There are a lot of great trucks on the market, and as is the case in any other segment, certain trucks stand out from one another in different areas. When it comes to efficiency, the most efficient truck shouldn’t be a huge surprise since it’s a Rivian, which means that it’s an EV. Here’s a look at the Rivian R1T is not only one of the best pickup truck models of the year, but it’s also the most efficient option out there as far as trucks go.

The 2023 Rivian R1T is a really efficient pickup truck model

Trucks aren’t known for their efficiency, and truck owners don’t tend to care about that either. Regardless, it’s still an important spec that many owners do pay attention to, and most trucks hover at around the same combined mpg. At best, owners buying a gas-powered truck may expect to get somewhere between 21 to 25 mpg combined. 

That’s where other types of powertrains can come in handy. The Ford Maverick, for example, has a hybrid powertrain, allowing it to get 37 mpg combined. The real winner, when it comes to fuel economy at least, are the electric trucks that are slowly coming into the market. The Hummer EV gets 47 MPGe combined, while the Ford F-150 Lightning gets 68 MPGe combined.

The most efficient truck, however, is the Rivian R1T, which gets 70 MPGe. That’s slightly better than the Ford, and significantly better than the Hummer EV and any other truck on the market. Many trucks that drivers end up buying have fuel economy numbers that are around 15 mpg, so that makes the R1T over four times more efficient than most other options. 

The 2023 Rivian R1T is a great electric truck

There are many reasons why Car and Driver listed the R1T as one of the best new pickup truck models for 2023 and 2024. The truck starts at about $75,000, and it has a 4.5-foot bed. It comes standard with two electric motors which get 600 hp and 600 lb-ft of torque. Its standard battery allows it to go 270 miles, but like most other EVs, the automaker has some optional upgrades.

When properly equipped, the electric truck gets four electric motors which generate 835 hp and 908 lb-ft of torque. This allows the R1T to tow upwards of 11,000 pounds, which is a solid amount for a truck of its size.

Owners can also upgrade the R1T’s battery with two options. One battery pumps the truck’s range to 352 miles, and the best one pushes it to 400 miles. 

It won’t be cheap, but the 2023 Rivian R1T can be worth the money

Those upgrades won’t be cheap though. The top trim of the R1T starts at nearly $96,000. However, the truck is more than just a truck; and there’s a lot of added value from the features that the automaker put on it. That is part of the reason why the car critic likes the R1T so much, as those luxury and tech features help make a compelling case for it.

The interior is well-designed, fitted with plenty of high-end materials, and it’s also loaded with tech features. It comes with two large screens. One is a 16-inch touchscreen, and the other is a 12-inch digital gauge cluster display.

The truck comes with smart safety features too, including adaptive cruise control. It also has some nifty practical features, including three additional storage spaces. It’s got a frunk, an in-bed storage compartment, and a storage feature it calls the Gear Tunnel, which is found behind the cab.