Compare the2025 Hyundai PalisadeVS 2024 Rivian R1S

Both the Palisade and R1S have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Palisade 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 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.

With its standard Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, the Hyundai Palisade 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 Palisade Calligraphy/Night 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 R1S have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Palisade 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 Palisade 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, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The Palisade 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.

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, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Rivian doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the R1S.

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 Palisade’s reliability 50 points higher than the R1S.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are better in initial quality than Rivian vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 104 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 Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Rivian vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Hyundai 17 places higher in reliability than Rivian.

The Palisade stops shorter than the R1S:

The Palisade’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.

For better maneuverability, the Palisade’s turning circle is 4.6 feet tighter than the R1S’ (38.7 feet vs. 43.3 feet).

The Hyundai Palisade may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 2500 to 2800 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 8.4 inches shorter in height than the R1S, making the Palisade much easier to wash and garage and drive (lower center of gravity).

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

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

The Palisade has 2.7 inches more front legroom, 3.2 inches more front hip room, .6 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear headroom, 5.8 inches more rear legroom, 3.5 inches more rear hip room, 1.9 inches more rear shoulder room, .9 inches more third row hip room and 4.1 inches more third row shoulder room than the R1S.

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.

Both the Palisade and the R1S have standard second row automatic folding seats. The Palisade Limited/Calligraphy/Night’s third row seats also fold up or down at the press of a button. The R1S doesn’t offer automatic folding third row seats.

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 Limited/Calligraphy/Night has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, warning, 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 Palisade’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 Palisade to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The R1S doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

When the Palisade SEL Premium/Limited/Calligraphy/Night with available tilt-down mirrors 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 Palisade SEL/XRT/Limited/Calligraphy/Night has standard heated front seats and second and third row heated seats also avaiable, which keep the driver and passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Rivian doesn’t offer heated seats in the third row of the R1S.

Standard air conditioned seats in the front and second seat rows keep the Palisade SEL Premium/Limited/Calligraphy/Night’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/Night 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 Calligraphy/Night’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. The Rivian R1S isn't recommended.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Palisade third 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/R1T by 90% during 2023.