There’s no doubt that full-size pickups are the most popular vehicles rolling off dealer lots — and have been for decades. That didn’t change with the advent of the all-electric pickup, either.
Fortunately, the 2024 Rivian RIT and F-150 Lightning ensure that buyers in this newish vehicle segment have at least two excellent options. Both enjoy more traditional exterior designs, with the Rivian being the most cutting-edge.
If you’re in the market for an electric pickup, these two are worth a closer look; let’s check them out.
2024 Rivian R1T
Considered a rival to Tesla before the arrival of the Cybertruck, Rivian’s R1T all-electric pickup is genuinely a top competitor to Tesla’s new pickup as well as others like the Ford F-150 Lightning EV, GMC Hummer SUT, and others.
The R1T retains a more conventional exterior look. While most consider it a full-size model, it’s much closer in size to a midsize pickup with room for five passengers. Many consider the R1T’s interior the best in the electric pickup segment. It’s filled with premium materials and features a layout that makes perfect sense, much of that focused on the customizable 12.3-inch center-mounted touchscreen.
Equipped with a 533-hp dual motor setup that allows you to escape almost any situation on or off-road, racing to 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds. You can move up to the 665-hp Performance Dual-Motor version, which does it at 3.6 seconds, or the Quad Motor model, which drops to just 3 seconds with 835 hp. The R1T has an air suspension with adaptive shock absorbers and an electro-hydraulic roll control system that does away with traditional anti-roll bars. Prices start at $71,700, including destination charges.
Rivian R1T Highlights
Driving modes: Rivian’s All-Purpose driving mode, which drivers will use most of the time, self-adjusts the suspension to suit driving conditions, including lowering the ride height to improve freeway aerodynamics. Also, if you’re concerned about having enough juice to get to a charger, Conserve mode engages just the front-wheel drive and lowers the ride height.
Driver+: Every new R1T comes with this standard set of driver assistance features. It includes forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. The system has 11 cameras, five radars, and 12 ultrasonic sensors.
Gear tunnel: Only an electric pickup could do this because no driveshaft connects the engine to the rear axle. Instead, there’s an 11-cubic-foot storage compartment between the back of the cabin and the rear wheel arches.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the R1T models near you.
2024 Ford F-150 Lightning
Ford demonstrated its commitment to converting to electric vehicles when it introduced the all-electric F-150 Lightning in 2021 for the 2022 model year. Since then, the company has expanded the variants and tweaked them in other ways.
The 2024 Lightning offers a choice of two battery pack sizes and comes standard with all-wheel drive (AWD). The base powertrain is a 462-hp dual-motor electric setup offering 240 miles of range. Choose the extended-range battery, and the output increases to 580 hp and the range to 320 miles.
It comes available in five trim levels, starting with the Pro variant — the least expensive model — at $57,090 and rising to the Platinum at $87,090, which includes the destination fee.
Ford F-150 Highlights
SYNC 4A infotainment: A 12-inch infotainment touchscreen is standard, and a 15.5-inch screen is optional. No matter which you choose, we’ve found Ford’s SYNC 4A software intuitive and easy to use. Unlike the Rivian, it comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Hands-free BlueCruise: BlueCruise is a hands-free highway driving aid that you can use on more than 130,000 miles of roads throughout North America. BlueCruise has impressed us with its refinement and fatigue-reducing functionality during many miles of road tests.
Functional frunk: The front trunk, or “frunk,” offers 14.1 cubic feet of cargo space. It’s bigger than the trunks in many popular sedans and also comes with multiple 120-volt outlets, plus USB-C and USB-A ports. Unlike the Rivian, when the Ford F-150 Lightning frunk opens, it includes the front grille area. The R1T does not, which means more of an up-and-over lift when loading cargo.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the F-150 Lightning models near you.
Similarities
This Rivian R1T and Ford F-150 Lightning are basically identical cousins. Each is loaded with the latest in high-tech wizardry. However, at their core, they’re still pickups and handle most regular truck tasks without real problems. Both are extremely quiet and smooth while inducing a wide grin when you mash the go-pedal.
Conclusion
These two occupy first and second place among our ranking of the Best Electric Trucks. While they share many traits, some differences, including the starting price, are too significant to ignore. However, the entry-level F-150 Lightning is aimed more at the work site than a campsite. There’s a lot of overlap in pricing with the Rivian when you get into the nicer and longer-range models. The exterior styling is different, and the interiors are worlds apart. Get in each and take it for a drive. After that, choose the one that induces the biggest smile.
Specs
| 2024 Rivian R1T | 2024 Ford F-150 Lightning | |
| Starting Price | $71,700 | $57,090 |
| Popular Powertrains | ||
| Motors | Dual electric motors | Extended-range battery pack |
| Horsepower | 533 hp | 462 hp |
| Torque | 610 lb-ft | 775 lb-ft |
| Transmission | 1-speed direct drive/AWD | 1-speed direct drive/AWD |
| Fuel Economy | 74 MPGe city/66 MPGe hwy/70 MPGe combined | 76 MPGe city/61 MPGe hwy/68 MPGe combined |
| Maximum Range | 270 miles | 320 miles |
| Also Available | Quad-motor | Extended range battery pack |
| Basic Warranty | 4 years/50,000 miles | 3 years/36,000 miles |
| Battery Warranty | 8 years/150,000 miles | 8 years/100,000 miles |
| NHTSA Overall Safety | N/R | 5 stars |
| Max Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Wheelbase | 135.8 inches | 145.0 inches |
| Overall Length | 217.1 inches | 231.7 inches |
| Width | 81.9 inches | 79.9 inches |
| Height | 78.2 inches | 77.2 inches |
| Turning Diameter | 45.0 feet | 47.8 feet |
| Headroom, Front | 41.1 inches | 40.8 inches |
| Headroom, Rear | 39.7 inches | 40.4 inches |
| Legroom, Front | 41.4 inches | 43.9 inches |
| Legroom, Rear | 36.6 inches | 43.6 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Front | 60.6 inches | 66.7 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Rear | 58.9 inches | 66.0 inches |
| Cargo Volume | 62.0 cubic feet | 52.8 cubic feet |
