Tom: first of all, great review. I owned a '22 Lariat F-150 Lighting that I traded in on an '23 R1T, which I in turn traded in on the new Silverado EV RST. As you share in your video, it depends what you need the truck for, and for me it is about range and charging speed. I have 9,000 miles on my Silverado since I picked it up in May - I have road tripped twice to Phoenix, once to Vegas, and to Kansas City and nothing can beat the range, charging speed, hauling capability, and comfort of the Chevy. I drove from Vegas to Denver yesterday and only stopped twice to charge for 30 minutes each time and got home in less than 13hrs. If someone is going to tow, or road trip frequently, the only truck solution is the Silverado EV or GMC equivalent due the battery size and charging speeds. Great content and looking forward to the next one.
Thanks for this comment. I have to travel for work, sometimes 4+ hours and into rural areas so I was concerned about the range. With the extended range of the Chevy I'm leaning that direction. Good to hear some real world usage!
@@dpascal95 Location and weather will also play a big factor on range. For instance, I drove my RST from Denver to Moab, UT, which is 365 miles and did not stop to charge even though I went over two large mountain passes on I-70. I still had 15% or 20% battery when I rolled into town. That range efficiency will obviously be very different in cold weather, rain, or snow. Regardless, the truck is a great cruiser and just eats up the miles while on a road trip.
@@paulf9585 Thats amazing. I live in GA so it's pretty moderate year-round here. I will have to deal with heat more often than cold, and it almost never snows (watch us get 2ft of snow this year because I said something lol).
Nice to hear from someone who's actually owned and driven all those EV trucks. Personally, I couldn't do the RST because it's an electric Avalanche and that really bugs me, but that's a style preference thing. The range they've achieved on it, though, is insane. I dislike the Lightning for other reasons, and the R1T is just a little too small. Have to check out the Denali EV and see what that's like, and the Ram EV if they ever get around to it.
@@meadmaker4525 I certainly get it, not everyone is going to be fan of the modernized Avalanche look on the RST. But, it is less polarizing than the Cybertruck, that is for sure!
Chev RST 4 wheel steering remains active during towing, countering sway. Super cruise remains active while towing. Air lift provides net 4” in different ride heights, lowering for exit/entry. Interior space is massive in the Chev. You can drive with rear window out. You can split cargo in the mid gate, giving you a third seat. The display and mapping are quick, large, and software is 1.0 and being improved upon. Thought that no Air Play would be a problem. It isn’t. The apps you need are there on Google Play, but the factory Google Map is made to automatically find chargers on those long routes.
Love all that. Chevy has done a great job. I have the 2023 XLT ER and am very happy with it when the prices are added to the story. Cant wait to see all the pricing and lineup competition between all the truck EV'S coming up in 2025. I am telling myself no way Im trading next year for any upgrade. LOL. I really believe that this race is just starting and each year we will see some great innovations so hopefully I can wait til 26 or 27 LOL.
Really when the Lightning videos first started a few yrs back and I saw that frunk I was instantly amazed. Its a big perk. Glad he saved that for last lol.
Thanks for this great, informative content. I'm gaga over my Lightning, and it's amazing how much they got right years sooner than some of these competitors. Our choices are increasing!
Thx Tom. Very helpful and informative. Here in Texas , Tesla is popular. We have a MYLR. I’m leaning towards the FLASH Lighting. Not a working guy here (retired) but I have always liked the look and functionality of the F 150. Not really crazy about the Cybertruck at all. New subscriber.
You have been the go-to the 6 months I researched prior to leasing my 2023 lightning ER. Thank you for the great and detailed videos. Now if I could only convince my dealership to provide the charge station that Ford advertised that would be great. After 2 months they won't even acknowledge me even after Ford called them to try and help. There needs to be a way to bypass the dealer and get from Ford directly.
On power offloading, it's worth mentioning the Silverado EV due to its very large battery has more capacity (205kWh vs 131kWh) with which to offload. That is to say if one plans to use power offloading extensively, would go with the Silverado EV for this use case.
I have both the Lightning and MachE. Both excellent, sure I wish they had more range but not at the price. My thoughts are that down the road, after market batteries will have more range, better tech for less money. Both vehicles will last much longer than the ICE equivalent. The GM truck looks impressive, I guess owning a F150 before so I trust it. Really amazing vehicle. Build on my Fords are exceptional
I absolutely love my Sierra EV. Same battery/range/charging speed as the Silverado RST, but a bit more luxury for basically the same price. It’s an amazing roadtripper, even when towing. Best truck I’ve ever had.
Based on my experience from driving my Cadillac Lyriq, range is important to me. Therefore, if I was buying a truck, it would be the Silverado… or it’s fancy “brother” the GMC Sierra.
@@chunkychuckactually quite the opposite, actually they made the front of trucks higher because at “survivable” speeds lower hoods cased more damage than higher ones.
Tom, I'm leasing an ID4 and it's up next year. I really want to get a used Lightning next because of you and the rest of the Batteries Included guys raving about the Lightning. Thanks for your content.
I Love my Lightning w/Lariat package, and hope you enjoy yours when you get one! It’s been kicking ass for our vacations. We’ve had so much fun in that thing. We just put 8k miles on our 2024.
Don't wait for next year. Pricing is at its best. I got a supper great deal and over 40 years of buying personal and company vehicles at CMA Ford dealership in Williamsburg Virginia. I don't live there but made the trip After shopping for a while I thought I found a local dealership ourismond Ford but the price didn't matter it wasn't real as they pulled bait and switch. Funny is that they are still listed a truck that is sold...a week later. Rodney at CMA was clear and honest from the first conversation to the end. No games. They went deep to make it worth my travel 4 hours by train to the area and he picked us up. Maybe they can help you. This is not my first ev it's #6 and I'm going to use it for my EV charging installation business and family trips The bolt is our daily driver and love how easy it is My son who is in the spectrum loves from day one driving it as well. He pointed out how safe the truck is going to be he can't wait to get his chance
I'd love the better range and software of the Silverado EV, and also the mid-gate. But until that Chevy can accept an ARE or LEER topper, I'll definitely stick with my Ford Lightning Lariat.
