Hyundai Ioniq 9 vs Rivian R1S: Should you spend more?

The Hyundai Ioniq 9 is set to finally hit the market in the near future, with Hyundai saying it will launch the vehicle in the first half of 2025. But the electric SUV faces tough competition. Sure, it has to compete with the Kia EV9, but it also has to compete with a more expensive, higher quality electric SUV in the form of the Rivian R1S, now in its second generation.

Maybe we should put that behind us for now – the Rivian R1S is probably a better vehicle than the Ioniq 9, although it's fair to say we haven't tested the Ioniq 9 yet. But how much better is it? Is the extra money worth it?

design

The designs of these vehicles are quite different. They both look like SUVs, with large, blocky bodies. But while the Rivian R1S is a little blockier, the Ioniq 9 has a slightly more curved roofline and sculpted sides.

On the front of the Ioniq 9 there is a long light bar that extends along the front of the vehicle, while on the back the vehicle has two vertically oriented taillights. The Rivian R1S also features a light bar at the front, but this is interrupted by Rivian's now signature oval headlights. On the back, the R1S has a long light bar for the taillights.

Both the Rivian R1S and the Hyundai Ioniq 9 look relatively modern. I prefer the R1S, which looks a bit more put together to my eyes, but the design is subjective and there is a tie in this category.

Winner: Draw

Interior and technology

The interior design of the vehicles is also different. We now have a good idea of ​​what the vehicle's interior will look like, and it will be different than what Hyundai showed in the concept version of the car. Fortunately, however, there are aspects that are the same. The Hyundai Ioniq 9 is available in six- or seven-seat configurations. The six-seat layout allows the second-row seats to rotate and face rearward – creating a more sociable atmosphere. The Ioniq 9 has 22 cubic feet of cargo space with the third row up and an impressive 46 cubic feet with the third row down.

The vehicle also features USB-C ports in the interior and wireless chargers in the front. It also features a dual-display setup with a main infotainment screen that supports CarPlay and Android Auto.

The interior of the Rivian R1S is also generously sized. It's only available with seven seats, offering 17.6 cubic feet with the third row folded up and 46.7 cubic feet with the third row folded down. The R1S also has a dual-display setup, but there's no Android Auto or CarPlay. Luckily, Rivian's built-in software is pretty good, so you might not miss it.

You'll need to decide how many seats you want and whether you'd prefer better built-in software or support for CarPlay. This category is another draw.

Winner: Draw

Performance

The Hyundai Ioniq 9 will be available in three drive variants. There's the base model with rear-wheel drive, which has a single 214-horsepower motor on the rear wheels. Then there's an AWD model that puts a less powerful second motor on the front wheels that produces 94 horsepower. The Performance model replaces this engine with a second 214 horsepower engine and accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 6.2 seconds.

However, the Rivian R1S still gains a bit. All Rivian R1S models are four-wheel drive. The entry-level R1S is a dual-motor vehicle that puts out an impressive 533 horsepower and accelerates to 60 miles per hour in just 4.5 seconds – faster than the fastest Ioniq 9. From there it goes all the way up to the R1S Ascend Tri Max. which has 850 horsepower and reaches top speed in 2.9 seconds, and the not yet available R1S Ascend Quad Max, which will have four engines and the ability to reach 60 mph in 2.6 seconds.

There really is no competition here. The Rivian R1S is far more powerful than the Ioniq 9.

Winner: Rivian R1S

Range and charging

The Hyundai Ioniq 9 isn't available yet and we don't yet know the exact range of all models of the Ioniq 9. However, Hyundai has said that all models of the vehicle will have a range of over 300 miles, and we know that's long-range -RWD base model will have a range of 335 miles. The Ioniq 9 can charge up to 350kW, which is very fast and means it should be fully charged in under 25 minutes.

However, when it comes to range, the R1S goes up. While the base model of the R1S has a range of 270 miles, the large battery lets you get 330 miles, while the Max battery gets you 410 miles. For more powerful versions of the vehicle, the range is slightly lower, but not as low as the base version's 270 miles. Unfortunately, the R1S does not charge as quickly as the EV9 at 220 kW.

However, for most, range is more important than charging, and with longer range options, the R1S takes the win.

Winner: Rivian R1S

Prices and availability

There is currently only one vehicle available – the Rivian R1S. Hyundai has announced the Ioniq 9 but says it will launch in the US and Korea in the first half of 2025. We don't know exactly how much it will cost yet, but we expect its price to be similar to the Kia EV9 and cost around $57,000.

The Rivian R1S is available to order now, but is a little more expensive. At the time of writing, the price starts at $75,900, which is a good $20,000 more than the Ioniq 9.

Once available, the Ioniq 9 will likely win this category. But that's not the case yet – so this one goes to Rivian.

Winner: Rivian R1S

Overall winner: Rivian R1S

The Rivian R1S has better performance, longer range if you upgrade the batteries, and is the only one actually available. When the Ioniq 9 hits the market, you'll have to decide for yourself whether the longer range and better performance are worth the extra money. We think the extra money is probably worth it if you can afford the Rivian R1S without it putting a huge dent in your finances – but rest assured that the Ioniq 9 will have a lot to offer if you could save some money too offer.