COMPARING THREE-ROW EVS: THE KIA EV9 VS RIVIAN R1S

Shoppers thinking about buying a three-row SUV have plenty of options. Unless they want an electric SUV, that is. Fortunately, there are two models that hold a lot of promise: the Kia EV9 and the Rivian R1S. The EV9 is Kia’s latest and largest electric SUV. Think of it as a Kia Telluride that’s electric. As for the R1S, it hails from Rivian, an electric vehicle startup, and boasts massive power and impressive off-road performance. Both can haul lots of passengers and swallow loads of cargo. But which is the better buy? Car experts compare them to find out.

- 

RANGE AND CHARGING

The EV9’s base model provides a modest EPA estimated range of 230 miles on a full charge. But for a small price increase, shoppers can upgrade to get an EPA-estimated 304 miles. Those models are rear-wheel-drive. You can also get all-wheel drive and more power, though range drops to 270-280 miles. Experts tested an EV9 with an estimated 270 miles and found it could go 306 miles in its standardized real-world range test.

Rivian offers more available battery and electric motor combinations for the R1S. Depending on what you pick, the R1S will have an EPA-estimated driving range of 270-400 miles. All models come standard with all-wheel drive. The R1S model tested outperformed its EPA estimate of 318 miles by driving 330 miles.

For a family-oriented EV that might be used on road trips, charging times can be just as important as range. When hooked up to a high-powered fast-charging station, the EV9 topped the R1S in testing by adding 100 miles of range in an average of 11 minutes. To gain 100 miles, the R1S needed an average of 19 minutes.

Essentially, the Rivian R1S offers a longer maximum driving range but the EV9 reduces the time spent charging on long road trips. Consider this a toss-up.

Winner: tie