Kia EV9 vs Rivian R1S
Electric SUVs · head to head, 2024–2026
The Kia EV9 and Rivian R1S were both sold for 3 model years (2024–2026). Among the EV9's own years, no year clearly stands out as the best bet; no year to avoid; the newest year rated a good buy is 2025. Among the R1S's own years, its best bet is 2024; no year to avoid; the newest year rated a good buy is 2025.
Kia EV9
SUV · 2024–2027
- Best bet no standout year
- Newest good buy 2025
- Avoid none
Rivian R1S
SUV · 2023–2026
- Best bet 2024
- Newest good buy 2025
- Avoid none
How to read this: each model's verdicts compare that model's own years with each other (serious owner complaints per car on the road against that model's usual year, using New York registrations). They are not a reliability ranking of one model against the other, so a good-buy EV9 year says nothing about whether it beats a R1S. (How we judge.)
Year by year, side by side
| Year | Kia EV9 | Rivian R1S | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | TOO NEWOnly 1.1 years of owner reports | TOO NEWOnly 1.1 years of owner reports | Side by side |
| 2025 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.6× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.0× usual | Side by side |
| 2024 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.4× usual, mostly collision avoidance and suspension | BEST BUYSerious complaints 0.6× usual | Side by side |
Each chip rates that year against the same model's other years. Tap a chip for the year's details; "Side by side" compares both models that year, trim by trim.
Compare any year, trim by trim
2026: the newest shared year, at a glance
| 2026 Kia EV9 | 2026 Rivian R1S | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict (vs the model's own years) | TOO NEW | TOO NEW |
| Starting price (MSRP range) | $54,900 to $71,900 base price by trim, 5 trims | — |
| Engines and horsepower | Electric | Electric |
| Fuel economy (EPA combined) | 78–89 MPGe | 67–85 MPGe |
| Seats | 6–7 | 7 |
| Third row | Yes | Yes |
| Cargo behind last row | — | — |
| Max cargo | 81.7 cu ft | — |
| Max towing | 2,000–5,000 lb | — |
| NHTSA crash rating | 5 of 5 stars | Not rated |
| Recalls · owner complaints (NHTSA) | 2 · 26 | 3 · 14 |
Sources: OpenSpec and the makers' equipment guides, NHTSA vPIC, EPA and NHTSA ratings. Cargo, towing and bed length rows appear when we have them. "—": not in our data. Compare every 2026 trim →
Key features: base trim vs top trim
| EV9 Light lowest price, $54,900 | EV9 GT-Line highest price, $71,900 | R1S Adventure first listed | R1S Special last listed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wireless Apple CarPlay | — | Standard | — | — |
| Adaptive cruise control | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Blind-spot warning | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Heated front seats | Standard | Standard | — | — |
| Ventilated front seats | Standard | Standard | — | — |
| Sunroof or moonroof | — | Standard | — | — |
| 360-degree camera | — | Standard | — | — |
| Power liftgate or tailgate | Standard | Standard | — | — |
"Standard" and "Optional" are for that trim as the 2026 data lists it (a package or option adds an "Optional" item); "—": not verified in our sources, never a guess. The cheapest and most expensive trim of each model; every trim is on the model's 2026 page (EV9, R1S).
Known fixes and extended coverage
Kia EV9
1 manufacturer program on file: 0 extended coverage, 1 repair program.
Rivian R1S
10 manufacturer programs on file: 0 extended coverage, 10 repair programs.
From manufacturer bulletins filed with NHTSA, counted per program. A count is how many programs exist, not how good or bad a model is: a maker that extends coverage is paying for a known problem. A dealer can look up whether a car has had the work done or is still covered.
Which should you buy?
- Buying used, years both are rated a good buy: 2024–2025. In those years, choose on price, size and features.
- Years to skip: neither model has a year we rate avoid.
- Newest year rated a good buy: EV9 2025; R1S 2025.
- Third row: both the 2026 EV9 and R1S offer one.
- Best EPA combined rating in 2026: EV9 at 89 MPGe (R1S: 85), for the most efficient version of each.
- Before you buy either: run the VIN for open recalls and ask the dealer whether the extended-coverage repairs above were done.
Rules applied to the data on this page: no overall winner is declared, because our verdicts compare each model with itself.