? Part 2 Comparison: My F-150 Lightning vs Rivian R1T -- Driver+ vs. BlueCruise, Ford Sync4 vs Rivian Infotainment, Audio Quality, Vehicle Size, Etc

[MNLightning]

Drivers Assist:

Good news for Ford as they seem to be substantially ahead of Rivian with BlueCruise. It's far from perfect and a little annoying until you learn or get used to it. BlueCruise doesn't change lanes and can kick you out for what appears to be no visible reason, but it's easier/faster to re-engage than Driver+.
Advantage - Ford

Nav for Charging:

I've voiced my disappointment with Rivian's mapping not showing local charges and using it to route my day incorporating charging. While I haven't taken a serious road trip with either truck yet I can say that Ford's system is as far ahead as BlueCruise is compared to Drivers+. My assessment is biased though because I have a distaste for the Rivian Mapping and routing software and interface. The last updated might have fixed some of the flaws but I would rather use my phone in the R1T and I find the opposite to be true in the Lightning.
Advantage - Ford

Audio: Edited ..

Everyone has and hears things differently so while it's subjective I think that the majority of people will find that Rivian's sound system far out classes the sound system in the Lightning. But only from a audio/listening standpoint. After having the R1T for a couple of months and then playing with the settings in the Ford, well it's like the Rivian has a stereo and the Ford has a 1st. gen FM radio. (after doing some more tweaking and listening I found the Lighting system to just be to front speaker focused. The sound doesn't seem to fill the cab and it doesn't do a great job spatially) I tried multiple inputs and adjustments in the Ford and wasn't able to find a source or setting that I even wanted to listen to in the Ford.
Advantage - Rivian

Vehicle Size:

This will be different for everyone depending on how you plan on using the truck. But for example this morning I made a trip to get my wife some pancakes from the Original House of Pancakes (Highly Recommended btw) and took the lighting. The parking lot is tight and I found myself missing the more car like handling of the R1T. The Lighting is a F150 and is just wider, longer and taller, and it feels like it in tight spaces. The steering on the Lightning doesn't feel as responsive and the suspension, while having an awesome ride is kind of floaty and boaty compared to the R1T.

Overall I find myself liking the Lightning interior features far more. But if I had to pick today, which I don't I'd keep the R1T in spite of big fails in the Infotainment/NAV/Driver+ areas. I'll give the Lighting some more time to grow on me and see if that changes.

Oh, and please help me LINE JUMP the Rivian wait list by "Liking" this thread for my R1S & R1T orders.

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[Yellow Buddy]

Oh, and please help me LINE JUMP the Rivian wait list by "Liking" this thread for my R1S & R1T orders.

I thought you already had both?

 

[rraj2k81]

... some pancakes from the Original House of Pancakes (Highly Recommended btw)

I loved going to the Original Pancake House when I lived in Buffalo, not sure if they are the same.

 

[rodhx]

Nav for Charging;

I've voiced my disappointment with Rivian's mapping not showing local charges and using it to route my day incorporating charging. While I haven't taken a serious road trip with either truck yet I can say that Ford's system is as far ahead as BlueCruise is compared to Drivers+. My assessment is biased though because I have a distaste for the Rivian Mapping and routing software and interface. The last updated might have fixed some of the flaws but I would rather use my phone in the R1T and I find the opposite to be true in the Lightning.
Advantage - Ford

Having put 18k miles on Mach E here in the SE the Ford system has been near useless. It’s results for trips, in an area with sparse charging opportunities, are typically laughable compared to ABRP, Google, & Apple. Hopefully in our area the Rivian will be better as it is hard to believe it will be worse.

BTW, I think the Mach E may be the only current EV than can use Apple Maps through Carplay to calculate charging stops, just like the onboard system but with what looks to be more sensible routing. It is what I used on our recent roadtrip to avoid the Ford system taking us many mile out of the way. I imagine the Lightning can do it as well since it uses the same infotainment system.

