. Ford aimed to electrify its best-selling vehicle without messing with it too much.

There's an electric powertrain deep inside, but no need to relearn how to drive.

Stomping the accelerator instantly reminds you that you're not in just any truck, though. The Lightning's 775 pound-feet of torque and 580 horsepower enable it to scoot to 60 mph in around four seconds. Acceleration is instantaneous and a little scary in such a big vehicle. At highway speeds, the Lightning is surprisingly quiet.

With the optional larger battery pack, the Lightning earns a very healthy range rating of 320 miles from the EPA. (The base model is good for 240.)

And the Lightning delivers fun features that aren't possible in conventional trucks. Its spacious front trunk provides lockable storage that can fit a few duffel bags. Using several outlets scattered throughout the bed and frunk, the Lightning's battery can share enough energy to power a house for several days.

The Lighting has the most mainstream appeal of the three trucks and a relatively attainable price to match. The 2023 model starts at $51,974. But if you want maximum range, get ready to fork over $81,000 and up.

Rivian R1T

On the other end of the spectrum, you have the R1T, the very first model from the startup Rivian. The firm took the basic contours of a pickup and grabbed the opportunity to create something completely new and different.

The result is a high-end, tech-heavy, off-road truck aimed at outdoorsy types.

Like Tesla, Rivian shuns practically all regular buttons in favor of a big touchscreen that controls almost everything in the vehicle, from drive modes to the direction of the air vents. Tapping a screen for every little thing can get tiresome and distracting, but Rivian's interface is beautifully designed. And the lack of switches allows for a clean, minimalist interior.

What mainly blew me away about the R1T were its many, many thoughtful and one-of-a-kind features.

There's the Gear Tunnel, a cargo area that runs sideways behind the rear seats and has doors that double as steps or seats. There's an air compressor built into the bed for inflating tires after a day on the beach or trails. There's a flashlight that pops out from the driver's door and a portable speaker that lives under the center console.

And the truck's off-road capabilities are off the charts thanks to a monstrous powertrain, a comprehensive system of cameras, and an adjustable air suspension that provides up to 15 inches of ground clearance. I'm a novice off-roader if there ever was one, and I found great success on the trails simply pointing the R1T at treacherous obstacles and pressing the accelerator.

For now, the R1T starts at $87,000 and is only available with four motors and a 314-mile battery pack. Cheaper versions are on the way.

GMC Hummer EV

The new Hummer is a lot like the one that was discontinued 12 years ago. It's huge, excessive, and above all else a very good way to get noticed. The main difference is that this one guzzles electrons, not gas.

The Hummer EV is supremely capable, particularly in the $113,000 Edition 1 trim that I tested. It boasts 1,000 horsepower, three motors, a positively ridiculous 60-mph sprint of three seconds, and a segment-leading 329 miles of range. It's billed as a tremendous off-roader, but I wasn't able to test that out during my weekend loan.

Plus, it's packed with outlandish features that are just plain fun.

It has a removable roof made up of four glass panels. It has a large front trunk. It has a spacious, flashy interior and a screen that plays video game-like graphics every time you switch drive modes. (When you switch into Off-Road mode, for example, the display shows a Hummer trundling across the surface of Mars.)

The addition of rear-wheel steering enables the Hummer's most-hyped feature. With Crab Walk switched on, the Hummer's rear wheels turn the same direction as the fronts, allowing it to drive diagonally.

It's fun to experience, but doesn't seem all that practical on a day-to-day basis. And that pretty much sums up the Hummer as a whole.

Verdict

These trucks serve such vastly different needs and personalities that crowning a winner is almost no use. It's kind of like comparing a mountain bike, a road bike, and a folding bike they're just different. Still, since these are the only electric trucks available right now, there are bound to be at least a few people cross-shopping them.

For me a weekend adventurer who appreciates modern style and a smaller form factor the Rivian's friendlier proportions and outdoors-focused features take the cake.

Watch the Tesla Cybertruck take on a Rivian R1T and Hummer EV in an epic drag race [video]

Teslas Cybertruck is one of the most highly anticipated EV releases of all time. With the new electric truck officially rolling out, many want to see how it stacks up against the competition. Watch the Cybertruck take on the Rivian R1T and Hummer EV in an exciting drag race in the video below.

