Compare the2024 Mercedes EQS SUVVS 2024 Rivian R1S

The EQS SUV’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.

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 EQS SUV 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 EQS SUV’s standard pretensioning seatbelts also sense rear collisions and remove slack from the seatbelts to help protect the occupants from whiplash and other injuries. The R1S doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The EQS SUV has a standard Post Collision Brake, 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.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The EQS SUV has a standard Maneuvering Brake Function 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.

Earlier warning of stopped traffic, traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, weather, or accidents, can keep driver's safer and prevent crashes. The EQS SUV has Car-to-X Communication, a system that seamlessly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The R1S doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from infrastructure or other vehicles.

Both the EQS SUV and R1S have rear cross-traffic warning, but the EQS SUV has Active Brake 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 EQS SUV 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, around view monitors, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Mercedes vehicles are better in initial quality than Rivian vehicles. With 60 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mercedes higher than Rivian.

On the EPA test cycle the EQS SUV gets better mileage than the R1S:

The EQS SUV can travel longer on a full charge than the R1S on a full charge:

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

The EQS SUV stops shorter than the R1S:

The EQS SUV’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the R1S’ 65 series tires. The EQS SUV’s tires are lower profile than the R1S’ optional 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the EQS SUV has standard 21-inch wheels. Smaller 20-inch wheels are standard on the R1S.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires optional on the EQS SUV can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The R1S doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The EQS SUV’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.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the EQS SUV’s wheelbase is 5.3 inches longer than on the R1S (126.4 inches vs. 121.1 inches).

For better maneuverability, the EQS SUV’s turning circle is 7.3 feet tighter than the R1S’ (36 feet vs. 43.3 feet).

The Mercedes EQS SUV may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 650 to 900 pounds less than the Rivian R1S.

The EQS SUV is 9.7 inches shorter in height than the R1S, making the EQS SUV much easier to wash and garage and drive (lower center of gravity).

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

The EQS SUV has 1.1 inches more front shoulder room, .9 inches more rear headroom, 4.7 inches more rear legroom and .7 inches more rear shoulder room than the R1S.

The EQS SUV has a much larger cargo volume than the R1S 4dr Sport Utility with its rear seat up (22.7 vs. 17.6 cubic feet).

The EQS SUV’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 EQS SUV’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.

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the R1S, the EQS SUV has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, outside mirror angle and climate settings and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The EQS SUV offers an optional 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.

The EQS SUV’s standard Keyless-Go allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, 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.

Heated windshield washer fluid is optional on the EQS SUV to defrost the washer nozzles and quickly clear ice and frost from the windshield without scraping. The R1S doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the EQS SUV has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The R1S doesn’t offer cornering lights. The EQS SUV also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

When the EQS SUV is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The R1S’ mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

The EQS SUV has standard heated front and optional heated second and third row seats, which keep the driver and passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Rivian doesn’t offer heated seats in the third row of the R1S.

The EQS SUV offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the R1S.

Both the Mercedes EQS SUV and the Rivian R1S have a standard Qi wireless phone charging system in the front seat. To easily keep personal devices charged in the second row seat, without cables tangling and wearing out, the EQS SUV also offers an optional wireless charging system.

The EQS SUV’s Active Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote 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 EQS SUV is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The R1S doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.