The Hummer EV pickup truck continues the legacy of GMC’s once popular and unapologetic large Hummer vehicles. GMC is entering the electric pickup truck segment just as electric car manufacturer, Rivian has stirred up excitement with their full-size electric pickup truck, the Rivian R1T. Rivian debuted the R1T model by introducing the 2022 Rivian R1T Launch Edition with a starting price of $74,000. Subsequent R1T models have two performance packages – You can get the Rivian R1T Explore Package or the Rivian R1T Adventure package. Both have a sticker price that starts at just over $70,000. Rivian is steadily gaining ground in the auto market with increased interest in its models. GMC, on the other hand, has had decades of success producing internal combustion engine vehicles and is looking to use that expertise and electric mobility technology to put the Hummer EV at the top of the car food chain – just like its predecessor, the Humvee. While the Rivian R1T is a competent product, here's how the Hummer EV is better than it.
10 The Hummer EV Offers Better Range Than The Rivian R1T
The range is usually the most important aspect for car buyers looking for a practical electric vehicle. Most electric vehicles can now charge to full capacity overnight and deliver up to 250 miles of range. This range is impressive considering the electric vehicle adoption has been with us for less than 20 years. 250 miles is also more than enough for daily driving because the average daily commuting distance is about 41 miles per day. Range anxiety is however still an obstacle in the full-scale adoption of EVs. The Hummer EV slightly edges out the Rivian R1T by about 50 miles. GMC estimates the Hummer EV to do 350 miles between charges while Rivian estimates that the R1T will do between 260 and 400 miles on a single charge depending on the model. Real-world estimates for the 2022 Rivian R1T Launch Edition are however closer to 300 miles.
9 The GMC Hummer EV Makes More Power
There are two reasons why the Hummer EV has more power than the Rivian. One, the Hummer EV has a bigger battery of about 212 kW hours. This is the largest battery ever fitted in a road-legal electric vehicle. The Hummer EV also uses a tri-motor power unit setup – it has three motors, two sitting on the rear axle and one on the front axle. The R1T has a dual motor setup or a more powerful quad motor setup available in Rivian's Explore Package. The three motors in the Hummer and the large battery produce about 1,000 horsepower. The R1T’s quad motor setup manages to pump out 800 horsepower. That is about 200 horsepower less than the Hummer EV.
8 The New Hummer EV is a Better Off-Roading Vehicle than the Rivian R1T
The new Hummer EV has a feature called ‘Extract Mode’. This is the EV’s ultimate off-road setting and can be compared to the R1T’s Explore Packaged model. In Extract Mode, ground clearance is 15.9 inches compared to the R1T’s 14.9 inches. The Hummer EV also has significantly better approach and departure angles than the R1T. The approach angle on Extract Mode for the Hummer is 49.7 degrees and has a 38.4 degrees departure angle. The Rivian R1T manages a 35.5 degrees approach angle and 30 degrees. The breakover angle for the Hummer EV is 32.2 degrees in Extract Mode and The R1T manages about 26.4 degrees. Both vehicles have wonderful water-fording capabilities with a depth of about three feet. But ‘Extract Mode’ makes the Hummer EV pickup truck just a little better.
7 The Hummer EV Offers More Space For People And Cargo
Both these vehicles are full-size pickup trucks with more than enough room to carry people and luggage. But, the Hummer EV is taller and wider. It measures about 86.7 inches wide versus the R1T’s 81.8 inches. The height is 79.1 inches and the R1T is 78.2 inches. This might seem like a small difference, but car enthusiasts will tell you that these little variations make a significant difference in interior space. The total cargo space for the Hummer EV is 81 cubic feet and the R1T provides about 20 cubic feet less capacity at about 61 cubic feet which are inclusive of its gear tunnel cargo area.
