Two electric pickups, two very different ideas of what an off-road truck should be. The 2026 Chevrolet Silverado EV Trail Boss is the first factory-lifted, trail-badged version of GM's big electric truck, wearing 35-inch all-terrain tires, red tow hooks, and a two-inch lift. The 2025 Rivian R1T Dual Max answers with an air suspension rising to nearly 15 inches of clearance, a gear tunnel, and a wading depth of more than three feet.
Both trucks promise the same fantasy — silent, instant torque on the trail and a full-size bed for the workweek — but they get there by opposite routes. The Chevrolet leans on sheer scale: a battery up to 205 kWh, up to 478 miles of GM-estimated range, and a 12,500-pound tow rating. The Rivian leans on cleverness: a smaller, lighter package engineered to crawl rocks, ford streams, and squeeze through tight trails. The early verdict: the Rivian is the better trail truck, the Chevrolet is the better long-distance work truck, and the right choice depends on which job matters more to you.
Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
| Range | Silverado EV Trail Boss (Max) | 478 miles GM-estimated beats the R1T's 420-mile EPA best, though the Extended pack's 410-mile EPA figure is the honest apples-to-apples number |
| Off-road capability | Rivian R1T Dual Max | 14.9 inches of clearance, 43.1-inch wading depth, and a real underbody shield — the Chevy has no skid plates and no lockers |
| Towing & payload | Silverado EV Trail Boss | 12,500 pounds towing and 2,100 pounds payload (Extended battery) top the Rivian's 11,000 and 1,764 pounds |
| Charging speed | Silverado EV Trail Boss | Up to 350 kW peak on the Max pack versus 220 kW for the Rivian |
| Everyday usability | Rivian R1T Dual Max | Gear tunnel, 11-cubic-foot frunk, and a right-sized footprint make it the easier truck to live with daily |
| Value | Silverado EV Trail Boss | $72,095 including destination for the Extended pack undercuts the Rivian's $85,700 as-delivered price by more than $13,000 |
At a Glance
| Spec | 2026 Chevrolet Silverado EV Trail Boss | 2025 Rivian R1T Dual Max |
| Powertrain | Dual-motor AWD, 800V Ultium | Dual-motor AWD |
| Power | 625 hp (Extended) / 725 hp (Max, Wide Open Watts) | 533 hp |
| Torque | 775 lb-ft | 610 lb-ft |
| Battery | 170 kWh (Extended) / 205 kWh (Max) | 141.5 kWh (Max pack) |
| Range | 410 mi EPA (Extended) / 478 mi GM-est. (Max) | Up to 420 mi EPA (21-in wheels); 370 mi with All-Terrain package |
| 0–60 mph | Under 4.5 sec (GM claim); 4.4 sec tested (Max) | 4.5 sec (manufacturer claim) |
| Max towing | 12,500 lb (Extended) / 10,000 lb (Max) | 11,000 lb |
| Max payload | 2,100 lb (Extended) / 1,500 lb (Max) | Up to 1,764 lb |
| Ground clearance | About 10.0 in | 8.1–14.9 in (air suspension) |
| DC fast charging | Up to 350 kW peak (Max) | Up to 220 kW peak |
| Starting price | $72,095 incl. destination (Extended); $88,695 (Max) | $83,900 plus $1,800 destination ($85,700 as delivered) |
Design & Exterior
The Trail Boss looks like a truck that means business from fifty yards away. Chevrolet gave it a two-inch factory lift, a high-angle approach front fascia with red tow hooks, and 35-inch Goodyear Wrangler Territory all-terrain tires on unique 18-inch wheels. At 233.1 inches long with a 145.7-inch wheelbase, it is a genuinely full-size machine — nearly a foot and a half longer than the Rivian.
The Rivian takes the opposite approach. At 217.1 inches long, the R1T is closer to a mid-size truck in footprint, and its soft surfacing and signature oval headlights make it look friendly rather than imposing. That smaller size is a real asset on the trail, where breakover angle and trail width matter more than presence. Its standard air suspension lifts the body from around 8 inches at its lowest setting to 14.9 inches at maximum — nearly five inches more clearance than the Trail Boss can ever offer.
Parked side by side, the Chevy is the heavyweight and the Rivian is the athlete, and neither is trying to be the other.
Interior, Comfort & Technology
Inside, the Chevrolet is the more conventional truck cabin, and that is a compliment. The 17.7-inch center touchscreen and 11-inch driver display are standard on every 2026 Silverado EV trim, and the Trail Boss adds black upholstery with red accent stitching. The cabin is enormous — a crew cab with a flat floor and room for five adults plus their gear — and the Multi-Flex Midgate lets long cargo extend from the 5-foot-11 bed into the cab. The 10.7-cubic-foot eTrunk under the hood holds charging cables and groceries.
The Rivian's cabin is the more interesting place to sit. A 15.6-inch center screen runs nearly everything, with a minimalist wood-and-vegan-leather dashboard closer to a premium SUV than a pickup. There is no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto in either truck — the Chevrolet runs Google built-in, the Rivian runs its own software. Where the Rivian pulls ahead is storage imagination: the 11-cubic-foot frunk, the lockable gear tunnel that runs through the body behind the cab, and the under-bed trunk that can hold a full-size spare. For a weekend of camping gear, the Rivian swallows more oddly shaped stuff.