Rivians R1T was the first electric pickup to hit the US market in September 2021, beating out the GMC Hummer EV by a few months.

Although both are all-electric trucks, they are very different models. Rivian aims for the R1T to be the ultimate adventure vehicle. In other words, a truck built for whatever you call a road.

With 14.9 inches of ground clearance, Rivians R1T can drive through 3 feet of water, rock crawl a 100% grade, and take off as quickly as a sports car (0-60 mph in 3 seconds).

Meanwhile, GM describes its Hummer EV pickup as a supertruck with up to 1,000 horsepower, 11,500 lb-ft of torque, and features like Crabwalk. With available Watts to Freedom, the electric Hummer truck can also hit 0-60 in approx. 3 seconds.

Now, enter the Cybertruck. Tesla finally launched the Cybertruck last week after a two-year delay.

Just by looking at it, you can tell the electric truck is in a league of its own. Teslas CEO Elon Musk wanted to challenge the status quo with an electric truck that offers more utility than a regular-size pickup with the performance of a Porsche 911.

Tesla Cybertruck vs Rivian R1T, Hummer EV drag race

The highest-trim Cyberbeast boasts three motors with 845 combined horsepower and 10,296 lb-ft of torque. It can race from 0-60 mph in 2.6 seconds.

Does Rivians Quad Motor R1T with the Large Battery Pack have enough to keep up? The AWD powertrain delivers 835 horsepower and 908 lb-ft of torque.

The folks over at Hagerty set the Tesla Cybertruck race up in an epic showdown in their recent video. As you can see, the Rivian proved to be no match for the Cybertruck. Despite being 7 inches longer and 4 inches wider, Teslas Cybertruck weighs less than the R1T.

The Cybertruck hit a quarter mile in 11 seconds at 119 mph, while the R1T finished in 11.7 seconds at 110 mph.

To put the Cybertruck to the test, the team put it up against something with more horsepower. GMs Hummer EV 3X delivers 1,000 horsepower and 11,500 lb-ft of torque, but is it enough to beat the Cyberbeast?

Not quite. The Hummer EV finished slower than the Rivian in 11.9 seconds at 106 mph. Thats not surprising, given the supertruck weighs over 9,000 lbs.

According to Hagerty, this makes the Cybertuck the quickest truck ever (electric or gas). That includes 0-60 and a quarter-mile. It will also smoke the 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R (12 seconds) and 2022 Ram 1500 TRX (12.2 seconds) in a quarter-mile.

Although the Tesla Cybertruck is faster in a race, Rivians R1T is more efficient, according to EPA data.

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CarBuzz

Not even a dozen years ago was there such a thing as an all-electric vehicle daily driver. The Nissan Leaf didn't arrive until 2010 and the Tesla Model S in 2012. Fast-forward to the present and things are very different. Every major automaker is racing to launch EVs in nearly all segments, including pickup trucks. In fact, the EV truck wars have officially gotten underway despite the fact these vehicles have not even hit the road yet. But they will very soon.

The latest entry is the just-revealed 2022 GMC Hummer. With 1,000 horsepower and 11,500 lb-ft of torque (that's not a typo), the reborn Hummer is an EV supertruck that will face of directly against the also upcoming Tesla Cybertruck, Rivian R1T, and Bollinger B2. All of these American-engineered and built battery-electric trucks bring their own unique flavors to battle, but which one ranks supreme?

Given that a majority of their vital specs are already available, it's time to have the first of many comparisons.

Styling

The most dynamic-looking of the foursome are the Hummer, Cybertruck, and B2. The Hummer, however, harkens back to the original H1 and Hummer fans should like what they see here. Those who don't may well prefer the R1T due to its far more conventional truck design. It's certainly less "in-your-face" and won't necessarily stand out from the rest of the pack. It offends no one. .And then there's the B2. Its rugged styling almost looks as if it was directly inspired by old-school Land Rovers with a purpose-built design.

