Compare the2026 Mercedes EQS SUVVS 2025 Rivian R1S

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics

Safety

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The EQS SUV’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The R1S doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

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 EQS SUV 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 EQS SUV has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The R1S doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

The EQS SUV’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.

The EQS SUV has a standard Post Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The R1S doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The EQS SUV has a standard Maneuvering Brake 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 EQS SUV’s standard Downhill Speed Regulation allows you to creep down safely. The R1S doesn’t offer Downhill Speed Regulation.

Earlier warning of stopped traffic, traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, weather, or accidents, can keep driver's safer and prevent crashes. The EQS SUV has Car-to-X Communication, a system that seamlessly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The R1S doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from infrastructure or other vehicles.

Both the EQS SUV and R1S have rear cross-traffic warning, but the EQS SUV has Active Brake 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 EQS SUV and the R1S have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

Warranty

There are almost 8 times as many Mercedes dealers as there are Rivian dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the EQS SUV’s warranty.

Reliability

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 EQS SUV’s reliability 21 points higher than the R1S.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Mercedes vehicles are better in initial quality than Rivian vehicles. With 64 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mercedes higher than Rivian.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the EQS SUV gets better mileage than the R1S:

			MPGe
EQS SUV
	AWD	Maybach EQS 680 Electric Motors	84 city/84 hwy
		550 4MATIC Electric Motors	82 city/78 hwy
		400 4MATIC Electric Motors	80 city/78 hwy
R1S
	AWD	Dual Large Plus 22" Wheels Electric Motors	89 city/75 hwy
		Dual Standard 20" Wheels Electric Motors	85 city/72 hwy
		Performance Dual Large 20" Wheels Electric Motors	85 city/72 hwy

The EQS SUV can travel longer on a full charge than the R1S on a full charge:

			Miles
EQS SUV
	AWD	550 4MATIC Electric Motors	317 miles
		400 4MATIC Electric Motors	312 miles
		Maybach EQS 680 Electric Motors	300 miles
R1S
	AWD	Performance Dual Large 20" Wheels Electric Motors	300 miles
		Performance Dual Large Plus All-Terrain Electric Motors	292 miles

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the EQS SUV’s brake rotors are larger than those on the R1S:

	EQS SUV	R1S
Front Rotors	16.3 inches	13.5 inches
Rear Rotors	14.9 inches	12.9 inches

Tires and Wheels

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

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the EQS SUV has standard 21-inch wheels. Smaller 20-inch wheels are standard on the R1S.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the EQS SUV can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The R1S doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

Suspension and Handling

The EQS SUV’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The R1S doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the EQS SUV’s wheelbase is 5.3 inches longer than on the R1S (126.4 inches vs. 121.1 inches).

The EQS SUV 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 EQS SUV executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the R1S Ascend Tri Max (26 seconds @ .7 average G’s vs. 26.7 seconds @ .74 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Maybach EQS 680’s turning circle is 5.3 feet tighter than the R1S Quad Max Ascend’s (36 feet vs. 41.3 feet).

Chassis

The EQS SUV is 9.5 inches shorter in height than the R1S, making the EQS SUV much easier to wash and garage and drive (lower center of gravity).

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

Cargo Capacity

The EQS SUV has a much larger cargo volume than the R1S with its rear seat up (22.7 vs. 17.6 cubic feet).

The EQS SUV’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 EQS SUV’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.

Servicing Ease

An ASSYST PLUS is standard on the EQS SUV 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.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the R1S, the EQS SUV has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, outside mirror angle and climate settings and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The EQS SUV offers an optional 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 EQS SUV’s standard Keyless-Go allow 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 EQS SUV’s optional power side swing out doors make it much easier to load and unload kids and cargo. One touch opens the door, before you even get to the sport utility. The R1S doesn’t offer a power rear door.

Heated windshield washer fluid is optional on the EQS SUV to defrost the washer nozzles and quickly clear ice and frost from the windshield without scraping. The R1S doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid.

The EQS SUV’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.

To better shield the driver and front passenger’s vision, the EQS SUV Maybach has standard dual-element sun visors that can block glare from two directions simultaneously. The R1S doesn’t offer secondary sun visors.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the EQS SUV to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The R1S doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

When the EQS SUV is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The R1S’ mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

The EQS SUV has standard front air conditioned seats and the EQS SUV Maybach also has them in the second row. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The R1S doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

The EQS SUV offers optional massaging front and rear seats (rear massaging seats standard on Maybach). Massaging seats aren’t available in the R1S.

Compared to the Rivian R1S’ traditional radio, the Mercedes EQS SUV equipped with standard SiriusXM satellite radio provides an unmatched listening experience. Its extensive coverage guarantees consistent, crystal-clear reception across the continental U.S., and access to over 100 channels dedicated to a multitude of genres, including music, news, sports, talk shows, and comedy, many with only limited commercial breaks.

Both the Mercedes EQS SUV and the Rivian R1S have a standard Qi wireless phone charging system in the front seat. To easily keep personal devices charged in the second row seat, without cables tangling and wearing out, the EQS SUV also has a standard wireless charging system in the second row seat. The R1S does not.

The EQS SUV’s Active 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.

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