Compare the2025 Kia EV9VS 2025 Rivian R1S

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the EV9 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The R1S doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The EV9 has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The R1S doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

With its standard Forward Collision Avoidance Assist, the Kia EV9 is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Rivian R1S, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The EV9 Land/GT-Line has standard Parking Collision-Avoidance Reverse that use rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. The R1S doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the EV9’s standard Downhill Brake Control allows you to creep down safely. The R1S doesn’t offer Downhill Brake Control.

Both the EV9 and R1S have rear cross-traffic warning, but the EV9 has Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The R1S’ Rear Cross-Traffic Warning doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the EV9 and the R1S have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The EV9 comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The R1S’ 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the EV9 2 years longer than Rivian covers the R1S. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the R1S ends after only 8 years.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Rivian vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 103 more problems per 100 vehicles, Rivian is ranked 32nd, below the industry average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Rivian vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 18 places higher in reliability than Rivian.

On the EPA test cycle the EV9 gets better mileage than the R1S:

For better stopping power the EV9’s brake rotors are larger than those on the R1S:

The EV9 stops shorter than the R1S:

For better traction, the EV9 GT-Line’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the R1S (285/45R21 vs. 275/50R22).

The EV9’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the R1S’ 65 series tires. The EV9 GT-Line’s tires have a lower 45 series profile than the R1S Ascend Quad Max’s 50 series front tires.

The EV9’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The R1S doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The EV9 GT-Line AWD handles at .87 G’s, while the R1S pulls only .85 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The EV9 GT-Line AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the R1S Ascend Tri Max (26.3 seconds @ .69 average G’s vs. 26.7 seconds @ .74 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the EV9’s turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the R1S Quad Max Ascend’s (40.6 feet vs. 41.3 feet). The EV9’s turning circle is 2.7 feet tighter than the R1S’ (40.6 feet vs. 43.3 feet).

The Kia EV9 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1000 to 1350 pounds less than the Rivian R1S.

The EV9 is 3.6 inches shorter than the R1S, making the EV9 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The EV9 is 8.4 inches shorter in height than the R1S, making the EV9 much easier to wash and garage and drive (lower center of gravity).

For excellent aerodynamics, the EV9 has standard flush composite headlights. The R1S has recessed headlights that spoil its aerodynamic shape and create extra drag.

The EV9 has .1 inches more front headroom, 4.5 inches more front hip room, 1 inch more front shoulder room, .1 inches more rear headroom, 6.2 inches more rear legroom, 3.7 inches more rear hip room, 1.1 inches more rear shoulder room, .9 inches more third row headroom and 3.9 inches more third row shoulder room than the R1S.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the EV9’s middle and third row seats recline. The R1S’ third row seats don’t recline.

The EV9’s cargo area provides more volume than the R1S.

Both the EV9 and the R1S offer second row automatic folding seats. The EV9’s optional third row seats also fold up or down at the press of a switch. The R1S doesn’t offer automatic folding third row seats.

The EV9’s liftgate lifts up in one piece, completely out of the way of loading and unloading, while sheltering the cargo loading area. The R1S’ tailgate’s top part raises up, but the bottom part lowers, getting in the way of loading and making an uneven surface for sliding cargo.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the EV9’s liftgate can be opened and closed just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The R1S doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its tailgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

A maintenance reminder system is standard on the EV9 to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals based on odometer mileage. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Rivian doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the R1S.

The EV9 GT-Line has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, navigation instruction and driver assistance information readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The R1S doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The EV9’s standard side window demisters help clear frost or condensation from the side windows in the winter. The R1S doesn’t even offer side window demisters, so the driver may have to wipe the windows from the outside to gain side vision.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the EV9 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The R1S doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

When the EV9 Land/GT-Line is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The R1S’ mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The EV9 has standard front air conditioned seats and the EV9 Land/GT-Line also has them in the second row. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The R1S doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

The EV9 GT-Line has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the R1S.

The EV9 (except Light/Wind)’s optional Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Smart Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The R1S doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The EV9 is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The R1S doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the EV9 first among upper midsize suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The R1S isn’t in the top three.

The EV9 was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2024. The R1S has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the EV9 as the 2024 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year. The R1S has never been chosen.