Compare the2024 Ford Mustang Mach-EVS 2024 Rivian R1S

Both the Mustang Mach-E and R1S have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Mustang Mach-E has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The R1S’ child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

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 Mustang Mach-E 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.

With its standard Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking, the Ford Mustang Mach-E is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Rivian R1S, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

The Mustang Mach-E has standard Post Collision Braking, which automatically apply 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.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Mustang Mach-E has a standard Reverse Brake 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 Mustang Mach-E and R1S have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Mustang Mach-E has Cross Traffic Braking (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 Mustang Mach-E and the R1S have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front 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, around view monitors, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Mustang Mach-E’s reliability 22 points higher than the R1S.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Ford vehicles are more reliable than Rivian vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Ford 6 places higher in reliability than Rivian.

On the EPA test cycle the Mustang Mach-E gets better mileage than the R1S:

For better stopping power the Mustang Mach-E’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the R1S:

The Mustang Mach-E stops much shorter than the R1S:

The Mustang Mach-E’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the R1S’ 65 series tires. The Mustang Mach-E GT’s tires have a lower 45 series profile than the R1S’ optional 50 series tires.

The Mustang Mach-E GT handles at .92 G’s, while the R1S 4dr Sport Utility pulls only .85 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Mustang Mach-E’s turning circle is 5.2 feet tighter than the R1S’ (38.1 feet vs. 43.3 feet).

The Ford Mustang Mach-E may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 2000 to 2600 pounds less than the Rivian R1S.

The Mustang Mach-E Select/Premium is 1 foot, 3.2 inches shorter than the R1S, making the Mustang Mach-E easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Mustang Mach-E is 7.7 inches narrower than the R1S, making the Mustang Mach-E easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

The Mustang Mach-E is 13.8 inches shorter in height than the R1S, making the Mustang Mach-E much easier to wash and garage and drive (lower center of gravity).

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

The Mustang Mach-E has 1.9 inches more front legroom, .5 inches more front hip room and 1.5 inches more rear legroom than the R1S.

The Mustang Mach-E has a much larger cargo volume than the R1S 4dr Sport Utility with its rear seat up (29.7 vs. 17.6 cubic feet).

The Mustang Mach-E’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.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Mustang Mach-E’s exterior PIN entry system. The R1S doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

The Mustang Mach-E’s standard Intelligent Access allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle and start the vehicle, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. An advanced key system standard on the R1S doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door The Mustang Mach-E Premium/GT’s available Intelligent Access also allows you to open the cargo door.

The Mustang Mach-E’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.

The Mustang Mach-E’s optional Active Park Assist 2.0 can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The R1S doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

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

Consumer Reports® recommends the Ford Mustang Mach-E, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Rivian R1S isn't recommended.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Mustang Mach-E third among compact 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.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Mustang Mach-E as the 2021 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year. The R1S has never been chosen.