4:15 thanks, Tom, for discussing the $7,500 federal tax credit. Consumers REALLY need to consider this when deciding on their purchase. Along with our company discounted X-pricing, this made it a no-brainer to choose a Lightning over a PowerBoost engine. (Don’t forget about 0% financing for 60 months while it’s still available.)
@@RUclipsuser1aa nope. Its resale is among the highest for electric vehicle. “The Ford F-150 Lightning has won Kelley Blue Book's Best Resale Value Award for two years in a row, highlighting its ability to retain a high percentage of its original MSRP over the first five years of ownership.”
Great video! I agree with your conclusion. I own the 2023 Lariat ER, and I love it. The comfort level is unmatched. I take long trips without feeling tired at the end.
I have a 2013 model S with only 220 miles of range now. I just did a 2100 mile road trip. You can live with the range it’s just not that big a deal because 99% of my driving is getting charged from home. There are some killer deals out there on used lightnings right now. I think that’s the better way to go.
Tom, I love my 22 Lightning Lariat. I use mine similar to you. If my truck just had the charging speed of the Chevy, it would be perfect. Great job on the video.
Great review Tom. To me the Ford lightning would probably be my choice as well right now, although I feel that they need to make some big improvements with the Ford. Like positioning the charging port on the rear driver side, to make it more convenient to charge at Tesla charging stations. A larger battery and at least 250kW charging for those who would like the option of longer range driving. I just recently watched the out of spec road trip across I90 and was actually really impressed with the genesis charging profile. It holds nearly 180 kW all the way through to 80%.
Awesome review and comparison thank you, i love my F150 platinum. Extended range, it's a great working truck and a pleasure to drive. I'm curious what your take will be on the upcoming ram ev.
As someone that just went through this (buying an EV truck), your review was excellent!!!!. I am contractor that has many trucks. I was very lured by the Silverado’s range and charging speed and was leaning that way. But after deep thought and research, I realized that those 2 wins for the Silverado really didn’t accomplish anything for me. As you said, if we are going to tow long distances, we will just take our diesel truck. Towing 200 miles on the Silverado vs the 150 miles on the Lighting does not accomplish much in terms of saying well now we can use it for long distance towing and get rid of our diesel. In reality it accomplishes the opposite. The only use case for an EV work truck right now is if you use it around town, like we do with ours. We rarely go over 100 miles per day, so the added weight of the Silverador, which also causes it to be less efficient was a negative. One other major category that was very influential in our purchase that you missed is discounts. Ford has huge discounts on these things and is really doing a disservice to themselves by having reviewers quote high MSRP’s when in reality you can get them for much much less. We ended up getting a fully loaded Platinum lightning for much less than a bare bones Silverado WT. As you mentioned, the Frunk in the lightning is a game changer and the ride is phenomenal. The other thing I am confused about is that you said Apple CarPlay is on both, at the time I was looking, I was told by my sales person that the Silverado EV did not have CarPlay because its too distracting, lol. Which was a major deciding factor for me. Has GM changed their stance on this and are now including CarPlay.
Great video Tom! One small formatting comment. Throughout the video, the Chevy is on the left behind you, but on the slides with the details the chevy is on the right. It would be nice next time you do a compare if the product on one side stays there on the slides. Thanks!!
keep it up and you may convince me to spend more than I should to buy a Lighting. It is more likely come 2026 I will buy the Ford hybrid Maverick because it is the size I need and price I “might” be able to afford.
Several years ago Ford was working on a system that would allow their sedans to communicate with each other out on the road and in heavy traffic. If a Ford ahead made a hard brake it would communicate with other Ford vehicles directly behind it to start slowing down to avoid hard braking. Looks like they abandoned that when they discontinued the Focus and Fusion. The Fusion was used to test all sorts of technology that was abandoned and with it. Same with the Focus. It seemed like some smart ideas, but they spent all that money on r an d just to let it go and collect dust.
Potential factor that may decide for me: Truck bed accessories. Lightning has a standard bed. I love the silverado range and bed functionality with the mid-gate. But ladder rack and my toolbox work with the lightning.
An excellent comparo, many thanks! Think for quite a few people the choice will be based on their tribal affiliation rather than any specific attribute. It’s great to have them!
Fantastic and comprehensive review. FYI, Rivian is coming out with the R2 SUV for the 2026 model year. I can't imagine that an R2 pickup will be very far behind.
I think one of these workers that's building apartments in my area had a Cybertruck in a lamenated white color. I agree that a small EV truck with a 300 range would be nice to see made available. I do want to see more legacy automakers compete against the bolt and the upcoming Kia EV 3. Also, I know Vans gets a creepy vibes but they can be multi-purpose vehicles, that why I do want to see EV Vans that is advertise as family haulers and for companies work vehicles.
Tom the smaller width of the frunk in the Chev Silverado EV RST is the Air suspension cylinders take up so much space in the frunk. I think the air suspension is a real plus on the Chev Silverado.
I think price has a lot to do with my decision. If I had to choose between plat and rst I’d go rst. I paid 51k for my xlt er with 0% for 60 months. I’m not even sure if I’d pick a 3wt over that. I love that ford has basic lane centering on roads with lanes. That’s huge for me.
The 2024 lightnings with the optional blue cruise comes with blue cruise 1.3 which has lane change assist. I saw it on a video where the reviewed the Flash.
Yea for efficiency the Bolt is hard to beat. I was averaging 4.6-4.7 mi/kwh in warm weather. I was lifetime averaging 4.2 mi/kwh in the Equinox I traded the Bolt in for until that disappeared off the Chevy app. Im sure that will go down a good bit this winter but we’ll see.
Great comparison, these are the 2 I’m considering. I like how the backseats fold on the Ford better as I want as much floor space in the back. Any word from ford on 2025 updates and if they’re ever going to improve the charging? I know they delayed the T3 or whatever it’s called, but if they could make the lightning 350k, that’s my truck.
Good review. I've ridden in a Lightning and found it quite nice. Ford knows how to do pickups. I second the motion for a Maverick EV. Why hasn't Ford done that already?
