The year 2021 will mark the dawn of the battle of the electric pickup trucks. Spearheading this battle will be the Cybertruck from the electric vehicle manufacturing giant Tesla and R1T from the new kid in the block Rivian. Both Tesla and Rivian are trying to break into a market that is already dominated by long established players like Ford, GM, Dodge, Chevrolet, etc. Furthermore, the Ford F-150 pickup truck is one of the most sold vehicles in America, it sold almost 900,000 units in 2019, then there is the fact that pickup truck buyers tend to be traditionalists and may not be welcome change.
Tesla’s Cybertruck, with its polarising design, might be in a danger zone in this market compared to the slightly more conventional-looking Rivian R1T. Both companies need to attract buyers away from the Gasoline and Diesel trucks sold by the major players towards eco-friendly electric trucks.
Now there is the question of, how these two electrifying trucks stack up against each other, for that, check our Tesla Cybertruck vs Rivian R1T Comparison.
Tesla Cybertruck vs Rivian R1T Comparison
Design and Interior
Other than the fact that these two vehicles are electric and serve the same utilitarian purpose, there aren’t many similarities when it comes to the design language. The Rivian R1T has the shape of a conventional pickup truck with its boxy and rugged looks, although the headlights are quite futuristic and in your face. The Cybertruck is ahem – let’s say it’s not for everyone, the company’s CEO, billionaire Elon Musk had said the same. It is totally outrageous and looks like a vehicle that came inside a time machine from 2077, the Cybertruck looks like a vehicle that we see in Sci-fi movies and video games with its angular shape, some people, however, have reported that the design grows on you, over time.
Other things pickup trucks are generally known for is its body strength, these type of vehicles should be able to take a pounding when out in the wild, well fret not, if you buy the Cybertruck you will be buying one of the toughest production vehicles in the car industry. The body is made of Ultra-Hard 30X Cold-Rolled Stainless Steel and according to Tesla it is dent, damage and corrosion resistant and is built to provide maximum security for the occupants, if that wasn’t enough the Cybertruck also has “supposedly unbreakable” Tesla Armor Glass, in short Tesla has made a bulletproof truck.
Meanwhile, the Rivian R1T has an aluminium body, it will be much cheaper to build and repair if you accidentally put it upside-down in a ditch with your enthusiastic driving, compared to the “Vibranium” on the Tesla, which might drive up your repair bills into an astronomical figure.
The Interiors of both trucks are, like most of the high-end EVs, extremely futuristic with little or no physical buttons. Most of the vehicular functions are going to be controlled through the massive touchscreen central infotainment system, which is present in both the vehicles.
Specification and Performance
These trucks are vastly different when it comes to vehicle specifications and performance, It does not seem very wise for the Rivian R1T to go head-on head with the Cybertruck, because Tesla has thrown everything at their disposal on their very first pickup truck. First let’s get into the numbers that pickup truck buyers will mainly consider, the Cybertruck has a higher payload capacity of 3,500 lbs compared to 1,750 lbs of the R1T, it also has a higher ground clearance (16 in. v/s 14 in.), a longer bed (6.5 ft. v/s 4.5 ft.) and higher towing capacity which is an astonishing 14000 lb for the high-end tri-motor version of the Cybertruck vs. 11000 lb of the R1T.
The single and dual motor versions of the Cybertruck have 7500 lb and 10000 lb of rated towing respectively; all R1T models have the same 11000 lb. If we look at the performance stats, the tri-motor version of Tesla has a top speed of 130 mph while all the versions of the R1T have a claimed top speed of 125 mph. Now the range, which is the most important number for an electric vehicle, this most often determines the success of the vehicle, in this criterion the highest range offered by the Cybertruck is 500 mi for the tri-motor and 400 mi for the top tier R1T, both are impressive in this aspect.
Charging speed is also varies between these trucks, the Cybertruck can charge at a rate of 250 kW while the R1T has to do with a maximum rate of 160 kW.
Unique Features
These trucks are mainly going to be used as lifestyle vehicles, and both of them have their own unique selling points, for example, the Cybertruck has a few features that will come in handy if the customer uses power tools. It has 110V and 220V power outlets along with an air compressor. Tesla is keen on attracting the blue-collar workers to buying the Cybertruck. Both trucks are equipped with secure storage facilities, Tesla has a lockable truck bed dubbed the “vault” and the Rivian has a gear tunnel that is long to store a pair of skis safely. Another feature embedded in the gear tunnel is a mini kitchenette, which will be a boon if you decide into the wilderness for a few days with your Rivian. Tesla and Rivian also showcased a camping edition of its trucks, which features tents and a kitchen. The Rivian also has a quirky “tank turn” feature which allows the car to practically turn on its axis; however, the usability of the same can only be judged after proper testing after its launch.
Pricing
The Rivian commands a much higher price tag, the base 105 kWh, 230-mile range R1T was first listed with a price tag of $69,000, later the price tag was adjusted and Rivian stated that the mid-level trim-135kWh, 300-mile range R1T would start at $69000. The base price of the Cybertruck is $39,000 and for the top of the line tri-motor version, it is $69990. This a huge price gap and might adversely affect the sales of Rivian R1T as customers have already started trusting the Tesla brand and they have already established a strong customer base, not to mention the pre-orders the Cybertruck received on launch. Rivian might probably cut the price further to compete with Tesla.
Conclusion
Is this the direction where the utility vehicles are heading to in the coming years? The Cybertruck surely has the potential to be torchbearer with its incredible capabilities and affordable pricing, Ford has taken a step towards electrifications with the new Mustang Mach-E and soon we can even expect an electric F-150. GM has already taken a huge step in this direction with almost 20 electric models for the global markets, and the revival of the Hummer brand as an EV only manufacturer, talk about irony. Jokes aside, we will definitely see a plethora of SUVs, pickup trucks, Semi-trucks mostly by 2025.
