Electric pickup trucks are becoming ever more popular, and the introduction of the Ford F-150 Lightning and the Rivian R1T is evidence of this trend. These two trucks are designed to offer the benefits of EV technology but with different approaches.
The Lightning is designed for traditional truck buyers, while the Rivian is an adventure truck for outdoor enthusiasts. Compared to the 2022 Rivian R1T, the new Ford F-150 Lightning offers a lower starting price, a standard dual-motor electric powertrain, and two different battery pack sizes. At Sioux Falls Ford, we'll help you choose the truck that's right for you.
Price
Ford is a giant automaker seeking to offer its vehicles at the best price. The F-150 Lightning is priced to fit the budget of all its consumers. Rivian is a new car manufacturer and has designed its pickup to meet the demands of adventure-seeking drivers, but it comes with a relatively high price.
The Rivian R1T base model has an MSRP of $67,500, which increases to $75,000 for the upgraded trim that includes features such as underbody shielding, an air compressor, tow hooks, aerated front seats, and wood trims. Add the 180 kWh battery, and this goes up another $10,000. If you opt for the more advanced option, which includes a range of tires, accessories, and paint colors, you will pay almost $90,000.
The 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning is considerably less expensive, with the MSRP starting at $46,974 for the Pro trim, which is the base model. The XLT trim level is priced at about $59,474, while the Lariat trim starts at $74,474, and the high-end Platinum trim starts at $96,874.
Exterior
The 2022 model year of the F-150 Lightning was Ford's first full-size EV truck. It offers what automotive buyers have loved about the current generation — a rugged yet beautiful design that is one of the best-looking trucks in this category.
While the Lightning shares much of its body panel styling with its gasoline counterpart, it has some unique extra features, including the front grille, taillights, and headlights. It also has an optional LED light bar up front. You can also choose three different wheel sizes: 18-, 20-, and 22-inch aluminum alloy wheels.
On the other hand, the Rivian has an unconventional exterior design. The truck doesn't have the storied history of the F-150, so its designers started from scratch. The Rivian is a mid-sized truck that doesn't have the big bed size that the Lightning offers. However, it features LED lights with a simple front and rear end.
Range and Power
The F-150 Lightning and the Rivian R1T boast impressive range numbers. The 2023 Ford F-150 has two range options. A standard-range battery will deliver an estimated 230 miles of range for all trims. The extended-range battery provides 320 miles, except for the Platinum trim, which gives 300 miles of range.
The Rivian R1T on the 135 kWh lithium-ion battery pack delivers 300 miles of range. The larger 280 kWh pack provides at least 400 miles of range, and the smaller 105 kWh battery manages 230 miles.
The Rivian is the winner with its 400 miles of range. However, buying a Lightning that offers 300 miles is slightly cheaper than an R1T with the same capacity. So you can go further with the Rivian, but it'll cost you more.
Every R1T has four electric motors across its two axles, delivering a joint output of 750 hp and 820 lb-ft of torque. The 105 kWh battery R1T has a lower output of 402 hp.
The Lightning has two electric motors, one on each of its two axles. The standard-range pickups have 426 hp, while the extended-range vehicles have 563 hp. Regardless of the battery pack, all trucks have 75 lb-ft of torque.
Towing and Payload
Pickups are designed to handle as much weight as possible, and the Lightning and Rivian R1T are no different. The F-150 is better for the worksite than the trailhead, with an approach angle of 25.4 degrees, a break-over angle of 17.8 degrees, and a departure angle of 24.2 degrees. It has a ground clearance of 8.9 inches.
The F-150 provides its users with all the capabilities most truck owners desire but doesn't aim to match the Rivian's adventure lifestyle. Therefore, the Lightning and the Rivian both have strong but different capabilities. The Ford can tow a maximum of 10,000 lbs and haul up to 2,000 lbs of payload.
The Rivian is an excellent off-road truck. It has an approach angle of 34 degrees, a break-over angle of 25.7 degrees, and a departure angle of 29.3 degrees. It is capable of towing up to 11,000 lbs. It can rock crawl at a 100% grade, wade through more than 3 feet of water, and has 14 inches of ground clearance.
Cargo Space
The Rivian R1T is 217.1 inches long and 81.8 inches wide, with a wheelbase of 135.9 inches. It stands 75.7 inches tall if you include the antenna. Altogether, the gear tunnel, bed, and front trunk will hold 68 cubic feet of cargo, and the gear tunnel behind the cabin can accommodate up to 300 pounds.
The Lightning is very similar to the gasoline-powered F-150 in size. It measures 232.7 inches long, 83.6 inches wide, has a wheelbase of 145.5 inches, and is 78.9 inches tall. The front trunk holds up to 14.1 cubic feet and 400 lbs of cargo. The bed can carry up to 52.8 cubic feet.
Safety
The two trucks come with similar safety features. The R1T comes standard with a hands-free driver assist system. It also features adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane centering, blind-spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alerts, and lane-keep assist.
The Lightning also features automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keep assist, and blind-spot monitors with cross-traffic alerts. You can also expect adaptive cruise control and BlueCruise (Ford's hands-free driver assist system).
The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning is Ford's first all-electric full-size pickup truck, and it has numerous premium features and innovations not seen in other trucks. It comes with Ford Co-Pilot360 active safety features, a front trunk with lots of space, and the latest technology. It compares favorably to its Rivian R1T rival.
If you're interested in buying this new truck from Ford, you can reserve your Ford F-150 Lightning today at Sioux Falls Ford.
* Image by David French is licensed with Unsplash License.