Compare the2022 Ram 1500VS 2022 Rivian R1T

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Ram 1500 (except Tradesman/HFE) offers optional Reverse Stop that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The R1T doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

Both the Ram 1500 and the R1T have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, side-impact head airbags, height-adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, rearview cameras, available four-wheel drive, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, with its optional vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, with its optional vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its available headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Ram 1500 the rating of “Top Pick” for 2021, a rating granted to only 130 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The R1T has not been tested, yet.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Ram 1500 second among large light duty pickups in their 2021 Initial Quality Study. The R1T isn’t in the top three in its category.

The Ram 1500’s maximum EPA estimated driving range on a full tank of fuel is 1089 miles, after which it can be refueled at any diesel pump in minutes. The R1T’s range is only 314 miles, after which the minimum recharge time is 41 minutes for only a 80% charge at a specially configured quick charge station not available in most areas. A full recharge at a conventional charging station can take up to 11 hours and 44 minutes.

The Ram 1500’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Rivian R1T only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The Ram 1500 has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The R1T doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Ram 1500 has a standard full size spare so a flat doesn’t interrupt your work or a trip. A full size spare costs extra on the R1T. Without the option you must depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

The Ram 1500’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions that would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The R1T doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Ram 1500 standard bed Quad Cab’s wheelbase is 4.6 inches longer than on the R1T (140.5 inches vs. 135.9 inches). The Ram 1500 standard bed Crew Cab Pickup’s wheelbase is 17.6 inches longer than on the R1T (153.5 inches vs. 135.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Ram 1500 is 1.2 inches wider in the front and .8 inches wider in the rear than on the R1T.

The Ram 1500 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 450 to 1100 pounds less than the Rivian R1T.

The Ram 1500 offers available computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The R1T doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Ram 1500 has standard seating for 6 passengers; the R1T can only carry 5.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Ram 1500 Crew Cab’s available rear seats recline. The R1T’s rear seats don’t recline.

Maximum trailer towing in the Rivian R1T is limited to 11000 pounds. The Ram 1500 standard bed Quad Cab offers up to a 12750 lbs. towing capacity.

The Ram 1500 short bed Crew Cab Pickup 4x4 has a higher standard payload capacity than the R1T (1840 vs. 1764 lbs.).

The Ram 1500 short bed Crew Cab Pickup 4x4 has a higher optional payload capacity than the R1T (1860 vs. 1764 lbs.).

The Ram 1500 (except Tradesman/HFE) offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The R1T doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The Ram 1500 offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The R1T doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Ram 1500’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Ram 1500’s optional wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield.

The Ram 1500 (except Tradesman/HFE)’s available GPS navigation system has a real-time traffic update feature that plots alternative routes to automatically bypass traffic problems. (Service not available in all areas.) The R1T’s available navigation system doesn’t offer real-time traffic updates.

The Ram 1500 Laramie/Longhorn/Limited’s optional Active Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The R1T doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The Ram 1500 comes in extended cab and crew cab bodystyles; the Rivian R1T isn’t available as an extended cab.

The Ram 1500 is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The R1T doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

The Ram 1500 was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 3 of the last 3 years. The R1T has never been a Car and Driver “Top Ten” pick.

The Ram 1500 was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Five/10Best Trucks” in 2019. The R1T has never been a Car and Driver “Top Five/10Best Truck” pick.

Motor Trend selected the Ram 1500 as their 2019 Truck of the Year. The R1T has never been chosen.

The Ram 1500 was chosen as one of Automobile Magazine’s “All Stars” for 4 of the last 12 years. The R1T has never been an “All Star.”

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Ram 1500 as the 2013 North American Truck of the Year. The R1T has never been chosen.