Compare the2025 Kia EV6VS 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 EV6 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.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The EV6 offers optional Parking Collision-Avoidance Reverse 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 EV6 and R1S have rear cross-traffic warning, but the EV6 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 EV6 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 and available around view monitors.

The EV6 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.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the EV6 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.

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 EV6’s reliability 22 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 Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Rivian vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 103 more problems per 100 vehicles, Rivian is ranked 32nd, below the industry average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Rivian vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 13 places higher in reliability than Rivian.

For better stopping power the EV6 GT’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the R1S:

The EV6 stops much shorter than the R1S:

The EV6’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 EV6 GT’s tires have a lower 40 series profile than the R1S Ascend Quad Max’s 50 series front and 45 series rear tires.

The EV6 GT handles at .92 G’s, while the R1S pulls only .85 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The EV6 GT executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.6 seconds quicker than the R1S Ascend Tri Max (25.1 seconds @ .77 average G’s vs. 26.7 seconds @ .74 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the EV6 GT’s turning circle is 2.1 feet tighter than the R1S Quad Max Ascend’s (39.2 feet vs. 41.3 feet).

The Kia EV6 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1950 to 2350 pounds less than the Rivian R1S.

The EV6 is 1 foot, 4 inches shorter than the R1S, making the EV6 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The EV6 is 7.7 inches narrower on average than the R1S, making the EV6 easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

The EV6 is 16.5 inches shorter in height than the R1S, making the EV6 much easier to wash and garage and drive (lower center of gravity).

For excellent aerodynamics, the EV6 has standard flush composite headlights. The R1S has recessed headlights that spoil its aerodynamic shape and create extra drag.

The EV6 has 1 inch more front legroom and 2.4 inches more rear legroom than the R1S.

The EV6 has a much larger cargo volume than the R1S with its rear seat up (24.4 vs. 17.6 cubic feet).

The EV6’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 EV6’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.

A maintenance reminder system is standard on the EV6 to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals based on odometer mileage. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Rivian doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the R1S.

The EV6 GT-Line/GT has a standard 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 EV6’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 EV6 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 EV6 GT-Line/GT’s 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 EV6 is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The R1S doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the EV6 first 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.

The EV6 was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2023. The R1S has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the EV6 as the 2023 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year. The R1S has never been chosen.