Rivian shouldn't even be in the picture. Cybertruck or Lightning are the only contenders

[Tedacules]

I don't mind people having personal preferences for this vehicle or that. I do hate it when people dishonestly cut down one product in order to boost another. An honest comparison of two products on some aspect of design or performance is useful, however, in making an EV buying decision. For example: If bed length and payload capacity is really important to you, both the Cybertruck and the Lightning are superior to the Rivian. If road trip range is important to you, all three are in the running for your dollar, but the Tesla Supercharger network gives Cybertruck a significant advantage. If price is going to make or break your decision then the Ford Lightning should be high on your list. Durability, aftermarket accessories, interior appointments, ADAS, resale value, manufacturer...there are dozens of criteria that go into deciding which vehicle to buy or not buy. What's important is that a decision is made on the basis of facts, which is not easy these days with facts often difficult to distinguish from fallacies.

In 2025 Ford and Rivian will be on Teslas superchargers so the playing field will be equal.

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[Cybergirl]

In 2025 Ford and Rivian will be on Teslas superchargers so the playing field will be equal.

Almost equal.

 

[Strykerwsu]

I don’t know if similar aftermarket underbody armor is available for the R1T but the unplugged performance mods for the CB/CT also would doubly protect the underbody even more than stock which would further boost the CT’s “ruggedness” in comparison with the Rivian as well for those concerned about the ability to beat up the vehicle without damaging it. Just another point in favor of the CT courtesy of the aftermarket if that is a factor in people’s comparisons. FWIW

Cheers

Uh, the R1’s have optional underbody protection for rock crawling from the factory. I have not seen a report of any additonal protection available from Tesla. I have it on my truck. One concern that I have about CT but assume they may eventually add

There have been many discussions on this site so won’t rehash but the R1’s are tremendous vehicles. Definitely not a full sized truck but with the gear tunnel and large frunk I can haul more than I could in my Ram for family trips and camping. However backseat room isn’t as great of course.

 

[Tedacules]

Almost equal.

I agree ?

 

[Bill W.]

I believe that the newer F150s have aluminum sheet metal instead of steel, which would be more susceptible to dents and dings. Something else to consider when comparison shopping.

 

[XCeilidhX]

Uh, the R1’s have optional underbody protection for rock crawling from the factory. I have not seen a report of any additonal protection available from Tesla. I have it on my truck. One concern that I have about CT but assume they may eventually add

There have been many discussions on this site so won’t rehash but the R1’s are tremendous vehicles. Definitely not a full sized truck but with the gear tunnel and large frunk I can haul more than I could in my Ram for family trips and camping. However backseat room isn’t as great of course.

Appreciate your take. Thanks for the response.

I once saw a photo of an R1T that rolled for almost no apparent reason. That would make me nervous if I owned one.

When Tesla had it's first report of a battery failure (and fire? trying to remember because it was a while ago) after a weird highway debris incident with a Model S I got a recall notice and the company put a titanium skidplate under my entire battery for free to safeguard it. I would think with the CT that it's pretty rugged from the factory to begin with and the unplugged performance add-on is just extra-extra... and I'm all about being extra in terms of safety.

Until someone rolls them both on their backs and tests the puncture force I personally would trust Tesla more based on my own experience. I have stock in both companies with no specific bias but the Care Bear looks of the Rivian front-ends make me personally think of Strawberry Shortcake and inflatable bounce-houses at children's parties. I honestly hate the look of the Rivian front end and headlights so much it's shocking to me because I support the company in theory but would never be able to bring myself to own something that looked like that. To each their own. My thinking is that Rivian's level of optional rock-crawling coverage may be what the CT comes with standard but I would certainly defer to an honest scientific test as this is purely an assumption from experience and I could absolutely be wrong. FWIW and YMMV.

I'll be going with the UP skidplate though regardless because this will be my lifetime zombie apocalypse vehicle. When the world hits the level of "The Last of Us" I'd rather be in a semi-armored cybertruck than a Rivian. Personal preference regardless of logic or esthetics.

Glad you like your Rivian and happy driving.

Cheers.

 

[Crissa]

I once saw a photo of an R1T that rolled for almost no apparent reason. That would make me nervous if I owned one.

The guy doing donuts in a field who hit a badger den? That's not no reason, that's a guy doing donuts in a field almost asking to stick a tire in a ditch and rolling.

-Crissa

 

[XCeilidhX]

The guy doing donuts in a field who hit a badger den? That's not no reason, that's a guy doing donuts in a field almost asking to stick a tire in a ditch and rolling.

