Compare the2023 Audi e-tron SportbackVS 2022 Rivian R1S

The e-tron Sportback’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The R1S doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The e-tron Sportback has a standard Secondary Collision Brake Assist, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The R1S doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

An active infrared night vision system optional on the e-tron Sportback helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera and near-infrared lights to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The R1S doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the e-tron Sportback 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, all wheel drive, 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 and available around view monitors.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the e-tron Sportback its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 89 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The R1S has not been tested, yet.

The e-tron Sportback’s corrosion warranty is 4 years longer than the R1S’ (12 vs. 8 years).

The e-tron Sportback S’ standard electric motors produces 117 lbs.-ft. more torque (717 vs. 600) than the R1S Dual Motor’s standard electric motors.

On the EPA test cycle the e-tron Sportback gets better mileage than the R1S:

For better stopping power the e-tron Sportback’s brake rotors are larger than those on the R1S:

The e-tron Sportback is 7.8 inches shorter than the R1S, making the e-tron Sportback easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The e-tron Sportback is 5.6 inches narrower than the R1S, making the e-tron Sportback easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

The e-tron Sportback is 12.4 inches shorter in height than the R1S, making the e-tron Sportback much easier to wash and garage and drive (lower center of gravity).

The e-tron Sportback has a much larger cargo volume than the R1S 4dr Sport Utility with its rear seat up (27.2 vs. 17.6 cubic feet).

The e-tron Sportback’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 e-tron Sportback’s liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under 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 e-tron Sportback 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 e-tron Sportback Prestige has a standard heads-up display that projects speed 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 e-tron Sportback and the R1S have standard heated front seats. The e-tron Sportback Premium Plus/Prestige also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated second row seats aren’t available in the R1S.

Optional air conditioned front and rear seats keep the e-tron Sportback’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 e-tron Sportback offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the R1S.

The e-tron Sportback’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.