Only in the WT trims - 2024 and 2025 models - LT and RST do not have it. Carplay does not do as well as the native apps in our Lyriq - so we stopped using it. (and do not miss it)
Great review. My issue is that the Ford's mileage almost drops in half in cold winters. The Silverado will do much better because of the bigger pack. If Ford had the same range as the Silverado it would definitely be a better option for those living in colder climates. Nice job Chevy!
The price is a big factor. I was looking at the 2024 lariat trim. Which is probably equal to the Chevy rst trim. I found a few 2024 lightning lariat trim with a final price of 57 to 62. This was after all the savings and federal incentives. I couldn’t find a Chevy Silverado rst below 87 thousand. One dealer offered me a 7 thousand dollar discount and even though I like the longer range and fast charging. I couldn’t see myself paying another 20 thousand dollars plus tax for any car.
I'll be really interested in your review of the Ram REV when that comes out. There are supposed to be a 350-mile and 500-mile versions. That would compare nicely to the Lightning and GM twins. I'm also really curious to see pricing on the RamCharger cause that looks like a complete game changer.
I just leased the F150 EX Lariat and its pretty good, I do find its a little bouncy. Coming from a Tesla Y P, I now prefer the F150 for my daily driving and work.
I have a 23 Lightning Pro (standard range). If range is not necessary this is a great bargain at a little over 50 g. With a tax credit you're down in the low 40s for an excellent truck that looks pretty nice (other than the gray front grill). Now that I can charge at Tesla stations the lower range is not a big deal.
Thanks for all the time you put into these vids you have helped me immensely on my 2023 Lightning XLT journey. The question I have is about the Sport mode on the lightning. You mentioned the one pedal driving and how the regenerative works on the truck in regular mode also but not sport and what your thoughts may be about efficiency effects of these might be. I havent seen much about the regen paddle before your video and I heard you say you use it alot and I find it odd that its not on the Ford considering efficiency is a big deal on an EV. I mean the difference between getting 2 mpkw and 2.2 mpkw would be substantial. Thanks again for your thoughts
Ford and Chevrolet made a great truck with great specs. But they need to figure out manufacturing to lower the cost. Until then, there will only be limited quantities and not get to manufacturing scale. Personally, I like the Silverado & Hummer.
Very informative, unbiased comparison. I've always been a GM guy and the Chevy definitely out muscles the Ford here. With that said, the Ford seems more practical and liveable for the way I (and I suspect most people) would actually use it.
Taking into consideration the fact that electric trucks are not equal with gas/diesel trucks the ONLY truck that comes close is the Silverado for what a truck is intended to be. The F 150 is less usable or more limited. The other trucks are SUV's with a bed. But in reality most people just need a SUV with a bed.
I totally forgot you had done the blackout treatment on your F150 light bar; how does it look with the lights on? One other question for you… do you drive the Lightning in Sport mode for better regen? I find I get better range and regen with that over normal mode. I was curious if you had compared that in any of your tests.
Interesting based on the curb weights, and payloads listed, the Lightening appears to be around a 8-9K GVWR, which would put it int he class of a traditional 150/1500, where as the GM is appears to be 11-12GVWR, which would put it in the 350/3500 category. Based on this, the Lightening's tow and payload numbers are close to its ICE counterparts. The GM comes up short on the towing numbers compared to ICE truck in its weight rating. A 2017 F250, with a GVWR of 10K, resulted in a payload of 2300 and towing capacity of 22K (Yes this is with the Diesel, the Gas option would be lower on the towing capacity but 800 pound higher on payload.) As Tom said, EV truck now covering just about all the classes.
Supercruise’s Auto-lane change basically wants to keep you in the left lane. It’s a nice gimmick, but I prefer to stay in the center lane when I don’t feel like actively driving. Tesla: I feel has the better system because it can be driven on any road and is collecting new data. GM and Ford played it safe by keeping autonomous driving on Highways and freeways.
I would like to see Ford bump up that charging speed on the Lightning while we wait for T3. I am not a fan of the air suspensions and the party tricks on the GM and Tesla trucks. I think long term they are going to be a maint/repair issue waiting to happen and it won't be cheap to fix. Keep it simple, make it work. I would still lean toward the Lightning because of that issue. Faster charging is the lure. Ford bump up that charging speed to keep our interest.
I've been doing 1000 miles a month on my 23 xlt lightning ER. your right about the charging speed, the other thing that gets me is the turning radius. Besides that it's hands down the best truck I've owned.
@@matthewholzmueller6292 Interesting points about the suspension maintenance which I have no clue about and havent seen any videos about. Infrastructure improvements could and would change range and charge views.....but that isnt really ramping up very fast here in Mass where its a Tesla world and probably 99.9 % charge at home religiously. Includes me also, the 2023 Lightning XLT ER owner who loves competing for position with ICE trucks and Teslas on the road LOL!! Will fast charger prices ever come down so that non homeowners AND THE ENVIRONMENT can start enjoying the benefits of EV'S?
Tom the big thing about Blue Cruise in Canada is that Ford has very little in the way of highways that have been geofenced verses GM with its 10's of thousands of miles for their Super-cruise and that you can use Supercruise while towing and to end it all the GM has much, much better regen on or off towing.
@@vdivanovfor those that drive Cadillac and range rovers their lives. I drove a yj wrangler brick with flat springs, Ford Focus, Jeep Cherokee limited, and a Ford Escape…… i could care less about ride comfort because anything is better than all these vehicles I’ve ever owned.
@@xLopez210x None taken, and I have some reasons, being 1 - Unibody lacks the rigid strength needed for heavy-duty hauling and towing tasks, and over time that will hurt the unibody structure. Bottom line, the unibody construction is more vulnerable to structural damage if consistently subjected to heavy loads or impacts. 2- Unibody trucks generally aren't as robust for more demanding off-road conditions. The body-on-frame trucks often have better durability, and chassis strength for rugged terrain. 3- Since the body and frame are a single unit, damage to the structure (from accidents or wear) can be more expensive to repair. In a body-on-frame truck, damage to the frame might be more easily isolated and repaired without affecting the body. 4 - Body-on-frame trucks are easier to modify, whether it's for off-roading, adding larger suspension components, or heavy-duty performance upgrades. Unibody trucks are more limited in this regard due to their integrated design.