-Crissa

Perhaps I didn't get the whole story then. The background looked like a flat farm field and I scratched my head over and over trying to figure out how that damned thing rolled.

 

[Strykerwsu]

Appreciate your take. Thanks for the response.

I once saw a photo of an R1T that rolled for almost no apparent reason. That would make me nervous if I owned one.

When Tesla had it's first report of a battery failure (and fire? trying to remember because it was a while ago) after a weird highway debris incident with a Model S I got a recall notice and the company put a titanium skidplate under my entire battery for free to safeguard it. I would think with the CT that it's pretty rugged from the factory to begin with and the unplugged performance add-on is just extra-extra... and I'm all about being extra in terms of safety.

Until someone rolls them both on their backs and tests the puncture force I personally would trust Tesla more based on my own experience. I have stock in both companies with no specific bias but the Care Bear looks of the Rivian front-ends make me personally think of Strawberry Shortcake and inflatable bounce-houses at children's parties. I honestly hate the look of the Rivian front end and headlights so much it's shocking to me because I support the company in theory but would never be able to bring myself to own something that looked like that. To each their own. My thinking is that Rivian's level of optional rock-crawling coverage may be what the CT comes with standard but I would certainly defer to an honest scientific test as this is purely an assumption from experience and I could absolutely be wrong. FWIW and YMMV.

I'll be going with the UP skidplate though regardless because this will be my lifetime zombie apocalypse vehicle. When the world hits the level of "The Last of Us" I'd rather be in a semi-armored cybertruck than a Rivian. Personal preference regardless of logic or esthetics.

Glad you like your Rivian and happy driving.

Cheers.

Good to know about the reinforcement that tesla appears to be putting on them. It hasn't been mentioned in anything that I can find. So far on the R1 I have had no concerns on the reinforcement and those even more offroading extreme than me seem to have thers holding up well with many rock impacts.

No idea about the rolling. Had mine for a year and never had any concern like that. There was a video of a guy that parked on steep driveway on snow/ice. At over 6.9k lbs gravity usually wins lol.

I think the look would grow on you. I was a little hesitant but now really like it. I have mine in yellow matte ppf and rtt tent so we call it the magic school bus.

CT defintley has the side panel win, Rivians are too thin for my liking but no dents in a year fir what it is worth. I'm going to keep them for a year, Tesla forces lol, and then make a decision. 3 years ago thought it would be easy but now I'm not sure but excited to find out.

 

[Strykerwsu]

Perhaps I didn't get the whole story then. The background looked like a flat farm field and I scratched my head over and over trying to figure out how that damned thing rolled.

Yep with a 3k battery, rolling any ev truck is an impressive victory lol.

 

[Baldyloxx]

This entire NACS thing is smoke-n-mirrors to me..

When speaking about currently existing SuperChargers…either the cables at the Tesla stalls need to get significantly longer or the ‘apapters’ these OEMs license from Tesla need to be very long….. OR the other OEMs need to redesign their vehicles to relocate the ChargePorts to a more Supercharger friendly location…

who wins and how on this investment decision?

this has the potential to piss off ALL



$0.02

 

[HaulingAss]

I didn't like driving my F-150 when it was brand spanking new, and certainly not now! Why would I keep it after I get a better truck, one that doesn't have all the disadvantages I don't like about my F-150, that can do all the same truck things I used the old one for? And that can do it with more safety, more performance, with better driving dynamics and a better sounding stereo, with more capabilities off-road while being more comfortable on bad roads, no gas stations or oil changes and that doesn't make those toxic smells I don't like in the morning.

It's no contest really.

 

[HaulingAss]

I believe that the newer F150s have aluminum sheet metal instead of steel, which would be more susceptible to dents and dings. Something else to consider when comparison shopping.

The steel F-150 dents a little easier than the aluminum one, the aluminum tears/splits open more easily. They use a relatively hard aluminum alloy although it's nowhere near as hard as the Cybertruck exterior.

 

[VDR]

Yep with a 3k battery, rolling any ev truck is an impressive victory lol.

Only the Hummer has that heavy of a battery the others are well below 2K, EVs have a lower Cg than comparable ICE trucks.

 

[VDR]

If road trip range is important to you, all three are in the running for your dollar, but the Tesla Supercharger network gives Cybertruck a significant advantage.

Depending on the distance the Rivian may have the advantage as it has the lowest Cd and largest battery. The 70mph road tests show a 14%-34% advantage. As speed increases past 70mph the Rivian does better vs the others. T/SC will be available for all soon and unless the CT charging curve improves it has no advantage.
The lightning has very poor Cd so if you like 80mph it is not your best road trip truck.

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