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Thomas and James from Throttle House somehow got their hands on both a Hummer EV and a Rivian R1T. Both trucks are brand new EVs, super rare, super powerful, and expensive. Who will win in a Rivian R1T vs Hummer EV drag race? GMC has taken to calling its EV a “supertruck,” but is it super enough to beat the Rivian with 835 hp?

Rivian R1T vs Hummer EV drag race. Which will come out on top?

OK, so which electric truck wins?

The new Hummer EV truck using its 1,000 horsepower and giant 35-inch tires to turn its wheels in the sand.
The 2022 GMC HUMMER EV Pickup boasts independent front and rear suspension systems paired to the drive motors and are optimized for handling in all conditions.

The Rivian is rated at 3.0 seconds in a 0-60 mph sprint by the company. GMC says that the Hummer EV should reach 60 mph in 3.0 seconds, too.  But, the video doesn’t lie in this Rivian vs Hummer drag race battle. Of course there are a million reasons the Hummer EV lost by just a couple of lengths and the Rivian R1T came out on top, from driver competence to tire pressures and weather temperatures. But, one look at how both trucks stacked up to that Tesla Model X Plaid shows they’re both seriously quick.  

GMC announced in 2021 that it would resurrect the Hummer brand as an all-electric brand, with the EV truck launching first and an SUV to follow.

GMC calls it a “supertruck,” and with 1,000 horsepower and 11,500 lb-ft of torque, it certainly should hold its own. GMC estimates it’s as quick as many supercars, with a 0-60 time of approximately 3.0 seconds.  It does have a wide range of options, including four-wheel steering, adaptive air suspension, UltraVision cameras, and off-road widgets that can tell you, among other things, your lean angle.

The EV has a three-motor four-wheel-drive system that is designed for off-roading. Since there are no chargers in the boonies, it helps that it has a max range of 329 miles on a full charge.  

How does a Rivian R1T compare to a Hummer EV?

Double tap a button the Hummer’s dash and you can access Watts to Freedom, or WtF mode. That’s like turning the Hummer EV up to 11. The Rivian R1T, on the other hand, simply has a “sport” mode and you can turn down the regen to reduce drag.

The Hummer has more power, with 1,000 hp, to the Rivian’s 835 hp. But, the Hummer EV tips the scales at a whopping 9,000 pounds. If the Hummer was a trailer, you’d almost need a CDL to tow it. The Rivian is lighter, but it’s no ballerina at 7,148 pounds.

The Hummer EV truck costs about $110,000, depending on options. The Rivian starts at $67,500. Both offer four-wheel drive, though the Hummer is the only one to offer four-wheel steering in.

The Rivian has four electric motors, and the Hummer only has three. The Hummer can go 329 miles on a full charge, while Rivian claims 314 miles on a full charge.

The Rivian, however, won “Truck of the Year” honors from MotorTrend in 2021.

Who owns Rivian?

Rivian Automotive, Inc. is a new manufacturer based in Irvine, California. Its stock is traded on the NASDAQ at RIVN, so, technically, you can own some of Rivian. It was founded in 2009 by Robert “RJ” Scariange, who was born in 1983.

The company has developed a “skateboard” platform that it will use to underpin future models, and the Rivian R1S SUV.   

Related: Four Reasons the 2022 Rivian R1T Is the Best Electric Pickup Truck

How much does a Hummer EV cost?

If you were lucky enough to get on the reservation list, the base price was about $110,000.

However, according to Jalopnik, some GMC dealers are taking the opportunity to make some quick cash and charging markups for the exclusive etruck.

But, with that premium price, the truck gets a lot of exclusive options, including a driver-selectable “immersive experience” that turns up the power to 11, and Drive Mode Control, which allows for torque splits, can control the four-wheel steering, and different terrain modes. We can’t wait to see the special Watts to Freedom (WtF) high-performance mode in the real world.

And, if you didn’t notice, the truck also has a removable roof. While it’s not a true convertible, the open-air driving with the standard Infinity Roof should make it easier to see out of to maneuver the 86.7-inch-wide truck through tight trails. While it may be a few inches shorter than a GMC Sierra, it’s 5.5 inches wider and a bit wider than an F-150 Raptor.

But in a Rivian R1T vs. Hummer EV drag race, we now know who’s quicker.

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Writer - Sedans & Coupes

Dan Mayfield

Dan joined MotorBiscuit in 2022 with over 20 years of experience in journalism and a lifelong passion for anything related to the automotive industry. He grew up wrenching a 1949 Ford pickup truck and an MGB with his dad, learning how not to wire a fuel pump (he inadvertently set the MGB on fire).

After earning a bachelor’s degree in photojournalism from the University of New Mexico, Dan has contributed his expertise to a range of local outlets, including the City of Albuquerque, US Eagle, and the Alliance for Local Economic Prosperity.

On weekends, Dan spends Saturdays enjoying “cars and coffee” chats and, on Sundays, he’s watching the Route 66 Cruise roll through town. He also races motorcycles, and it’s not unusual to find him elbows-deep in his latest cafe racer build.

Taking advantage of the local desert terrain, Dan also enjoys exploring and driving off-road in his trusty Ram Rebel pickup truck, which provides personal insights into his contributions to our Trucks, SUVs, & Crossovers coverage. Dan strives to give our readers unique information about the dynamic automotive market, reading anything that has to do with cars, trucks, bikes, 4X4s, and, in his words, “everything with a motor.”

Dan has earned a number of accolades from the Public Relations Society of America, and is a University of Southern California, Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism Fellow.