Compared: 2024 Tesla Cybertruck vs. 2024 Rivian R1T

Tesla's polarizing new pickup goes up against rival Rivian's popular utility vehicle.

Brennan Sullivan | 

Feb 14, 2024 | 3 min read

Tesla | Rivian

The age of the electric truck is upon us. Once a mere pipedream, the concept of an electric pickup has captured much of the automotive industry. Big players including Ford and GMC have been hard at work perfecting their offerings, but the real fight is between independent manufacturers Tesla and Rivian.

The 2024 Tesla Cybertruck represents the culmination of more than four years of teasing, with production vehicles only recently hitting the road after a concept was revealed in 2019. The 2024 R1T, meanwhile, a model on newcomer Rivian's relatively popular truck platform, has been a critical success while the automaker continues to scale production.

Despite some relative similarities under the skin, these two models differ significantly when it comes to price, finish, and features.

Tesla

Cybertruck Is Less Expensive

While significantly overshooting the $40,000 base price Tesla initially quoted in 2019, the entry-level Cybertruck still stands as the cheaper of the pair. The two-wheel-drive, 250-mile-range model, due in 2025, will set you back about $61,000.

The next tier up, which includes all-wheel drive, 340 miles of range, and additional power, lifts the price to about $80,000. The Cyberbeast trim rounds out the lineup at about $100,000, bringing with it even more power and a 2.6-second zero-to-60-mph time.

Rivian

The R1T begins a step higher at about $73,000, although it's worth noting that it comes standard with all-wheel drive and 270 miles of range via a dual-motor setup. Several battery-pack upgrades are available, extending the range to 328 and 410 miles, respectively. An $87,000 quad-motor platform is also an upgrade the Cybertruck doesn't match.

Tesla

Super-Sized Cybertruck Design Isn't for Everyone

One of the headlining features of electric pickups is their impressive hauling capacity, and depending on the trim you choose, the Cybertruck can be particularly impressive in this regard. The futuristic utility vehicle can accommodate up to 2,500 pounds of hauling payload, with an additional 11,000-pound tow rating. Also noteworthy are the Cybertruck's generous bed measurements, which clock in at about 6 feet by 4 feet.

The Cybertruck's ultramodern exterior design cues continue inside, as the sleek dashboard is dominated by an 18.5-inch touchscreen, which is accompanied by a 9.4-inch screen in the rear center console.

Rivian

The R1T matches the Cybertruck's 11,000-pound towing maximum, but falls short in terms of overall payload and bed length. The Rivian can haul nearly 1,800 pounds within the truck itself, and works with a cargo bed that's about 4.5 feet long with the tailgate closed.

As a cargo space bonus, the R1T includes its signature gear tunnel passage that extends across the truck behind the rear seats for an additional 11.7 cubic-feet of storage.

The Rivian's center screen isn't quite as breathtaking as the infotainment system found in the Cybertruck, but it's still impressive, taking up 15.6 inches of dashboard real estate.

Rivian

Efficiency Numbers Are Still Unclear

Because electric vehicles can't be compared in terms of normal miles per gallon, the EPA shares electric-equivalent efficiency ratings as MPGe units. The best-performing R1T, the upgraded large-pack variant, achieved a reported 82/74/78 MPGe city/highway/combined.

Tesla

Energy-efficiency numbers for the Cybertruck are not yet available.

All vehicle pricing includes MSRP plus destination charges (set at the time of publication) and will be rounded to the nearest thousand.

Brennan Sullivan

Brennan Sullivan is a writer and lifelong car fanatic. With an appreciation for all makes and models, Brennan is particularly passionate about the rich history of the automotive industry. In his spare time, he's the caretaker of a 1962 Sunbeam Alpine, and a Golden Retriever named Willow.