Vehicle comparison highlights for Rivian R1T vs Tundra TRD Pro:

• The quad-motor Rivian truck offers capabilities six-figure EVs do not
• The Tundra TRD Pro boasts unprecedented hybrid combustion performance
• The Rivian provides enough range for daily driving; the Tundra is the best road trip choice

The 2022 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro is one of the most capable trucks around. Toyota has perfected its full-size pickup with a powerful Toyota hybrid combustion drivetrain. But this Tundra might be outdated before it arrives: the electric pickup is finally here. The 2022 Rivian R1T is the first EV truck to market. This technology-forward 4×4 offers power and capability few internal combustion vehicles can match. Its 314 miles of base range (and optional 400-mile upgrade) are generous for daily driving. But EV charging speeds make them a poor choice for hurried road trips.  

	2022 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro	2022 Rivian R1T
Price Range	$51,000+ (estimated)	$67,500+
Engine Options	iForce MAX (gasoline hybrid)	Quad-motor drive (electric)
Horsepower	437	835
Torque	583 lb-ft	908 lb-ft
Transmission	10-speed automatic	N/A
Zero to 60 MPH	<6 seconds (estimated)	3 seconds
Tow Rating	11,000 pounds (estimated)	11,000 pounds
Payload Capacity	1,600 pounds	1,760 pounds
Range	554 miles (estimated)	314-400 miles

2022 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro

• Pros: Ford Raptor power for a fraction of the price
• Cons: Soon-to-be outdated internal combustion engine

The Tundra is all-new for 2022. Updates include coil spring suspension and a twin-turbocharged V6. The 2022 Tundra TRD Pro offers cutting-edge offroad features and a hybrid powertrain; an electric engine adds a hundred horsepower to its total. The resulting Tundra can tow 11,000 pounds. Driver-assist software will even back up your trailer for you. Underbody cameras keep an eye on the trail. The only downside of this incredible truck is that it has arrived in the internal combustion engine’s twilight years. A stampede of capable electric prototypes is hot on the Tundra’s heels. The Rivian R1T leads the pack.

2022 Rivian R1T

• Pros: The first electric truck on the market
• Cons: Limited range, higher price, touchscreen-only controls

With its R1T electric truck, Rivian is proving that we can have it all. The 4×4 has four electric motors; a feature six-figure electric trucks have yet to offer. This means its 908 lb-ft of torque is available from 0 RPM. It will conquer trails ICEs never dared. In addition, real-time torque vectoring imbues the R1T with “sport sedan” caliber performance on the pavement. Like all electric vehicles, road trip enthusiasts may avoid it because of charging times. The R1T’s only other fault is that it may be being too futuristic. Reviewers objected to its touchscreen-only interior controls. And its Jetsons-reminiscent front end is polarizing.

2022 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro on-road performance: “diesel-like” torque

The 2022 Toyota Tundra will roll into dealerships early in the new year. But Toyota has said it will not offer the hybrid Tundras with the iForce MAX engines until spring 2022. The 2022 TRD Pro trim level features the iForce MAX standard, so it is still several months away from production. MotorTrend was able to drive a pre-production prototype, and the reviewers were impressed.

The TRD Pro’s drivetrain features a twin-turbocharged V6 and 10-speed automatic transmission with an electric motor sandwiched between the two. The result is 437 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque. These Ford Raptor level numbers are impressive. But the MotorTrend team was as astounded by how the Tundra delivers this power. 

Toyota shot for a “diesel-like” flat torque curve with all the power available at low engine speeds. MotorTrend says they achieved that and more. The electric motor is capable of accelerating the TRD Pro to 18 MPH. After that, the internal combustion engine starts up and helps. But the electric motor pushes a bit until the turbochargers kick in. When the truck is decelerating, the internal combustion engine turns off. Incredibly, all of this happens so seamlessly, the reviewers did not notice which engine was driving them until they checked the tachometer.

MotorTrend unofficially predicts the truck’s zero to 60 MPH time will be under six seconds. They also expect the fuel mileage rating to be about 24 MPG combined city/highway.

2022 Rivian R1T on-road performance: “this changes everything”

MotorTrend also had a chance to test two of the new Rivian R1T’s. The team of reviewers actually set a record by navigating the entire Trans-America trail in the electric 4x4s. But they also hit some twisty paved roads and concluded, “this changes everything.”

When equipped with street tires, the Rivian truck can accelerate from 0-60 in 3 seconds. As important as its gobs of horsepower is how it puts that power to the road. Rivian’s quad-motor drive includes one electric engine at each wheel. This feature allows something called “torque vectoring.” The vehicle has an onboard algorithm that puts the power to the wheel that can use it the most. This system is handy off-road but truly shines on the road.

Here’s an example. The MotorTrend team decided to have some fun and put their R1T sideways. While navigating a hairpin turn, they nailed the throttle. The results shocked them:

“We felt the R1T’s torque-vectoring superpowers at work: The outside-rear motor powered up and brought the R1T’s nose around, and we blasted out of the turn like the Millenium Falcon.”

MotorTrend

Keep in mind that the MotorTrend team was on the way to an overland expedition, with four occupants in the cab and a bed full of gear.

First-time electric vehicle drivers will be surprised by some R1T features. The driver can select a regenerative braking level. At the highest level, the R1T will stop itself whenever you take your foot off the gas, and the brake pedal is only necessary for emergency stops.

Which environmentally-friendly pickup is best for you?

If you are ready for an electric truck, you cannot do much better than the 2022 Rivian R1T. The only flaw MotorTrend found was its lack of hard buttons for controls in the cabin: the large touchscreen operates all features. But electric trucks are not for everyone; slow charging times make road trips difficult. The R1T could take almost three hours to charge from 0% to 100%. Current electric vehicles may be best reserved for one of the cars in two-car families.

If you need an internal combustion truck, the all-new Toyota Tundra is one of the most advanced available. The 2022 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro uses a hybrid drivetrain to optimize this outgoing technology fully. The result is a peerless, full-size, internal combustion pickup.