Ford has revealed the updated 2021 Ford Raptor and while there is a V8 coming later next year, the updated original trophy truck for the everyday commute has some slick features going for it.
Later this year, though, GMC will be bringing the Hummer EV Edition 1 to market. That truck will be the first competitor in this off-road pre-runner space that’ll be powered exclusively by electricity. The segment is about to get a whole lot interesting.
2022 GMC Hummer EV vs. 2021 Ford Raptor exterior
The Raptor and Hummer EV each have a 3-box design. Except where the engine sites in the Raptor, there’s an additional storage area in the Hummer EV.
Both trucks are coming in the Crew Cab configuration, and both have a shortened bed for storing things. You know, pickup truck stuff. Both resemble their heritage models, with the Ford even going so far as having an orange available that’s similar to the Molten Orange from 2010.
Both have independent suspension setups, but the Ford beats the Hummer EV with available factory tire sizes. The Ford has 37-inch tires available. The GMC Hummer EV has to make do with factory 35-inch tires.
The GMC Hummer EV has a virtual rear locker and as well as an electronic-style locker up front. The Ford has a locking rear differential and an available Torsen front differential.
The Hummer EV has 13-inches of suspension travel front and rear. A Raptor with the 37-inch tires has 13-inches and 14-inches respectively, and up to 14-inches and 15-inches with the standard tires.
The Raptor will likely have a panoramic sunroof, but the Hummer EV will have removable roof panels.
2022 GMC Hummer EV vs. 2021 Ford Raptor interior
Inside, both trucks are filled with plush features and the latest technology. Both trucks have digital instrument clusters and large infotainment screens.
The infotainment screen in the Ford is 12-inch in size. The one in the GMC Hummer EV is 13.4-inch in size. The one in the Hummer EV is powered by the Unreal graphics engine.
Both trucks also have driver’s assist technology. In the Hummer EV, it’ll be the latest version of Super Cruise. This is a hands-off system that works on digitally mapped highways.
In the Ford Raptor, it’ll be Active Drive Assist. It, like the GMC, has active driver monitoring and will work hands off on digitally mapped highways.
There is actually quite a bit of parity between both vehicles.
2022 GMC Hummer EV vs. 2021 Ford Raptor performance
The Raptor earned its performance reputation from running races like the Mint 400 and the Baja 1000. With each generation the truck continues to get better.
Ford hasn’t released performance specs yet of the updated 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine. In the outgoing truck it make 450 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque. Raptor can operate both in rear-wheel drive and in a variety of different four-wheel drive modes.
The Hummer EV’s electric motors produce 1,000 horsepower and around 1,000 lb-ft of torque when you calculate it to the wheels. It’s naturally all-wheel drive, with GMC being able to control to the front and rear individually.
So obviously in a straight line, the Raptor is toast. GMC is claiming a 0-60 mph time of the Hummer EV Edition 1 at 3.0 seconds. The Raptor takes around 5.5 seconds or so to make the same sprint.
For handling trails, Raptor is expected to have Ford’s Trail Turn Assist, helping the truck pivot around obstacles. The Hummer EV goes a step further with Crab Walk, which can turn both axles to improve maneuverability.
The Ford has active Fox Racing Shox LiveValve suspension with a 5-link coil rear setup. It can adapt for changing off-road conditions and it even knows when the truck is in the air.
The Hummer EV has adjustable air suspension that can lift it over some obstacles. A special recovery mode is available that can raise the truck 6-inches to get out of some serious trouble.
The Raptor has better suspension travel, but the Hummer EV is height adjustable. Both trucks have off-road tires and off-road driving modes.
The Raptor still relies on some mechanical hardware for off-road traction, while the GMC Hummer EV uses computers to control power to everything. While each approach is different, at the end of the day the capability is all that matters.
For highway driving range, Ford says the updated Raptor will be capable of driving 500 miles to a single tank of premium unleaded. GMC claims the Edition 1 Hummer EV will be good for 350 miles to a charge.
Raptor’s curb weight will likely be significantly lighter than the Hummer EV, which should be better for truck jumping.
Honestly, we won’t really be able to sort out much in terms of performance until we can drive each truck, but the Raptor isn’t outclassed here by the more powerful electric offering.
2022 GMC Hummer EV vs. 2021 Ford Raptor pricing
The Hummer EV Edition 1 is $112,595. While pricing isn’t available yet for the Raptor, the outgoing 3.5-liter truck started at around $54,000, and we don’t expect a significant price increase for the model. The big jump will be the upcoming V8 Raptor R.
Conclusions
If you want an electric high performance off-road truck this year, you really only have one choice. That’s the Hummer EV. But at twice the price of the Ford Raptor, it might be a hard sell.
Both trucks ooze cool, and will be hot commodities. What’s interesting in comparing the two is that the more expensive electric truck doesn’t necessarily win in all the categories. It’ll be fun to test them side by side. Hopefully that happens later this year and that there are no delays.
