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The 2022 Rivian R1T will release sometime before the end of the year, and it’s getting all kinds of attention. Though there are comparisons being thrown around left and right about the Cybertruck, the Ford F-150 Lightning, and other electric trucks, none are being made to standard gas trucks.

Most of the people who end up buying a Rivian R1T are going to be trading their gas truck for it, in hopes of a better future with fewer gas station visits. If you own a truck like the Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, you may wonder if you can leave it behind. A major part of that decision for many is the towing and hauling capacities. If this is the primary function of your Tundra, is an electric truck like the Rivian R1T even an option? Can the 2022 Rivian R1T tow more than the 2021 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro?

2021 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro Towing

The 2022 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro may be a cost-effective Ford Raptor killer
2022 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro | Toyota

The Toyota Tundra TRD Pro comes with a lot of convenient features being the highest trim level the model offers. It’s hard to beat a 5.7L V8 engine, four-wheel drive, and 381-hp. Not to mention, if you’re someone who likes to travel offroad, the Tundra isn’t a bad option for that either. With a minimum ground clearance of 10.1 inches, offroad terrain doesn’t really stand a chance. This 77.2 inch-high truck can do a whole lot, but we have to take a look at the negatives.

Firstly, what is the towing capacity? The 2021 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro can tow 9,800 lbs. Not bad at all. Compared to its closest competitor, the 2021 Ford F-150 Lariat SuperCrew, it beats the F-150 by 500 lbs. While the V8 engine is good for all that power, the atrocious 17 highway mpg makes it less desirable. Not to mention the CO2 emission statistics, which, according to Carbuzz, the Tundra emits 12.6 tons per year. That’s bad even for a gas truck, but thinking about comparing it to an electric vehicle where that number is 0, seems really bad.

2022 Rivian R1T Electric Pickup Truck

A white 2022 Rivian R1T climbing up a dirt hill.
2022 Rivian R1T | Rivian

The CO2 emissions are 0, you don’t need gas, and it can travel over 300 miles on one charge. That sounds great, but there’s no way an electric truck is towing as much as a 5.6L V8 Tundra, right? Wrong.

The Rivian R1T is capable of towing 11,000 lbs, about 1,200 more than the Tundra. So the answer is yes, the 2022 Rivian R1T can tow more than the 2021 Toyota Tundra. This makes sense since the quad-motor powertrain and 3 second 0-60 time are backed with a whopping 835 horsepower. The Rivian R1T comes in all-wheel drive, seats five, and can even be great for offroad driving. Its approach angle is 34 degrees, departure angle 29.3 degrees, ground clearance is 14.9 inches, and wading depth is 3+ feet. Combine all this with everything you’d expect from a luxury pickup truck, and you’ve got the Rivian R1T.

Heated and ventilated seats, heated steering wheel, 100% recycled microfiber headliner, powered tonneau cover, air compressor, vegan leather seating for five, and more make this truck a lot to take in. Cap it off with a bed that extends to be 83.8 inches long, and you’ve got everything you could ask for in a truck. Compared to the Tundra, it seems like a no-brainer.

How much does the 2022 Rivian R1T cost?

The Rivian R1T sits on a dry lake bed in California
The R1T packs plenty of innovative new features | Rivian

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Though in this case, it isn’t that bad. Though the Rivian R1T will cost you more than the Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, it’s not as bad as you might think. The Explore package of the R1T starts at $67,500 and includes many of the features mentioned above. If you want everything the truck has to offer, you’ll have to scale up to the Adventure Package, which costs $73,000. The Rivian R1T beats the Tundra in just about every way, but it’ll be an extra $14,100 to own it instead of the TRD Pro.

Reservations for the Rivian R1T are currently completely full for the Launch Edition, but deliveries for the Adventure and Explore packages begin in January 2022.

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