There aren’t many three-row, all-electric SUVs on the market today. Two excellent options are the 2024 Kia EV9 and the Rivian R1S. Read as our Huffines Kia McKinney team compares these two models to help you find the one that’s right for you.
2024 Kia EV9 vs. Rivian R1S: Exterior Style
While the Kia EV9 and the Rivian R1S share some design elements, their aesthetics differ, particularly at the front. The Kia EV9 boasts the “Digital Tiger Face,” featuring angular headlights with a bold, aggressive style. The roof subtly slopes toward the rear, where additional angular lights enhance its dynamic look.
In contrast, the Rivian R1S presents a unique SUV perspective. A striking light bar spans the front, along with iconic oval headlights synonymous with the Rivian brand. The rear of the R1S showcases another light bar, contributing to a friendlier SUV design than the Kia. We highly recommend exploring both vehicles to see which exterior better fits your style.
2024 Kia EV9 vs. Rivian R1S: Performance
The 2024 Kia EV9 offers a few powertrain options. On the base trim, you’ll find a single rear-mounted electric motor that produces 215 horsepower and uses rear-wheel drive. Upgrading to an all-wheel-drive model gives you a dual-motor setup that combines to produce 379 horsepower, a significant increase. There’s also an available “Boost” mode, which increases the EV9’s peak torque output and accelerates the vehicle faster.
For the 2024 Rivian R1S, there are two powertrains to choose from. The standard powertrain uses a dual-motor setup to produce 533 horsepower and has all-wheel drive. A performance version increases horsepower to 665. The quad-motor powertrain boasts an impressive 835 horsepower. The 2024 Rivian R1S is significantly more powerful than the EV9 for driving on demanding terrain or at higher speeds.
2024 Kia EV9 vs. Rivian R1S: Battery and Range
The 2024 Kia EV9 offers two battery options. The entry-level model has a 76.1 kWh battery pack, giving an EPA-estimated 230 miles of driving range. The other battery pack is a 99.8 kWh model that significantly improves driving range. If you get the larger battery with the Light Long Range model, you’ll get around 304 miles of range, while the all-wheel-drive (AWD) Wind and Land models get around 280 miles. To recharge these batteries, you can use the onboard 11 kW charger or the DC fast-charging system, which adds about 100 miles of range in just 13 minutes.
As for the 2024 Rivian R1S, there are three battery packs to choose from. The entry-level battery will get you around 260 miles of range and can only come with the dual-motor powertrain. The Large battery pack increases the range to about 352 miles, while the Max battery pack gets around 400 miles per charge but is significantly more expensive. If you opt for the quad-motor powertrain, you’ll have to get the Large battery, and you’ll get around 321 miles of range.
2024 Kia EV9 vs. Rivian R1S: Interior Space
Moving inside, the 2024 Kia EV9 can come in a six- or seven-passenger configuration, depending on whether you want a bench or captain’s chairs in the second row. Whichever configuration you select, you’ll find ample room for passengers and cargo alike. Even taller adult passengers should find plenty of legroom in the third row, making long drives more comfortable. As for cargo space, the 2024 Kia EV9 has about 20 cubic feet of space behind the third row of seats, which you can extend to 81.7 cubic feet if you fold the second and third rows.
The 2024 Rivian R1S is smaller inside, with about 144 cubic feet of passenger space compared to the EV9’s 151 cubic feet. The third row of seats is a little tighter, making it better suited for quick trips or the occasional guest. The cargo volume is also slightly smaller, with only 18 cubic feet behind the rear seat. The R1S benefits from a flat floor when you fold the second and third row of seats, which can make packing easier.
2024 Kia EV9 vs. Rivian R1S: Comfort and Entertainment
Thanks to the well-cushioned seats and numerous comfort-related features, you’ll quickly notice the 2024 Kia EV9’s plush interior. The first and second rows can come with heating, ventilation, and massaging, among many other features. Then there’s the entertainment system, which starts with the 12.3-inch touch screen in the dashboard. The touch screen lets you easily control various vehicle settings and load your preferred media by connecting to your smartphone.
The 2024 Rivian R1S also boasts great comfort and entertainment features. The infotainment screen differs slightly from other SUVs, with a tile system instead of submenus. Standard features include a Wi-Fi hotspot and a wireless device charging pad, but it lacks other common features, such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integrations.
2024 Kia EV9 vs. Rivian R1S: Safety
The 2024 Kia EV9 and the Rivian R1S come with many safety innovations. Standard safety features for both vehicles include the following:
- Automated emergency braking.
- Lane departure warning.
- Lane-keeping assist.
- Adaptive cruise control.
There are a few differences in the safety features they offer. For example, the 2024 Kia EV9 offers a hands-free driving mode, while the Rivian R1S offers a lane-centering feature. We highly recommend exploring each vehicle’s safety features in-depth to learn which model has your preferred options.
2024 Kia EV9 vs. Rivian R1S: Trims and MSRPs
Finally, there are the trim levels for each model. The Kia EV9 and the Rivian R1S have several trim options, which impact the starting MSRP and the features you get. For the 2024 Kia EV9, the rear-wheel-drive (RWD) and AWD trim levels are as follows:
- Light RWD.
- Light Long Range RWD.
- Wind AWD.
- Land AWD.
- GT-Line AWD.
Available trim levels for the Rivian R1S are as follows:
- Adventure.
- Adventure All-Terrain.
By offering more trim levels, Kia makes finding an EV9 that suits your preferred balance of features and cost easier.
Explore the 2024 Kia EV9 in McKinney
While the Rivian R1S offers better performance and driving range, the interior features, space, and significantly lower price points make the 2024 Kia EV9 attractive. If you’re interested in exploring this SUV further in the McKinney area, please contact Huffines Kia McKinney today. You can also check out our inventory of new vehicles or apply for financing online today to get started.