 

[mini2nut]

I will be in the same boat as you soon. My Lighting XLT goes into production next month.

I expect my Explore R1T to go into production sometime in 2023. This will give me time to make a decision on which one I plan on keeping.

 

[Mcfly Rivian]

Let me know what you end up keeping. My lightning lariat ER is scheduled for 8/8. My R1T window is now Sept to Oct 22. My plan is to flip the lightning and keep the R1T. That is if resale value is 110k or more by Oct.
Side note I checked recent R1T sales on cars and bids. Most recent are sub 110k.

 

[MNLightning]

Having put 18k miles on Mach E here in the SE the Ford system has been near useless. It’s results for trips, in an area with sparse charging opportunities, are typically laughable compared to ABRP, Google, & Apple. Hopefully in our area the Rivian will be better as it is hard to believe it will be worse.

I don't even bother with the using Rivian native apps and just go right to my phone (for me the Rivian System IS useless). Might be hard to believe or just my location but the Lightning did a better job.

I thought you already had both?

I do, the R1S is for my wife. And the 2nd RT1 will be a work vehicle.

I loved going to the Original Pancake House when I lived in Buffalo, not sure if they are the same.

Not sure if they are the same, but the food and service have remained above average even through Covid. How long have you been gone?

 

[rodhx]

I don't even bother with the using Rivian native apps and just go right to my phone (for me the Rivian System IS useless). Might be hard to believe or just my location but the Lightning did a better job.

That's exactly how I treat the Ford system. ? But it does seem to be location specific. It's not uncommon for MME owners out west to have a better experience due to their charger-rich environment. Starting in Birmingham, Alabama...not so much.

 

[MNLightning]

Let me know what you end up keeping. My lighting lariat ER is scheduled for 8/8. My R1T window is now Sept to Oct 22. My plan is to flip the lighting and keep the R1T. That is if resale value is 110k or more by Oct.
Side note I checked recent R1T sales on cars and bids. Most recent are sub 110k.

Still around 20k over a new one with post March 22 pricing. Doug's site isn't for me but I do like watching some of his reviews for the quirky/entertainment factor. I almost never agree with his Doug scores though. I think Ford gets more points on the interior and ride comfort between the two. But Rivian nailed it on sizing & handling with R1T for me. If Rivian would give up on trying to follow the Tesla example of not using CarPlay or Android Auto perhaps.......

 

[Mcfly Rivian]

Still around 20k over a new one with post March 22 pricing. Doug's site isn't for me but I do like watching some of his reviews for the quirky/entertainment factor. I almost never agree with his Doug scores though. I think Ford gets more points on the interior and ride comfort between the two. But Rivian nailed it on sizing & handling with R1T for me. If Rivian would give up on trying to follow the Tesla example of not using CarPlay or Android Auto perhaps.......

I agree 20k is still a great profit. I would take that all day. Was only considering Doug's site because of the free listing. Not sure what others, BAT and ebay charge. But looks like on BAT they go for higher. I did see a damaged lariat Lightning sold for 110k. There are 2 on ebay right now, both slightly under 100k with 2 and 3 days left.

 

[MoreTrout]

The Infotainment/NAV/Driver+ will all theoretically improve dramatically over time. I would hope Ford did better with them given they have been developing them for a few decades and Rivian just started. I can remember Ford's first foray into Infotainment/connected vehicle. Everyone, and I mean everyone, hated it and it was universally deemed the worst of all the OEMs attempts at the time. The Lighting will always be big and as you put it, "floaty and boaty", and not do well in tight parking or smaller garages. But it does win hands down on being used as a power source for tools or your home. I think they are both great first editions. For me personally, I have zero need for or interest in a full size truck. Now if Ford would have offered an EV or at least a PHEV version of the Ranger when they reintroduced it, chances are very good I would have one and would be among the majority that know next to nothing about the Rivian other than it being very expensive.