The interiors of all four trucks are representative of their exterior designs. The Hummer's cabin takes advantage of its military origins and blends it with a futuristic look with a 13.4-inch touchscreen and 12.3-inch driver's gauge display. The Cybertruck's interior looks like something you'd find in a spaceship with all main controls located in one massive touchscreen. The R1T, meanwhile, is more conservative-looking, but certainly no less attractive. It has a 15.6-inch touchscreen display though the overall cabin layout is more in line with new vehicles in general. The B2's interior is heavily military-inspired and definitely doesn't have mass appeal.

Notable Features

GMC has decades of truck-building experience and it shows. Its MultiPro Tailgate has six functional positions and its 4 Wheel Steer system with CrabWalk is utterly brilliant. We also dig the removable transparent Sky Panels that can be stored in the frunk when not in use. The Hummer also comes equipped with an adaptive air suspension.

Instead of a traditional bed, Tesla describes the Cybertruck's as a vault. Measuring 6.5-feet long and finished in stainless steel, there's a slide-out lamping ramp and there's no intrusion from the wheel wells. And despite a slight issue at its reveal, there are Armor Glass windows.

The R1T has its own cool tricks such as the Tank Turn and its gear tunnel cargo compartment that stretches the width of the vehicle underneath the floor of the bed and directly behind the cabin. This could easily be used as a built-in camping kitchen.

The B2's most defining feature is its frunkgate, enabling objects up to 16 feet long to pass directly through the center. There's also the fold-away rear wall that, once opened, extends the five-foot, nine-inch cargo bed by an additional two feet. We also dig its removable doors, windows, roof panels, and windshield.

Range, Power, And Performance

For this comparison, we're using figures from the top-trim of each truck. If you're looking for maximum range, the Cybertruck is for you with its EPA-estimated 500+ miles with the tri-motor setup. Tesla claims a 0-60 mph time of 2.9 seconds and an estimated 800 hp and 1,000 lb-ft.

The Hummer Edition 1 has around 1,000 hp and a staggering combined 11,500 lb-ft at the wheels. Again, the official range has not been announced but GMC estimates it at 350 miles.

The R1T has a 750 hp and 829 lb-ft rating and a claimed 400-mile range. Expect to go from 0-60 mph in about three seconds.

The B2 is equipped with dual electric motors for a combined 614 hp and 688 lb-ft. Zero to 60 happens in just 4.5 seconds although it'll deliver only 200 miles on a single charge.

Payload, Towing, And Battery Size

Again, we're using figures from the top-of-the-line variants here and, unfortunately, none of this data has been released for the Hummer just yet. Still, it's important to compare what figures we do have.

The Cybertruck's towing capacity is rated at 14,000 pounds and payload is 3,500 pounds. Its battery size has yet to be announced though previous estimates pegged it around 250 kWh.

The R1T has up to a 180 kWh battery and an 11,000-pound maximum towing rating. The payload capacity is 1,760 pounds.

Bollinger says the B2 can tow up to 7,500 pounds and carry a payload up to 5,001 pounds, and it features a 120 kWh battery pack.

To put these truck's payload and towing capabilities into some greater perspective, the new 2021 Ford F-150 has a maximum payload capacity of 3,325 pounds when equipped with the naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8. Towing capability reaches up to 14,000 pounds when powered with the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6, though you'll also have to select two-wheel drive and the Max Trailer package.

Pricing And Honorable Mentions

The 2022 GMC Hummer Edition 1 isn't cheap with its $112,595 price tag. In the coming few years, less expensive (though less powerful) models will become available. However, the cheapest Hummer will still set you back $79,995. The Rivian R1T starts at $69,000, though rumor has it that figure could drop somewhat. Still, its costs over $10k less than the cheapest Hummer. The Bollinger B2 also doesn't come cheap. Buyers are being asked to hand over $125,000 and to reserve one requires a $1,000 refundable deposit. But if you're looking for the cheapest of the bunch, the Cybertruck is the winner with its starting price of $39,990. Of course, that's for the single motor RWD variant. Still, a fully-loaded tri-motor AWD truck costs $69,900. Yes, the top-tier Cybertruck costs nearly the same as the base R1T and $10k less than the base Hummer.

We also want to add a few honorable mentions to this list, specifically the Lordstown Endurance and 2022 Ford F-150 EV. The Nikola Badger's future, at the moment, remains uncertain.

So, which of these trucks is best for you?