'Awesome To See R1T On Top,' Says RJ Scaringe After Rivian's Pickup Wins Luxury Truck Showdown Versus Tesla And Ford

The Rivian R1T is a better pick than its flashier counterpart, Tesla’s Cybertruck, or even the F-150 Lightning from legacy automaker Ford in the luxury EV pickup truck category, according to an independent comparative analysis of the three vehicles.

What Happened: MotorTrend conducted a four-day head-to-head test of the Rivian R1T, Tesla Cybertruck (dual-motor version with foundation series upgrades, priced at $102,235), and Ford F-150 Lightning (Platinum variant, $94,135) to evaluate acceleration, range, towing, cargo space, off-roading, comfort, and user interface. All three vehicles landed in a similar price range for this comparison.

At the end of the testing, the Rivian R1T emerged victorious for the best luxury lifestyle electric pickup truck. 

While the Lightning offered familiarity and the Cybertruck impressed with its 48-volt architecture and steer-by-wire tech, they fell short in towing and off-roading capabilities compared to the R1T. 

The R1T excelled with its performance, range, superior braking, access to Tesla’s Supercharger network, and a rock-steady tow rig. 

Rivian CEO R.J. Scaringe proudly shared the results, highlighting the potential of their quad-motor powered drive system for even more capability.

“Awesome to see R1T on top… and this is just for our Dual Motor! :)” he posted on social media.

For The Customer: MotorTrend acknowledged each truck caters to specific needs: The familiar Lightning is comfort-focused, the Cybertruck attracts attention seekers, and the R1T excels in off-road adventures. 

The Cybertruck review also downplays the hype surrounding its design and celebrity ownership, noting its struggles with traction on dirt and limited maneuverability due to the camera’s fish-eye view.

Check out more of Benzinga’s Future Of Mobility coverage by following this link.

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