Comfort favors the Chevrolet on the highway, where its longer wheelbase and softer coil-sprung ride smooth out rough interstates. The Rivian's air suspension matches that comfort, but its shorter wheelbase is busier over broken pavement. Both cabins are quiet, though the Trail Boss's all-terrain tires generate more road roar than the Rivian's 21-inch road tires.
Performance & Driving Feel
On paper, the Chevrolet is the quicker truck. The Max Range Trail Boss makes 725 horsepower and 775 pound-feet in Wide Open Watts mode, and MotorTrend's instrumented test recorded 4.4 seconds to 60 mph. The Extended pack, at 625 horsepower, is only slightly behind. That is serious speed for a truck weighing nearly 4.5 tons. The Rivian's 533 horsepower and 610 pound-feet are more modest, and its 4.5-second manufacturer claim for 0–60 mph trails the Chevy by a hair — though the 665-horsepower Dual Max Performance, rated at 3.4 seconds, is available for buyers who want more.
Off the pavement, the story flips. The Rivian's air suspension, 35.5-degree approach angle, and 43.1-inch wading depth are backed by real hardware: a reinforced underbody shield with the All-Terrain package, a full-size spare, and drive modes tuned for rock crawling. The Trail Boss, by contrast, has no skid plates — GM confirmed as much — no locking differentials, and no specialized off-road shocks. MotorTrend's verdict on the Chevy was blunt: it "bosses the road, not the trail." Its Terrain mode sharpens the four-wheel steering for uneven ground, and Sidewinder mode turns all four wheels the same direction for a diagonal crab walk at low speed. But those are software tricks on a road-biased truck, not the hardware of a dedicated crawler.
For Ohio buyers, the honest translation is this: both trucks will handle a muddy job site, a rutted farm lane, or a snowy driveway without breaking a sweat. Only the Rivian will happily crawl a rocky trail or ford a creek crossing without you holding your breath. If your off-roading stops at gravel and grass, the Chevy's on-road polish matters more. If it goes further, the Rivian's hardware earns its price.
Range & Charging
Range is where the Chevrolet's enormous battery pays off. The Extended pack is EPA-rated at 410 miles, and the Max pack carries a GM estimate of up to 478 miles — GM's estimate, not an EPA rating. The Rivian counters with up to 420 miles EPA on its 21-inch road wheels, dropping to about 370 miles with the All-Terrain package. Both trucks will cover a Columbus-to-Cleveland round trip comfortably, but the Chevy's bigger buffer matters most when towing: expect range to roughly halve with a heavy trailer behind either truck, and the Silverado's larger pack starts from further ahead.
Charging speed also favors the Chevrolet. The Max pack accepts up to 350 kW on a DC fast charger, with the Extended pack at 300 kW, and GM estimates about 100 miles of range in 10 minutes. Real-world tests put 10–80 percent at roughly 34 to 37 minutes. The Rivian peaks at 220 kW and needs around 40 minutes for 10–80 percent on the Max pack. Both trucks can use Tesla Superchargers — the Rivian through its native NACS port, the Chevrolet through GM's approved NACS adapter — which matters enormously for road trips.
At home, both trucks charge overnight on Level 2, and both offer off-board power: the Chevrolet can deliver up to 10.2 kW to tools or a home, while the Rivian's 120-volt outlets and onboard air compressor make it the better campsite companion. One caution: the $7,500 federal EV tax credit ended on September 30, 2025, so neither truck's price benefits from it anymore.
Safety & Driver Assistance
Both trucks come standard with a full suite of driver assistance: automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assistance, and adaptive cruise control. The Chevrolet's headline feature is Super Cruise, GM's hands-free highway driving system, available on the Trail Boss and working while towing — useful for long hauls with a trailer. The Rivian counters with standard Driver+, including highway assist and a surround-view camera system that is particularly handy on a narrow trail.
Published safety ratings for these exact configurations are incomplete, so we will not quote star ratings here. Both trucks are heavy and low-centered thanks to their floor-mounted batteries. The Trail Boss's four-wheel steering also shrinks its turning circle to 42.2 feet — a real help in tight parking lots.
Pricing, Trims & Value
The pricing gap is the Chevrolet's strongest card. The Trail Boss with the Extended battery starts at $72,095 including destination, undercutting the Rivian Dual Max's $85,700 as-delivered price by more than $13,000 — while offering more range, more towing, and more payload. The Max Range Trail Boss, at $88,695 including destination, is the closer price match, and it brings the 478-mile GM-estimated range and 725 horsepower. Chevrolet's prices have crept up since the May 2025 announcement, so confirm the current sticker with an Ohio dealer before budgeting.
