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Comparing the 2022 Rivian R1T and the 2022 Ram 1500 might seem like apples and oranges, but it isn’t. Some people might be swayed by the new electric truck when the conventional gasoline truck from Ram was the original choice.

Comparing the 2022 Rivian R1T powertrain to the 2022 Ram 1500

Comparing the 2022 Rivian R1T electric truck to the 2022 Ram 1500 pickup truck
The 2022 Rivian R1T and the 2022 Ram 1500 in the wild | Rivian, Ram

Make all the jokes about electric trucks that you want, but the numbers for the Rivian R1T are crazy. Edmunds says with 835 hp from the four electric motors; the R1T moves from zero to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds. There is only one powertrain available now while Rivian works on other trim levels behind the scenes. Buyers can charge up at home or a public charging station. The EPA estimated that electricity would cost $950 for one year of ownership, according to The Washington Post.

Ram has a variety of choices for powertrains. From a V6 with 306 hp, a turbodiesel V6 with 260 hp, a V8 with 395 hp, and a supercharged V8 with 702 hp for the TRX trim. The Ram 1500 TRX is a performance-based version that is only made in limited amounts. Edmunds says the annual fuel cost is $6,250 a year, which is a staggering amount.

The Ram 1500 has the Rivian R1T beat in towing and range

The 2022 Rivian R1T has a pretty large battery pack that gets 314 miles of range. If that isn’t enough, buyers can upgrade to a Max battery pack that gets 400 miles of range. Edmunds managed to get 317 miles out of a full charge during testing. For the most part, people won’t need that much range daily.

Compared to the Ram 1500 pickup truck, the Rivian doesn’t hold a flame. With a diesel engine, rear-wheel drive, and the optional 33-gallon tank, the Ram truck might make it 1,000 miles before empty. That will cost about $165 in comparison with current diesel prices.

When it comes to towing, the Ram 1500 has the Rivian R1T beat. The Ram can tow 12,750 with the proper configurations. The R1T electric truck can still tow 11,000 pounds, which is respectable. But if you are towing that much across a long distance, the gas-powered truck will be easier and less of a headache.

Comparing the style and price of the electric truck to the conventional pickup truck

When it comes to looks, this one comes down to preference. Some people will be into the futuristic qualities of the Rivian R1T. It will probably elicit lots of questions from people in the Target parking lot and lots of stares for the first few months. Edmunds said it was clean and upscale inside, and the R1T is obviously quiet thanks to the electric motors.

The Ram 1500 doesn’t need any introduction, though. While it might not elicit looks from people like the Rivian, it looks pretty good. The Ram truck offers plenty of room, comfortable seats, and best-in-class ride quality. These two trucks are pretty evenly matched.

The version of the Rivian electric truck with the standard battery and dual motor configuration starts at $67,500. The quad-motor version starts at $85,000. Rivian offers a five-year or 60,000-mile basic warranty and an eight-year or 175,000-mile powertrain warranty. Ram has many choices for the 1500 truck, starting with the base Tradesman trim at $37,695. The top-of-the-line Ram 1500 TRX will run you $78,675. Ram has the standard three-year or 36,000-mile basic warranty. The powertrain warranty is five years or 100,000 miles.

Edmunds says that the Rivian wins by an inch, but that’s up for debate. Depending on your particular needs, the Ram might make more sense. For everyone else, hop in the R1T and enjoy the conversations with strangers who want to talk about your truck.

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