6 The Hummer EV's Suspension Is A Lot More Adaptable
All-wheel steering comes standard in all Hummer EV models making the large car feel nimble when maneuvering around town. Doug Demuro, a popular car YouTuber, stated that the Hummer EV has the same turning radius as a Chevy Sonic. This is impressive given the wheelbase and the width of the Hummer. Both the R1T and the Hummer EV have independent air suspension. The R1T provides up to 6 inches of vertical adjustment and the Hummer EV has a standard ride height of 10.1 inches but can be lowered by 3.5 inches for easy entry and exit (also for better aerodynamics at highways speeds) and can be raised to 16.5 inches when maneuvering through the toughest of off-road terrain. The all-wheel steering and the better adaptable suspension make the Hummer EV just a tad bit better to drive than the R1T.
5 The Hummer EV Comes With Features Like The Crab Walk!
When the Hummer EV was first unveiled by GMC, the most interesting feature was its ability to crab walk. The car could position all its tires to move sideways (like a crab). In everyday car use, Hummer EV owners will probably not use this feature and some critics have said that crab walk is more of a gimmick than a car feature. But, crab walk can prove to be handy when tackling uneven terrain. Instead of maneuvering over rocks and boulders, crab walk gives the Hummer EV the ability to go around these obstacles. Crab walk is also useful for narrow diagonally inclined pathways where steering the vehicle may be difficult.
4 The Hummer EV’s 18 Cameras Take Off-Roading To The Next Level
For a price tag of over $100,000, the Hummer EV pickup truck is fitted with up to 18 cameras for high-definition surround vision. This includes waterproof underbody cameras (forward and rear facing) that provide real-time views of terrain to help maneuver the vehicle through tough spots. The underbody cameras also have automated water jets that wash the cameras just in case they are smudged by mud or dirt. This is the type of impressive attention to detail that you can only have if you have a history of making great cars. It is also a convenient feature for frequent off-roaders.
3 The Hummer EV Comes With Physical Switches In The Cabin
GMC pulled out all the stops to create the infotainment system for the new Hummer EV, and deservedly so for a price tag of over $100,000. The touch buttons have been clearly displayed on the LED screen and some of them are configurable to the driver’s preference. What is more impressive is the physical buttons. GMC has found a unique way to integrate multiple functions in the switches, and you can also add other functions to them if required. The big graphics displayed on the infotainment screen will allow Hummer drivers to have an easy time choosing and actualizing functions. The R1T’s infotainment system is good, but the lack of physical switches makes the vehicle just a little less practical, especially when off-roading. It is always easier to use physical buttons or switches when driving than using a touch screen.
2 The Hummer EV Comes With Removable Roof Panels Unlike The R1T
Buyers of vehicles like the Hummer and the Rivian R1T require a vehicle that can fit in multiple situations of their lives. They, of course, want the vehicle to be practical, but also it has to be fun. The EV is supposed to be able to ferry the owners to work or to the grocery store and also be able to push through the challenging terrains of a weekend hike. All these vehicles are great for daily drives and are more than capable in the outback. But the fun does not stop there for the Hummer EV. For a more fun summer outdoor experience, the Hummer is fitted with individually removable roof panels for the four occupants in the vehicle. Each can remove their own roof panel if they so desire. This can be done in a few easy steps and the panels can be stored in the front trunk of the EV.
1 GMC And Hummer Have A Long History And Credibility
American car buyers are well aware of the larger-than-life and showy predecessors to the Hummer EV. The H1, H2, and H3 were bold and excessive fuel-guzzling behemoths for the upper class of society. They eventually fell out of favor with car buyers and disappeared into obscurity when rising fuel prices became a major concern in the mid-2000s. GMC is hoping to rekindle the love for the Hummer brand by introducing an EV to a car-buying audience that has grown more environmentally conscious over the years. Statistics and features of the 2022 Hummer EV are impressive and have generated a lot of interest from car buyers and enthusiasts globally. The Edition 1 of the Hummer EV sold out even before it was released. The R1T is an impressive pickup truck, and it too has generated quite the interest from electric car buyers, but simply put, Rivian cannot compete with the history that the Hummer brand has with the American people.