Compare the2026 BMW iXVS 2025 Rivian R1S

The iX’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 iX 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 iX’s standard pretensioning seatbelts also sense rear collisions and remove slack from the front seatbelts to help protect the occupants from whiplash and other injuries. The R1S doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The iX has a standard PostCrash iBrake, 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 iX has a standard Active Park Distance Control 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 iX’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The R1S doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

The BMW iX’s optional Surround View offers available integrated front and rear camera washers, ensuring clear, all-weather visibility without the need for manual cleaning. In contrast, the Rivian R1S lacks camera washers, requiring you to manually clean the cameras for optimal performance.

Both the iX and R1S have rear cross-traffic warning, but the iX has Cross Traffic Warning with braking function (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 iX and the R1S have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The iX’s corrosion warranty is 4 years longer than the R1S’ (12 vs. 8 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the iX for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW 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.

There are over 7 times as many BMW dealers as there are Rivian dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the iX’s warranty.

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 iX’s reliability 20 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 BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Rivian vehicles. With 78 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks BMW higher than Rivian.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Rivian vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW 14 places higher in reliability than Rivian.

On the EPA test cycle the iX gets better mileage than the R1S:

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

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

The iX stops much shorter than the R1S:

The iX xDrive45/60’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 iX’s optional tires have a lower 35 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 iX offers optional 23-inch wheels. The R1S’ largest wheels are only 22-inches.

The iX xDrive60 handles at .88 G’s, while the R1S Ascend Tri Max pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The iX M70 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.2 seconds quicker than the R1S Ascend Tri Max (25.5 seconds @ .74 average G’s vs. 26.7 seconds @ .74 average G’s).

The BMW iX may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 900 to 1000 pounds less than the Rivian R1S.

The iX is 5.3 inches shorter than the R1S, making the iX easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The iX is 9.6 inches shorter in height than the R1S, making the iX much easier to wash and garage and drive (lower center of gravity).

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

The iX has .4 inches more front headroom, 6.8 inches more front hip room, .9 inches more front shoulder room, 2.3 inches more rear legroom and 5.9 inches more rear hip room than the R1S.

The iX has a much larger cargo volume than the R1S with its rear seat up (35.5 vs. 17.6 cubic feet).

The iX’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 iX’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.

A Condition-Based Service Display is standard on the iX to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals for vehicle inspections, vehicle inspection based on actual driving conditions. 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 iX offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, warning, 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 iX’s standard Comfort Access 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.

Laser headlights, optional on the iX, produce their light by firing blue lasers through phosphorus, a process that uses one-half the power of the R1S’ LED headlights. Laser headlights can have double the range of LEDs with a much smaller surface area.

The iX’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 iX 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 iX offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the R1S.

Compared to the Rivian R1S’ traditional radio, the BMW iX 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.

The iX’s Parking Assistant can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Control Parking 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.

Car and Driver performed a comparison test in its December 2022 issue and the BMW iX M70 won out over the Rivian R1S.