 

[agsogg]

Drivers Assist:

Good news for Ford as they seem to be substantially ahead of Rivian with BlueCruise. It's far from perfect and a little annoying until you learn or get used to it. BlueCruise doesn't change lanes and can kick you out for what appears to be no visible reason, but it's easier/faster to re-engage than Driver+.
Advantage - Ford

Nav for Charging:

I've voiced my disappointment with Rivian's mapping not showing local charges and using it to route my day incorporating charging. While I haven't taken a serious road trip with either truck yet I can say that Ford's system is as far ahead as BlueCruise is compared to Drivers+. My assessment is biased though because I have a distaste for the Rivian Mapping and routing software and interface. The last updated might have fixed some of the flaws but I would rather use my phone in the R1T and I find the opposite to be true in the Lightning.
Advantage - Ford

Audio:

Everyone has and hears things differently so while it's subjective I think that the majority of people will find that Rivian's sound system far out classes the sound system in the Lightning. But only from a audio/listening standpoint. After having the R1T for a couple of months and then playing with the settings in the Ford, well it's like the Rivian has a stereo and the Ford has a 1st. gen FM radio. It tried multiple inputs and adjustments in the Ford and wasn't able to find a source or setting that I even wanted to listen to in the Ford.
Advantage - Rivian

Vehicle Size:

This will be different for everyone depending on how you plan on using the truck. But for example this morning I made a trip to get my wife some pancakes from the Original House of Pancakes (Highly Recommended btw) and took the lighting. The parking lot is tight and I found myself missing the more car like handling of the R1T. The Lighting is a F150 and is just wider, longer and taller, and it feels like it in tight spaces. The steering on the Lightning doesn't feel as responsive and the suspension, while having an awesome ride is kind of floaty and boaty compared to the R1T.

Overall I find myself liking the Lightning interior features far more. But if I had to pick today, which I don't I'd keep the R1T in spite of big fails in the Infotainment/NAV/Driver+ areas. I'll give the Lighting some more time to grow on me and see if that changes.

Oh, and please help me LINE JUMP the Rivian wait list by "Liking" this thread for my R1S & R1T orders.

Pancakes, unlike revenge, is a dish best served warm. I can’t imagine doing take-out for pancakes.

 

[Marjen]

Having put 18k miles on Mach E here in the SE the Ford system has been near useless. It’s results for trips, in an area with sparse charging opportunities, are typically laughable compared to ABRP, Google, & Apple. Hopefully in our area the Rivian will be better as it is hard to believe it will be worse.

BTW, I think the Mach E may be the only current EV than can use Apple Maps through Carplay to calculate charging stops, just like the onboard system but with what looks to be more sensible routing. It is what I used on our recent roadtrip to avoid the Ford system taking us many mile out of the way. I imagine the Lightning can do it as well since it uses the same infotainment system.

actually the Apple Maps charging info in the Mach-e really burned us on a trip to those island. It routed us to 2 different charging stations that were not working. They don’t seem to have any idea on the status of the stations. We finally found one using PlugShare and just made it with around 14 miles left. I don’t recommend apple maps charging info at this point.

 

[rodhx]

actually the Apple Maps charging info in the Mach-e really burned us on a trip to those island. It routed us to 2 different charging stations that were not working. They don’t seem to have any idea on the status of the stations. We finally found one using PlugShare and just made it with around 14 miles left. I don’t recommend apple maps charging info at this point.

That may not be an Apple Maps thing though. I’m curious if the Ford system would have known those were not working. BTW, since we have CarPlay in the MME i pull up the EA app well ahead of getting to the actual stop to confirm if their station is working or unavailable. And of course check them on Plugshare prior to leaving.

I have never been a big Apple Maps fan but this new feature has proven, for us, to plan appropriate charging stops and do a better job of routing than the on-board system. I would happily use it with our R1T if we were allowed to.

 

[MNLightning]

Pancakes, unlike revenge, is a dish best served warm. I can’t imagine doing take-out for pancakes.

Agreed, but it's about 1/2 mile away. Even the over medium eggs are still warm when I get home.

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