VALUE & WARRANTY

The configuration that Rivian is taking reservations for now is the $88,500 quad-motor Adventure trim with the large battery pack and a delivery timeframe of late 2023. It comes well equipped with vegan leather seats, a heightadjustable air suspension and a 16-inch center touchscreen. It’s backed by a five-year/60,000mile basic warranty and an eight-year/100,000mile powertrain warranty.

Ford is taking orders for the 2023 Lightning, though you may find some 2022s on dealer lots. For the 2023 truck, there’s the strippeddown Pro grade starting at $54,269 including destination. The loaded-up Platinum sits at the top of the range, at $98,219. Ford’s bumper-to-bumper warranty of three years/36,000 miles trails the R1T’S, but its battery warranty equals Rivian’s.

The R1T carries a higher starting price but includes many desirable features as standard. The Lightning can be cheaper but gets similarly pricey with options.

Winner: tie

This contest comes down to what kind of electric pickup you want. The Rivian R1T is an incredible first effort from a startup and stands out with its distinctive styling, clever storage and muscular power. Ford’s F-150 Lightning is the more conservative choice but gives buyers more flexibility in its available acessories and the reassurance that comes from an established brand.