The Rivian's price buys things the Chevrolet cannot offer: the air suspension, the gear tunnel, the wading depth, and the smaller footprint. Its lineup also stretches upward — the 665-horsepower Dual Max Performance at $88,900 and the Tri-Motor Max at $99,900 — for buyers who want more speed or range without switching brands. The Chevrolet's value story is more truck for less money; the Rivian's is a truck no one else builds.
Running costs favor both trucks over any gas equivalent: electricity is cheaper per mile and maintenance is minimal. The Chevrolet's sheer weight — over 8,500 pounds — means its 35-inch all-terrain tires will wear faster than the Rivian's, so budget accordingly.
Pros and Cons
2026 Chevrolet Silverado EV Trail Boss
Pros: Huge range (up to 478 miles GM-estimated); fastest charging in the class at up to 350 kW; best-in-pair towing (12,500 lb) and payload (2,100 lb); lower starting price; enormous cabin with Multi-Flex Midgate; Super Cruise available while towing; four-wheel steering shrinks the turning circle.
Cons: No skid plates, no locking differentials, and modest real trail capability despite the badge; over 8,500 pounds; the Max battery tows and hauls less than the Extended pack; no full-size spare — inflator kit only; prices have risen since launch.
2025 Rivian R1T Dual Max
Pros: Genuine off-road hardware — 14.9 inches of clearance, 43.1-inch wading, underbody shield; gear tunnel and 11-cubic-foot frunk, unmatched storage; smaller footprint is easier to park and thread through trails; native NACS port; available 665-hp Performance version.
Cons: Higher price — $85,700 as delivered; slower DC fast charging at 220 kW peak; range drops to about 370 miles with the All-Terrain package; no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto; fewer drive modes than the quad-motor trucks; a smaller service network than Chevrolet's Ohio dealer network.
Who Should Buy Which?
Buy the Silverado EV Trail Boss if you tow heavy trailers, drive long distances, or want the most electric truck for the money. Its range, charging speed, and payload make it the better work truck, and its lower price leaves room for a home charger and accessories. It is also the safer pick far from a Rivian service center, with Chevrolet's Ohio dealer network behind you.
Buy the Rivian R1T Dual Max if your weekends involve real trails, water crossings, or tight forest roads — or if you want the most cleverly packaged truck on sale. The air suspension, gear tunnel, and frunk change how you use a truck day to day, and its smaller size makes it the better daily driver. It is the truck for the buyer who camps, overlands, or explores rather than the buyer who hauls.
Final Verdict
The Rivian R1T Dual Max is the truck we would take onto a trail. The Chevrolet Silverado EV Trail Boss is the truck we would take across the state with a trailer behind it. That split is the whole story: Rivian built an adventure vehicle that happens to be a truck; Chevrolet built a full-size work truck that happens to wear trail clothes.
For most Ohio buyers, the Chevrolet wins on the numbers that matter every day — range, charging, towing, payload, and price. The Extended-battery Trail Boss at $72,095 is a remarkable amount of electric truck for the money. But if your truck's job includes rocks, rivers, and remote campsites, the Rivian's hardware is worth every dollar of its premium. Pick the job first, then pick the truck.
FAQ
Which electric truck has more range, the Silverado EV Trail Boss or the Rivian R1T Dual Max?
The Silverado EV Trail Boss. Its Extended battery is EPA-rated at 410 miles and the Max battery carries a GM estimate of up to 478 miles, while the Rivian R1T Dual Max is EPA-rated at up to 420 miles on road tires and about 370 miles with the All-Terrain package.
Can the Silverado EV Trail Boss really go off-road?
Moderately. It has a two-inch lift, 35-inch all-terrain tires, four-wheel steering, and Terrain and Sidewinder modes, but no skid plates, no locking differentials, and only about 10 inches of clearance. It handles gravel, mud, and rutted lanes; the Rivian is better for rocky trails and water crossings.
How much can the Rivian R1T Dual Max tow?
The R1T Dual Max tows up to 11,000 pounds and hauls up to 1,764 pounds. The Silverado EV Trail Boss with the Extended battery tows more — up to 12,500 pounds — but its Max battery version tows less, at 10,000 pounds.
Which truck charges faster?
The Chevrolet. The Trail Boss accepts up to 350 kW (Max pack) and adds about 100 miles of range in 10 minutes, with 10–80 percent taking roughly 34 to 37 minutes. The Rivian peaks at 220 kW and needs around 40 minutes for 10–80 percent.
Is the Silverado EV Trail Boss cheaper than the Rivian R1T Dual Max?
Yes, by a wide margin. The Trail Boss with the Extended battery starts at $72,095 including destination, versus $85,700 as delivered for the R1T Dual Max. The Max Range Trail Boss at $88,695 is the closer price match.
Want more electric truck comparisons? See our Rivian R1T Dual Max vs Ford F-150 Lightning Platinum showdown, our GMC Hummer EV SUV vs Rivian R1S Tri-Motor guide, and our Ram 1500 RHO vs Ford F-150 Raptor battle.
Which of these two would you take home — the big-battery Chevy or the trail-ready Rivian? Tell us in the comments what you tow, haul, or explore with your truck.
By Stefany Aurora | ABBOhio editorial