Given Ultium’s challenges with charging, I would assume this one does so well below 50% just because of it sheer size and the ability to have so much more capacity and ability to distribute the heat so much further. Great review. 41:06
What about city driving energy efficiency? I suspect the lighter weight of the lightning make for better city efficiency at slower speeds where aero isn’t a big factor.
Just bought a 24 Lightning platinum with 3yrs blue cruise and it has the latest version which includes lane change (manual, triggered with turn signal, but not fully automatic). One important note is that you can operate blue cruise in "hands on" mode on almost any road even if not mapped on speeds over 28 mph. Super cruise doesn't have a "hands on" mode. But, yeah, Ford... If you're going to charge for software, then you need to provide updates to your paying customers. Otherwise, don't charge for it.
Your 'Maverick' sized pu already exists, BYD make it, it's for sale in Mexico & pretty much anywhere no backward tariffs are applied. American consumers will learn the hard way that the tariff game hurts them the most.
Yeah consumers are better served by dropping tariffs and having our automotive industry obliterated by Chinese government financed OEMs who will own the auto industry worldwide and all the tech and suppliers associated with it. This will be great for consumers, especially after they Jack up prices once they have no domestic competition and let’s no forget about data harvesting by the CCP that will be a way of life as well. It’s amazing what Americans will give up to save a few bucks.
I have a lightning due to Tom’s truck . The Silverado is better for 30k more … too much . When the shine wears out and they have 20k on the hood they will be awesome and competitive pricing .
Great video. Couple of points worth knowing. What are the efficiencies of both trucks.. Looks like 484 wh/mi on the Silverado. What is it for the Lightning. Guessing significantly better due to the lower weight. Also, how is heat generated. Resistive or heat pump. Something I think would be important for those in the colder climates.
You missed an aspect of charging: the charge port location. Pro to Silverado: the position of the port on the left rear of the Silverado makes it more compatible with Superchargers and their short cables. BIG PRO to Lightning: the Silverado's charge port location makes charging impossible while towing a trailer unless you have a pull-through charging station or can access the one side-saddle left hand Supercharger at some Tesla locations. I pulled a trailer across the country and back with my Lightning and only had to disconnect four times to charge. If I had the Silverado I would have only been able to charge without disconnecting a handful of times.
I have to say I was trying not to comment until the end of the video. But you made it to the panoramic roof. The vehicle I was looking to get before I ended up with my lightning was a Bronco. I wanted to be able to take the top off and enjoy the weather like I do with all my vehicles. When you're able to remove your roof behind the seats you are sitting in and have all the windows that are the size of a freaking country down It is almost and I'm dead serious serious especially in the F-150 with the lower doors It is almost like you are removing the top in a Bronco. So the fact that you can't do that with the Chevy is a selling point for me. Don't give me wrong I support all EVs but a lot of the time especially during the summer I ride with all windows down the back window open and the top off baby! There is nothing better than the feeling of being out in nature and something you don't hear distracting you from what is great.
Tom: first of all, great review. I owned a '22 Lariat F-150 Lighting that I traded in on an '23 R1T, which I in turn traded in on the new Silverado EV RST. As you share in your video, it depends what you need the truck for, and for me it is about range and charging speed. I have 9,000 miles on my Silverado since I picked it up in May - I have road tripped twice to Phoenix, once to Vegas, and to Kansas City and nothing can beat the range, charging speed, hauling capability, and comfort of the Chevy. I drove from Vegas to Denver yesterday and only stopped twice to charge for 30 minutes each time and got home in less than 13hrs. If someone is going to tow, or road trip frequently, the only truck solution is the Silverado EV or GMC equivalent due the battery size and charging speeds. Great content and looking forward to the next one.
Thanks for this comment. I have to travel for work, sometimes 4+ hours and into rural areas so I was concerned about the range. With the extended range of the Chevy I'm leaning that direction. Good to hear some real world usage!
@@dpascal95 Location and weather will also play a big factor on range. For instance, I drove my RST from Denver to Moab, UT, which is 365 miles and did not stop to charge even though I went over two large mountain passes on I-70. I still had 15% or 20% battery when I rolled into town. That range efficiency will obviously be very different in cold weather, rain, or snow. Regardless, the truck is a great cruiser and just eats up the miles while on a road trip.
@@paulf9585 Thats amazing. I live in GA so it's pretty moderate year-round here. I will have to deal with heat more often than cold, and it almost never snows (watch us get 2ft of snow this year because I said something lol).
Nice to hear from someone who's actually owned and driven all those EV trucks. Personally, I couldn't do the RST because it's an electric Avalanche and that really bugs me, but that's a style preference thing. The range they've achieved on it, though, is insane. I dislike the Lightning for other reasons, and the R1T is just a little too small. Have to check out the Denali EV and see what that's like, and the Ram EV if they ever get around to it.
@@meadmaker4525 I certainly get it, not everyone is going to be fan of the modernized Avalanche look on the RST. But, it is less polarizing than the Cybertruck, that is for sure!
Props for the way you addressed the lack of bluecruise updates even though we’ve been promised them for a year now.
Meanwhile FSD can drive you anywhere, that’s why I’m getting a Cybertruck. Every other car software sucks and it will never get even close.
Chev RST 4 wheel steering remains active during towing, countering sway.
Super cruise remains active while towing.
Air lift provides net 4” in different ride heights, lowering for exit/entry.
Interior space is massive in the Chev.
You can drive with rear window out.
You can split cargo in the mid gate, giving you a third seat.
The display and mapping are quick, large, and software is 1.0 and being improved upon.
Thought that no Air Play would be a problem. It isn’t. The apps you need are there on Google Play, but the factory Google Map is made to automatically find chargers on those long routes.
