Rivian R1T vs. Electric Truck Rivals (2025): Which EV Pickup Is Best?
TL;DR (Who Should Buy What)
Best all-rounder:Rivian R1T balanced range (up to 420 mi), excellent on/off-road manners, clever storage, strong towing (11,000 lb).
Best value / lowest entry price:Ford F-150 Lightning widest dealer network, starts far lower than Rivian, max tow 10,000 lb (ER battery).
Longest range potential & fastest charging:Chevy Silverado EV up to 492-mile WT and record fast-charge results.
Quickest & most polarizing:Tesla Cybertruck brutal acceleration, 11,000-lb tow, but multiple recalls and higher real-world price.
Extreme off-road look and presence:GMC Hummer EV outrageous power/tech, heavy and pricey, efficiency lags.
Key Specs & Pricing (2025 U.S.)
Rivian R1T - $71,700+; range 258–420 mi; max tow 11,000 lb; payload ~1,764 lb. Tri-motor up to 850 hp, 0–60 in 2.7 s (tested). DC fast charge up to 220 kW.
Ford F-150 Lightning - $52,375–$87,590; range 240–320 mi; max tow 10,000 lb (ER); payload up to ~2,000 lb.
Tesla Cybertruck — current MSRPs commonly $71,985 (Long Range) / $81,985 (AWD) / $101,985+ (Cyberbeast); tow up to 11,000 lb; ranges vary ~300+ mi; range-extender canceled.
Chevrolet Silverado EV - $57,095–$97,895; range 282–492 mi depending on trim; max tow 12,500 lb; payload up to 1,800 lb; very fast DC charging (avg 198 kW in testing).
GMC Hummer EV (pickup) - typically ~$99,045+; range 311–381 mi depending on battery/options; tow 7,500–12,000 lb (12k on dual-motor). Heavy, lower efficiency.
Real-World Strengths
Rivian R1T - Why it’s great
Best balance of performance, range (up to 420 mi with Max pack), and everyday usability; outstanding storage (frunk + gear tunnel).
Off-road composure and ride quality improved for 2025; robust towing rating (11k).
Ford F-150 Lightning — Why consider it
Lowest entry price and familiar F-150 package; BlueCruise available; huge dealer & service network; bi-directional power for home backup.
Tesla Cybertruck - Where it shines
Insane acceleration and high tow rating; distinctive design; supercharger access. But mind pricing/availability and recall history.
Chevy Silverado EV - Standout features
Segment-leading range potential (WT Max Range up to 492 mi); 12,500-lb tow; strong charging performance; available midgate for cargo.
GMC Hummer EV - Unique appeal
Wild performance/tech (CrabWalk, Watts-to-Freedom), legit trail kit; but efficiency, braking, and size are tradeoffs.
Charging & Range Notes
R1T: 10–80% in ~30–41 minutes depending on pack; Large/Max packs up to 220 kW. Highway range varies a lot by tires and towing.
Lightning: DC fast-charge 15→80% ~44 min; towing cuts range by ~⅔ in testing.
Cybertruck: 325 kW peak Supercharging; range-extender no longer offered.
Silverado EV:Fast-charge champion in C/D testing (avg ~198 kW); highway test hit ~400 mi on RST.
Hummer EV: Peak charge seen ~287 kW, but average much lower; highway range test ~290 mi.
Towing & Payload (headline numbers)
R1T: tow 11,000 lb; payload ~1,764 lb.
Lightning: tow up to 10,000 lb (ER); payload up to ~2,000 lb.
Cybertruck: tow up to 11,000 lb.
Silverado EV: tow 12,500 lb; payload up to 1,800 lb.
Hummer EV:7,500–12,000 lb depending on motors; tri-motor tows less than dual-motor.
Pricing & Value (why one costs more)
R1T starts higher but brings up to 420-mi range, luxe cabin, and adventure features; warranty 5 yr/60k bumper-to-bumper, 8 yr/175k battery/drive.
Lightning undercuts rivals and is easiest to buy/maintain via Ford’s network; extended-range trims push the price up.
Cybertruck pricing is volatile by trim/fees; entry Long Range now slots under AWD/Cyberbeast.
Silverado EV ranges from WT to luxury RST; LT often the sweet spot for features vs. price.
Hummer EV commands super-truck money with super-truck presence; efficiency is the penalty.
Common Issues & Recalls (what to know)
Rivian R1T: Owner forums report 12-V battery faults tied to software/charging events on some units; watch for service bulletins.
F-150 Lightning: 2024–2025 battery cell defect recall on a subset of trucks for potential short circuit/fire risk; earlier guidance limited charge to 80% pending fix.
Tesla Cybertruck: 2024 recall for accelerator pedal cover that could stick; later recalls include inverter/propulsion loss on some trucks; Tesla canceled the range-extender accessory.
Chevy Silverado EV: Early recalls include pedestrian alert sound compliance and ESC light issue on limited batches; check VIN with NHTSA.
GMC Hummer EV: Prior campaigns for battery pack sealing / water intrusion risk on earlier model years; confirm fixes applied.
Tip: Any EV truck will lose a lot of range while towing at highway speeds-plan routes around high-speed DC fast charging and, if possible, choose smaller tires and the largest battery offered. C/D’s tests show dramatic towing penalties across trucks.
