Compare the2025 Chevrolet Blazer EVVS 2024 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 Blazer EV 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 Blazer EV’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.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Blazer EV has standard Reverse Automatic Braking 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 Blazer EV and R1S have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Blazer EV has Rear 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 Blazer EV and the R1S have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, 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, available front parking sensors and driver alert monitors.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are better in initial quality than Rivian vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 106 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 Chevrolet vehicles are more reliable than Rivian vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Chevrolet 8 places higher in reliability than Rivian.

On the EPA test cycle the Blazer EV gets better mileage than the R1S:

The Blazer EV LT’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. The Blazer EV’s optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the R1S’ optional 50 series tires.

The Chevrolet Blazer EV’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Rivian R1S only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The Blazer EV has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The R1S doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Having a flat tire is dangerous, inconvenient and expensive. The self-sealing tires available on the Blazer EV can automatically seal most punctures up to 3/16 of an inch, effectively preventing most flat tires. The R1S doesn’t offer self-sealing tires.

For better maneuverability, the Blazer EV’s turning circle is 3.6 feet tighter than the R1S’ (39.7 feet vs. 43.3 feet).

The Chevrolet Blazer EV may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1600 to 1800 pounds less than the Rivian R1S.

The Blazer EV is 8.6 inches shorter than the R1S, making the Blazer EV easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Blazer EV is 12.3 inches shorter in height than the R1S, making the Blazer EV much easier to wash and garage and drive (lower center of gravity).

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

The Blazer EV has 2.8 inches more front legroom, 2.5 inches more front hip room and 2.3 inches more rear legroom than the R1S.

The Blazer EV has a much larger cargo volume than the R1S 4dr Sport Utility with its rear seat up (25.5 vs. 17.6 cubic feet).

The Blazer EV’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 Blazer EV’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 Blazer EV RS offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, 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 Blazer EV’s standard Keyless Access allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, unlock 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.

The Blazer EV’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.

When the Blazer EV RS 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 Blazer EV’s optional Enhanced Automatic Parking Assist 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.

Motor Trend selected the Blazer EV as their 2024 Sport Utility of the Year. The R1S has never been chosen.

The Chevrolet Blazer outsold the Rivian R1S/R1T by 39% during 2023.