Love all that. Chevy has done a great job. I have the 2023 XLT ER and am very happy with it when the prices are added to the story. Cant wait to see all the pricing and lineup competition between all the truck EV'S coming up in 2025. I am telling myself no way Im trading next year for any upgrade. LOL. I really believe that this race is just starting and each year we will see some great innovations so hopefully I can wait til 26 or 27 LOL.
i love my frunk on my lightning, cant believe how many tools i can put in there and the cooler under the frunk i store all the different screws i use
Really when the Lightning videos first started a few yrs back and I saw that frunk I was instantly amazed. Its a big perk. Glad he saved that for last lol.
Really good comparison, Tom. You knocked it out of the park.
The weight would sway me to the Ford. I also appreciate your honesty in doing reviews.
Thanks for this great, informative content. I'm gaga over my Lightning, and it's amazing how much they got right years sooner than some of these competitors. Our choices are increasing!
Thanks!
Thank you!
Wow! I’m JUST beginning the process of electric vehicle viability evaluation. This is a great, practical review! Thank you
Thx Tom. Very helpful and informative. Here in Texas , Tesla is popular. We have a MYLR. I’m leaning towards the FLASH Lighting. Not a working guy here (retired) but I have always liked the look and functionality of the F 150. Not really crazy about the Cybertruck at all. New subscriber.
Thanks. The Flash is the sweet spot of the lineup, IMO
I picked up a Flash last month and love it so far.
Seemed to bw the best value for me.
You have been the go-to the 6 months I researched prior to leasing my 2023 lightning ER. Thank you for the great and detailed videos. Now if I could only convince my dealership to provide the charge station that Ford advertised that would be great. After 2 months they won't even acknowledge me even after Ford called them to try and help. There needs to be a way to bypass the dealer and get from Ford directly.
@2:06 LMAO the "ooo" transition to the Silverado pulling up was comedic gold for me.
On power offloading, it's worth mentioning the Silverado EV due to its very large battery has more capacity (205kWh vs 131kWh) with which to offload. That is to say if one plans to use power offloading extensively, would go with the Silverado EV for this use case.
You deserve way more subs. This is great content.
Thanks
I have both the Lightning and MachE. Both excellent, sure I wish they had more range but not at the price. My thoughts are that down the road, after market batteries will have more range, better tech for less money. Both vehicles will last much longer than the ICE equivalent. The GM truck looks impressive, I guess owning a F150 before so I trust it. Really amazing vehicle. Build on my Fords are exceptional
Thanks, Tom. Nice to see all the comparison data in one place.
I absolutely love my Sierra EV. Same battery/range/charging speed as the Silverado RST, but a bit more luxury for basically the same price. It’s an amazing roadtripper, even when towing. Best truck I’ve ever had.
Based on my experience from driving my Cadillac Lyriq, range is important to me. Therefore, if I was buying a truck, it would be the Silverado… or it’s fancy “brother” the GMC Sierra.
The Sierra is totally worth it - I love mine !
Still jealous of your amazing F-150. Love the tinted light bar!
The Ford also saves weight with the aluminum body.
I have a 2023 XLT Ford lightning and I love it. It’s the best truck ever.
Those hoods are so high, and imposing! 😲 Thanks for the great review, Tom!
Quite deadly to pedestrians
@@chunkychuckactually quite the opposite, actually they made the front of trucks higher because at “survivable” speeds lower hoods cased more damage than higher ones.
Best EV truck review yet.
Tom, I'm leasing an ID4 and it's up next year. I really want to get a used Lightning next because of you and the rest of the Batteries Included guys raving about the Lightning. Thanks for your content.
I Love my Lightning w/Lariat package, and hope you enjoy yours when you get one! It’s been kicking ass for our vacations. We’ve had so much fun in that thing. We just put 8k miles on our 2024.
yeah i just looked, there are like literally no used Lightnings yet
We’ve loved our lightning for 17,000 miles in 11 months. It was a bit sketchy to roadtrip on CCS only but the NACS adapter has been a game changer..
Don't wait for next year. Pricing is at its best. I got a supper great deal and over 40 years of buying personal and company vehicles at CMA Ford dealership in Williamsburg Virginia.
I don't live there but made the trip
After shopping for a while I thought I found a local dealership ourismond Ford but the price didn't matter it wasn't real as they pulled bait and switch.
Funny is that they are still listed a truck that is sold...a week later.
Rodney at CMA was clear and honest from the first conversation to the end.
No games.
They went deep to make it worth my travel 4 hours by train to the area and he picked us up.
Maybe they can help you.
This is not my first ev it's #6 and I'm going to use it for my EV charging installation business and family trips
The bolt is our daily driver and love how easy it is
My son who is in the spectrum loves from day one driving it as well. He pointed out how safe the truck is going to be he can't wait to get his chance
@@seanryan7930 I’m in a lease till next winter so I can’t just go buy one.
I'd love the better range and software of the Silverado EV, and also the mid-gate. But until that Chevy can accept an ARE or LEER topper, I'll definitely stick with my Ford Lightning Lariat.
Is there a topper for the Lightning?
@@4rwayner7 lightning uses many of the same accessories as ICE F-150, especially bed related
@@4rwayner7 yes. Any short-bed F150 topper will work, since the Lightning bed is the same.
LEER is now offering the DCC commercial cap for the Silverado EV. As of June 20th according to their Facebook
That is definitely a big deal that I havent seen on a video yet.
4:15 thanks, Tom, for discussing the $7,500 federal tax credit. Consumers REALLY need to consider this when deciding on their purchase. Along with our company discounted X-pricing, this made it a no-brainer to choose a Lightning over a PowerBoost engine. (Don’t forget about 0% financing for 60 months while it’s still available.)
Just don’t hope to trade in or sell anytime
@@RUclipsuser1aa nope. Its resale is among the highest for electric vehicle. “The Ford F-150 Lightning has won Kelley Blue Book's Best Resale Value Award for two years in a row, highlighting its ability to retain a high percentage of its original MSRP over the first five years of ownership.”
@@linkpaivichit7651 that’s like saying you’re the tallest short person
Great video! I agree with your conclusion. I own the 2023 Lariat ER, and I love it. The comfort level is unmatched. I take long trips without feeling tired at the end.
