Compare the2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5VS 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 Ioniq 5 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 Ioniq 5 Limited/XRT/N has standard Parking Collision Avoidance Assist 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.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Ioniq 5’s standard Downhill Brake Control allows you to creep down safely. The R1S doesn’t offer Downhill Brake Control.

Both the Ioniq 5 and R1S have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Ioniq 5 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 Ioniq 5 and the R1S have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact 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, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The Ioniq 5 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.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Ioniq 5 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.

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Ioniq 5 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Hyundai will pay for tire rotations, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Rivian doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the R1S.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are better in initial quality than Rivian vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 104 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 Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Rivian vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Hyundai 17 places higher in reliability than Rivian.

As tested in Motor Trend the Ioniq 5 N electric motors is faster than the R1S Ascend Tri Max:

As tested in Motor Trend the Ioniq 5 N electric motors is faster than the R1S Dual Motor Performance:

On the EPA test cycle the Ioniq 5 gets better mileage than the R1S:

For better stopping power the Ioniq 5 N’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the R1S:

The Ioniq 5 stops much shorter than the R1S:

The Ioniq 5 XRT’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 Ioniq 5 N’s tires have a lower 35 series profile than the R1S Ascend Quad Max’s 50 series front and 45 series rear tires.

The Ioniq 5 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.

The Ioniq 5 N handles at .96 G’s, while the R1S pulls only .85 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Ioniq 5 N executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.6 seconds quicker than the R1S Ascend Tri Max (24.1 seconds @ .82 average G’s vs. 26.7 seconds @ .74 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Ioniq 5 N’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the R1S Quad Max Ascend’s (40.7 feet vs. 41.3 feet).

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1950 to 2300 pounds less than the Rivian R1S.

The Ioniq 5 is 1 foot, 5.5 inches shorter than the R1S, making the Ioniq 5 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Ioniq 5 is 7.1 inches narrower on average than the R1S, making the Ioniq 5 easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

The Ioniq 5 is 14.9 inches shorter in height than the R1S, making the Ioniq 5 much easier to wash and garage and drive (lower center of gravity).

For excellent aerodynamics, the Ioniq 5 has standard flush composite headlights. The R1S has recessed headlights that spoil its aerodynamic shape and create extra drag.

The Ioniq 5 has .3 inches more front legroom and 2.8 inches more rear legroom than the R1S.

The Ioniq 5 has a much larger cargo volume than the R1S with its rear seat up (26.3 vs. 17.6 cubic feet).

The Ioniq 5’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 Ioniq 5’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 Ioniq 5 Limited has a standard 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 Ioniq 5’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 Ioniq 5 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The R1S doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

When the Ioniq 5 Limited 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 Ioniq 5 Limited’s Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote 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 Ioniq 5 is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The R1S doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

The Ioniq 5 was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2025 and 3 more times in the last 4 years. The R1S has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.