2020 Rivian R1T vs F-150

On paper, the R1T is an incredible new contender for the segment. The question has to be asked if it's good enough to rival that of Americas best selling pickup, the Ford F-150. From what we’ve gathered about Rivian’s new electric pickup, it has the versatility, power, and capability that every buyer is looking for in their next truck.

In terms of powertrain, the Rivian is the clear winner, with more horsepower and torque than any of Fords Ecoboost engines. Even the smallest capacity 105 kWh battery pack nearly matches the output of the 3.5l twin turbo found in only the Raptor. Its worth noting that the torque differences between the two aren’t as significant as they seem upon first glance. Wheel torque for each of these trucks only varies slightly. The F-150 has 3,323 Nm at each wheel and the Rivian has 3,500 Nm per wheel. When it comes to acceleration, however, it's not even close in the 0-60 sprint.

Towing and payload comparisons are mixed. The 3.5L F-150 has the best payload and towing numbers out of any pickup on the market. The Rivian does manage to beat the Raptor and 2.7l for towing, and also has better payload capacity than the Raptor.

The F-150 has the advantage in terms of bed size, as it's offered in several different lengths. We were able to come across official dimensions for the R1T which should be useful for builders and commercial users. With the tailgate up the R1T is 55” X 54” and with the tailgate down it measures 82” X 54”.

Single tank range is also an area where the F-150 is at an advantage, though Rivian has delivered some incredible numbers for the first production electric pickup. The R1T is also said to be capable of a 1-meter fording depth as both the battery pack and drive units are sealed.

Perhaps the largest difference between these two trucks is the buy-in price. Entry-level versions of the F-150 start just under $30k, while the Rivian will be out of reach for many at its $69k base price.

The R1T marks an important first step in proving that an electrically powered pickup can deliver similar performance and functionality found in petrol models. If you are interested in becoming a pioneer for this technology, there is no better place to look.