Yes the comfort is surprising. I have the Chrysler Pacifica plug in and the Lightning ride and seat comfort blow it away
I have a 2013 model S with only 220 miles of range now. I just did a 2100 mile road trip. You can live with the range it’s just not that big a deal because 99% of my driving is getting charged from home. There are some killer deals out there on used lightnings right now. I think that’s the better way to go.
Tom, I love my 22 Lightning Lariat. I use mine similar to you. If my truck just had the charging speed of the Chevy, it would be perfect. Great job on the video.
The blacked out light bar on the front on the lightning looks so much better than in white
Thanks
Where can I find this mod for the light bar ?
@@tomynobs8944 He paid to have it tinted. It a hard job and i couldn't find a shop in Charleston to do it.
The Sierra is looking interesting too.
Great review Tom. To me the Ford lightning would probably be my choice as well right now, although I feel that they need to make some big improvements with the Ford. Like positioning the charging port on the rear driver side, to make it more convenient to charge at Tesla charging stations. A larger battery and at least 250kW charging for those who would like the option of longer range driving. I just recently watched the out of spec road trip across I90 and was actually really impressed with the genesis charging profile. It holds nearly 180 kW all the way through to 80%.
Awesome review and comparison thank you, i love my F150 platinum. Extended range, it's a great working truck and a pleasure to drive. I'm curious what your take will be on the upcoming ram ev.
Great video! GMC Super Cruise allows hands free driving while pulling a trailer but Ford Blue Cruise does not 😭
Excellent comparison.
As someone that just went through this (buying an EV truck), your review was excellent!!!!. I am contractor that has many trucks. I was very lured by the Silverado’s range and charging speed and was leaning that way. But after deep thought and research, I realized that those 2 wins for the Silverado really didn’t accomplish anything for me. As you said, if we are going to tow long distances, we will just take our diesel truck. Towing 200 miles on the Silverado vs the 150 miles on the Lighting does not accomplish much in terms of saying well now we can use it for long distance towing and get rid of our diesel. In reality it accomplishes the opposite. The only use case for an EV work truck right now is if you use it around town, like we do with ours. We rarely go over 100 miles per day, so the added weight of the Silverador, which also causes it to be less efficient was a negative. One other major category that was very influential in our purchase that you missed is discounts. Ford has huge discounts on these things and is really doing a disservice to themselves by having reviewers quote high MSRP’s when in reality you can get them for much much less. We ended up getting a fully loaded Platinum lightning for much less than a bare bones Silverado WT. As you mentioned, the Frunk in the lightning is a game changer and the ride is phenomenal. The other thing I am confused about is that you said Apple CarPlay is on both, at the time I was looking, I was told by my sales person that the Silverado EV did not have CarPlay because its too distracting, lol. Which was a major deciding factor for me. Has GM changed their stance on this and are now including CarPlay.
Thank you that Silverado and that lightning are both wonderful!
That Silverado 🤌 *chef’s kiss*
Great video Tom! One small formatting comment. Throughout the video, the Chevy is on the left behind you, but on the slides with the details the chevy is on the right. It would be nice next time you do a compare if the product on one side stays there on the slides. Thanks!!
Hmm, I didn't even think of that, but yeah, that makes sense. Would have been just as easy to make the graphics that way.
keep it up and you may convince me to spend more than I should to buy a Lighting. It is more likely come 2026 I will buy the Ford hybrid Maverick because it is the size I need and price I “might” be able to afford.
Several years ago Ford was working on a system that would allow their sedans to communicate with each other out on the road and in heavy traffic. If a Ford ahead made a hard brake it would communicate with other Ford vehicles directly behind it to start slowing down to avoid hard braking. Looks like they abandoned that when they discontinued the Focus and Fusion. The Fusion was used to test all sorts of technology that was abandoned and with it. Same with the Focus. It seemed like some smart ideas, but they spent all that money on r an d just to let it go and collect dust.
Potential factor that may decide for me: Truck bed accessories. Lightning has a standard bed.
I love the silverado range and bed functionality with the mid-gate. But ladder rack and my toolbox work with the lightning.
An excellent comparo, many thanks!
Think for quite a few people the choice will be based on their tribal affiliation rather than any specific attribute. It’s great to have them!
Very informative. Thanks very much for this.
Fantastic and comprehensive review. FYI, Rivian is coming out with the R2 SUV for the 2026 model year. I can't imagine that an R2 pickup will be very far behind.
Tom,
Unless GM gave you a special Silverado, that RST DOES NOT have CarPlay.
Only their WT models have CarPlay.
I think one of these workers that's building apartments in my area had a Cybertruck in a lamenated white color. I agree that a small EV truck with a 300 range would be nice to see made available. I do want to see more legacy automakers compete against the bolt and the upcoming Kia EV 3. Also, I know Vans gets a creepy vibes but they can be multi-purpose vehicles, that why I do want to see EV Vans that is advertise as family haulers and for companies work vehicles.
I still have and still love my 2017 Bolt called Beverly.
Do sometimes want something that'll carry some 4x8 plywood or stacks of 2x4s though.
Tom will never give up his Lightning. It is the only way he can use his vehical to home system. And the truck has a remarkably comfortable ride.
Tom the smaller width of the frunk in the Chev Silverado EV RST is the Air suspension cylinders take up so much space in the frunk. I think the air suspension is a real plus on the Chev Silverado.
Excellent review. But Rivian would be my clear choice over these two options. Although, a good first attempt for these two legacy companies.
I think price has a lot to do with my decision. If I had to choose between plat and rst I’d go rst. I paid 51k for my xlt er with 0% for 60 months. I’m not even sure if I’d pick a 3wt over that. I love that ford has basic lane centering on roads with lanes. That’s huge for me.
Entirely fair and accurate review, well justified. Keep up the great work, Tom.
Rivian uses the space around the frunk for the horn. :)
The 2024 lightnings with the optional blue cruise comes with blue cruise 1.3 which has lane change assist. I saw it on a video where the reviewed the Flash.
Looking forward to owning a Silverado EV in the very near future! Really enjoying my 2023 Chevy Bolt 2LT at the moment. 😎. 4.0 mi/kWh can’t be beat
Yea for efficiency the Bolt is hard to beat. I was averaging 4.6-4.7 mi/kwh in warm weather. I was lifetime averaging 4.2 mi/kwh in the Equinox I traded the Bolt in for until that disappeared off the Chevy app. Im sure that will go down a good bit this winter but we’ll see.
