Compare the2023 Hyundai PalisadeVS 2022 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 Palisade 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.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Palisade Calligraphy has standard Parking Collision Avoidance Assist that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The R1S doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

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

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Palisade its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 29 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The R1S has not been tested, yet.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Palisade 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.

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Palisade for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Hyundai will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Rivian doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the R1S.

The Hyundai Palisade may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1650 to 2500 pounds less than the Rivian R1S.

The Palisade is 4.1 inches shorter than the R1S, making the Palisade easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Palisade is 8.5 inches shorter in height than the R1S, making the Palisade much easier to wash and garage and drive (lower center of gravity).

The Palisade has standard seating for 8 passengers; the R1S can only carry 7.

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

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

The Palisade’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 Palisade’s liftgate can be opened 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.

The Palisade has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The R1S doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The Palisade Limited/Calligraphy has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, warning and navigation instruction 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.

Both the Palisade and the R1S offer available heated front seats. The Palisade also offers optional heated second row seats and the Palisade Limited/Calligraphy has standard heated third row seats to keep all passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Neither heated second nor third row seats are available in the R1S.

Optional air conditioned front and second row seats keep the Palisade’s passengers comfortable and take the sting out of hot leather in summer. The R1S doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

The Palisade Calligraphy 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 Palisade’s standard GPS navigation system has a real-time traffic update feature that plots alternative routes to automatically bypass traffic problems. (Service not available in all areas.) The R1S’ available navigation system doesn’t offer real-time traffic updates.

The Palisade Calligraphy’s Remote 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 Palisade is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The R1S doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Hyundai Palisade, based on reliability, safety and performance.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Palisade 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 Hyundai Palisade outsold the Rivian R1S by over 103 to one during 2022.