Compare the2024 Acura ZDXVS 2025 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 ZDX 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 ZDX’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 ZDX 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 ZDX and R1S have rear cross-traffic warning, but the ZDX 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 ZDX 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, 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 and available around view monitors.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Acura vehicles are better in initial quality than Rivian vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Acura above average in initial quality. With 73 more problems per 100 vehicles, Rivian is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Acura vehicles are more reliable than Rivian vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Acura fourth in overall reliability. Rivian is ranked 28th.

On the EPA test cycle the ZDX gets better mileage than the R1S:

For better stopping power the ZDX Type S’ brake rotors are larger than those on the R1S:

The ZDX stops much shorter than the R1S:

The ZDX A-Spec’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the R1S’ 65 series tires. The ZDX Type S’ tires have a lower 40 series profile than the R1S Ascend Quad Max’s 50 series front and 45 series rear tires.

The Acura ZDX’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 ZDX 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 standard on the ZDX 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.

The ZDX Type S handles at .86 G’s, while the R1S Ascend Tri Max pulls only .77 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The ZDX Type S executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.6 seconds quicker than the R1S Ascend Tri Max (25.1 seconds @ .75 average G’s vs. 26.7 seconds @ .74 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the ZDX’s turning circle is 1.7 feet tighter than the R1S Quad Max Ascend’s (39.6 feet vs. 41.3 feet). The ZDX’s turning circle is 3.7 feet tighter than the R1S’ (39.6 feet vs. 43.3 feet).

The Acura ZDX may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 750 to 1050 pounds less than the Rivian R1S.

The ZDX is 3.1 inches shorter than the R1S, making the ZDX easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The ZDX is 12.9 inches shorter in height than the R1S, making the ZDX much easier to wash and garage and drive (lower center of gravity).

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

The ZDX has 11.2 inches more front hip room, 2.8 inches more rear legroom and 12.1 inches more rear hip room than the R1S.

The ZDX has a much larger cargo volume than the R1S with its rear seat up (29.7 vs. 17.6 cubic feet).

The ZDX’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 ZDX Type 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 ZDX Type S has a passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The ZDX Type S has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, warning, navigation instruction, infotainment 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 ZDX’s standard Keyless Access System allows 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.

The ZDX’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 ZDX to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The R1S doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

When the ZDX 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 ZDX Type S’ 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.

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