@@Comfort031 awesome! I was curious how well the new equinox would do. I really like how it looks and that it is a tad bit larger than the bolt.
Best video on these trucks - period. Tons of actionable information that matters head to head. TY.
I am new to EVs and learned a lot from this video. ❤❤
Great comparison, these are the 2 I’m considering. I like how the backseats fold on the Ford better as I want as much floor space in the back. Any word from ford on 2025 updates and if they’re ever going to improve the charging? I know they delayed the T3 or whatever it’s called, but if they could make the lightning 350k, that’s my truck.
I do not expect any big updates for 2025
I agree the software on that GM app is very slow to update. The GMC app super slow.
4 wheel steer is a game changer for large vehicles like this
It is
This video is great! I’m in a CE Chevy Colorado right now, I’m probably 5 years away from one of these trucks!
Good review. I've ridden in a Lightning and found it quite nice. Ford knows how to do pickups. I second the motion for a Maverick EV. Why hasn't Ford done that already?
Because it would cut some Lightening sales... which are more "profitable" than a Maverick would be.
I’m interested in the f150 and the Silverado. Curious to know if there would be any difference in electricity bill when I’m home charging.
Excellent review as always. Thanks Tom. One question: does the Silverado actually have CarPlay? Other reviews have said it didn’t.
It has Apple Car Play
@@larrycollar1322 thanks for the clarification!
Only in the WT trims - 2024 and 2025 models - LT and RST do not have it. Carplay does not do as well as the native apps in our Lyriq - so we stopped using it. (and do not miss it)
Great review. My issue is that the Ford's mileage almost drops in half in cold winters. The Silverado will do much better because of the bigger pack. If Ford had the same range as the Silverado it would definitely be a better option for those living in colder climates. Nice job Chevy!
The price is a big factor. I was looking at the 2024 lariat trim. Which is probably equal to the Chevy rst trim. I found a few 2024 lightning lariat trim with a final price of 57 to 62. This was after all the savings and federal incentives. I couldn’t find a Chevy Silverado rst below 87 thousand. One dealer offered me a 7 thousand dollar discount and even though I like the longer range and fast charging. I couldn’t see myself paying another 20 thousand dollars plus tax for any car.
RST EV looks amazing and the capability to lower your back seat to increase cargo space - WOW! However, those giant wheels - UGH!
I'll be really interested in your review of the Ram REV when that comes out. There are supposed to be a 350-mile and 500-mile versions. That would compare nicely to the Lightning and GM twins. I'm also really curious to see pricing on the RamCharger cause that looks like a complete game changer.
I just leased the F150 EX Lariat and its pretty good, I do find its a little bouncy. Coming from a Tesla Y P, I now prefer the F150 for my daily driving and work.
I have a 23 Lightning Pro (standard range). If range is not necessary this is a great bargain at a little over 50 g. With a tax credit you're down in the low 40s for an excellent truck that looks pretty nice (other than the gray front grill). Now that I can charge at Tesla stations the lower range is not a big deal.
Thanks for all the time you put into these vids you have helped me immensely on my 2023 Lightning XLT journey. The question I have is about the Sport mode on the lightning. You mentioned the one pedal driving and how the regenerative works on the truck in regular mode also but not sport and what your thoughts may be about efficiency effects of these might be. I havent seen much about the regen paddle before your video and I heard you say you use it alot and I find it odd that its not on the Ford considering efficiency is a big deal on an EV. I mean the difference between getting 2 mpkw and 2.2 mpkw would be substantial. Thanks again for your thoughts
That truck went almost 450 miles. Impressive
Ford and Chevrolet made a great truck with great specs. But they need to figure out manufacturing to lower the cost.
Until then, there will only be limited quantities and not get to manufacturing scale.
Personally, I like the Silverado & Hummer.
I hope they keep innovating the interior tech is always like an afterthought. Otherwise both these truck are pretty good!
Very informative, unbiased comparison. I've always been a GM guy and the Chevy definitely out muscles the Ford here. With that said, the Ford seems more practical and liveable for the way I (and I suspect most people) would actually use it.
Thank You Everybody for All that you are doing for our Planet Earth....
Peace.. Shalom.. Salam.. Namaste
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We don’t call a back trunk a “bunk”, so why do we call a front trunk a “frunk”? I absolutely refuse!🤣 I will own a Lightning one day!
Taking into consideration the fact that electric trucks are not equal with gas/diesel trucks the ONLY truck that comes close is the Silverado for what a truck is intended to be. The F 150 is less usable or more limited.
The other trucks are SUV's with a bed. But in reality most people just need a SUV with a bed.
It is my dream to own either one of these. Maybe in 5 years I'll be able to afford one used. Hopefully the batteries last that long.
I totally forgot you had done the blackout treatment on your F150 light bar; how does it look with the lights on?
One other question for you… do you drive the Lightning in Sport mode for better regen? I find I get better range and regen with that over normal mode. I was curious if you had compared that in any of your tests.
The regen paddle was on the Volt before the Bolt.
Interesting based on the curb weights, and payloads listed, the Lightening appears to be around a 8-9K GVWR, which would put it int he class of a traditional 150/1500, where as the GM is appears to be 11-12GVWR, which would put it in the 350/3500 category. Based on this, the Lightening's tow and payload numbers are close to its ICE counterparts. The GM comes up short on the towing numbers compared to ICE truck in its weight rating. A 2017 F250, with a GVWR of 10K, resulted in a payload of 2300 and towing capacity of 22K (Yes this is with the Diesel, the Gas option would be lower on the towing capacity but 800 pound higher on payload.) As Tom said, EV truck now covering just about all the classes.
Supercruise’s Auto-lane change basically wants to keep you in the left lane. It’s a nice gimmick, but I prefer to stay in the center lane when I don’t feel like actively driving.
Tesla: I feel has the better system because it can be driven on any road and is collecting new data.
GM and Ford played it safe by keeping autonomous driving on Highways and freeways.
I would like to see Ford bump up that charging speed on the Lightning while we wait for T3. I am not a fan of the air suspensions and the party tricks on the GM and Tesla trucks. I think long term they are going to be a maint/repair issue waiting to happen and it won't be cheap to fix. Keep it simple, make it work. I would still lean toward the Lightning because of that issue. Faster charging is the lure. Ford bump up that charging speed to keep our interest.
I've been doing 1000 miles a month on my 23 xlt lightning ER. your right about the charging speed, the other thing that gets me is the turning radius. Besides that it's hands down the best truck I've owned.
@@matthewholzmueller6292 Interesting points about the suspension maintenance which I have no clue about and havent seen any videos about. Infrastructure improvements could and would change range and charge views.....but that isnt really ramping up very fast here in Mass where its a Tesla world and probably 99.9 % charge at home religiously. Includes me also, the 2023 Lightning XLT ER owner who loves competing for position with ICE trucks and Teslas on the road LOL!! Will fast charger prices ever come down so that non homeowners AND THE ENVIRONMENT can start enjoying the benefits of EV'S?
Excellent Video!
Tom the big thing about Blue Cruise in Canada is that Ford has very little in the way of highways that have been geofenced verses GM with its 10's of thousands of miles for their Super-cruise and that you can use Supercruise while towing and to end it all the GM has much, much better regen on or off towing.
If pricing isnt a factor, Silverado EV hands down! but you cant go wrong with either
Dunno, ride comfort, NVH, efficiency score high on some people’s list.
Unibody pickup trucks wouldn’t work for me
@@danibjI’m curious, not attacking your comment, can you say why?
@@vdivanovfor those that drive Cadillac and range rovers their lives. I drove a yj wrangler brick with flat springs, Ford Focus, Jeep Cherokee limited, and a Ford Escape…… i could care less about ride comfort because anything is better than all these vehicles I’ve ever owned.
@@xLopez210x None taken, and I have some reasons, being 1 - Unibody lacks the rigid strength needed for heavy-duty hauling and towing tasks, and over time that will hurt the unibody structure. Bottom line, the unibody construction is more vulnerable to structural damage if consistently subjected to heavy loads or impacts. 2- Unibody trucks generally aren't as robust for more demanding off-road conditions. The body-on-frame trucks often have better durability, and chassis strength for rugged terrain. 3- Since the body and frame are a single unit, damage to the structure (from accidents or wear) can be more expensive to repair. In a body-on-frame truck, damage to the frame might be more easily isolated and repaired without affecting the body. 4 - Body-on-frame trucks are easier to modify, whether it's for off-roading, adding larger suspension components, or heavy-duty performance upgrades. Unibody trucks are more limited in this regard due to their integrated design.
Given Ultium’s challenges with charging, I would assume this one does so well below 50% just because of it sheer size and the ability to have so much more capacity and ability to distribute the heat so much further. Great review. 41:06
Who thought of Ghostbusters when he said "crossing streams?" 😂
What about city driving energy efficiency? I suspect the lighter weight of the lightning make for better city efficiency at slower speeds where aero isn’t a big factor.
What did you use to cover your lightbar?
Just bought a 24 Lightning platinum with 3yrs blue cruise and it has the latest version which includes lane change (manual, triggered with turn signal, but not fully automatic).
One important note is that you can operate blue cruise in "hands on" mode on almost any road even if not mapped on speeds over 28 mph. Super cruise doesn't have a "hands on" mode.
But, yeah, Ford... If you're going to charge for software, then you need to provide updates to your paying customers. Otherwise, don't charge for it.
Your 'Maverick' sized pu already exists, BYD make it, it's for sale in Mexico & pretty much anywhere no backward tariffs are applied. American consumers will learn the hard way that the tariff game hurts them the most.
Yeah consumers are better served by dropping tariffs and having our automotive industry obliterated by Chinese government financed OEMs who will own the auto industry worldwide and all the tech and suppliers associated with it.
This will be great for consumers, especially after they Jack up prices once they have no domestic competition and let’s no forget about data harvesting by the CCP that will be a way of life as well. It’s amazing what Americans will give up to save a few bucks.
I have a lightning due to Tom’s truck . The Silverado is better for 30k more … too much . When the shine wears out and they have 20k on the hood they will be awesome and competitive pricing .
Great video. Couple of points worth knowing. What are the efficiencies of both trucks.. Looks like 484 wh/mi on the Silverado. What is it for the Lightning. Guessing significantly better due to the lower weight. Also, how is heat generated. Resistive or heat pump. Something I think would be important for those in the colder climates.
It's better, but not significantly better probably around 430 wh/mi. The Aero is more important than the weight at highway speeds.
You missed an aspect of charging: the charge port location. Pro to Silverado: the position of the port on the left rear of the Silverado makes it more compatible with Superchargers and their short cables. BIG PRO to Lightning: the Silverado's charge port location makes charging impossible while towing a trailer unless you have a pull-through charging station or can access the one side-saddle left hand Supercharger at some Tesla locations. I pulled a trailer across the country and back with my Lightning and only had to disconnect four times to charge. If I had the Silverado I would have only been able to charge without disconnecting a handful of times.
I need the range and bed length for work. Question is, do any of the Silverado trims come with vented seats. In FL, that's a game changer
The RST for sure has vented seats. I'm not sure about the lower trims
Don't get either until NACS is standard. If by then Lightning isn't 800V get the Silverado.
I have to say I was trying not to comment until the end of the video. But you made it to the panoramic roof. The vehicle I was looking to get before I ended up with my lightning was a Bronco. I wanted to be able to take the top off and enjoy the weather like I do with all my vehicles. When you're able to remove your roof behind the seats you are sitting in and have all the windows that are the size of a freaking country down It is almost and I'm dead serious serious especially in the F-150 with the lower doors It is almost like you are removing the top in a Bronco. So the fact that you can't do that with the Chevy is a selling point for me. Don't give me wrong I support all EVs but a lot of the time especially during the summer I ride with all windows down the back window open and the top off baby! There is nothing better than the feeling of being out in nature and something you don't hear distracting you from what is great.