Experienced a Change: Ditched Trouble-prone Kia EV9 for Rivian R1S; 450-mile journey through rural Indiana instilled trust that eluded me with Kia
The electric vehicle (EV) landscape is expanding, and a new player is making waves. Rivian, an American startup, has introduced the Rivian R2, a medium-sized Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) that sits below the R1 series. This new model is set to challenge the status quo, particularly in comparison to the Kia EV9, a Korean offering that represents the Eastern approach in the EV market.
The Kia EV9: A Luxurious Lounge on Wheels
The Kia EV9, with its luxurious, tech-rich, and feature-loaded experience, feels like an upscale "lounge on wheels." It boasts intuitive controls and abundant comfort features, giving it a refined and polished image. However, one user, who switched from the Kia EV9 to the Rivian R1S, found the Kia to be less reliable, expressing frustrations related to dependability and confidence in performance.
The Rivian R1S: Honesty, Utility, and Rugged Capability
In contrast, the Rivian R1S, an American product, prioritizes honesty, utility, and rugged capability. It is often described as a "backwoods bruiser," emphasizing functional reliability, purpose-built design, and trust in range and infrastructure. This focus on practicality and resilience, rooted in American manufacturing and design values, gives the owner confidence and clarity about the vehicle's capabilities and an authentic connection to its origins.
A Cultural Divide in EV Design
The contrast between the Kia EV9 and the Rivian R1S illustrates a broader cultural difference. Eastern brands like Kia focus heavily on technology, refinement, and premium feel, while Western startups like Rivian focus on robustness, genuine capability, and trustworthy performance, grounded in their manufacturing origins and the environments they serve.
The Rivian R2: A Stylish and Capable Successor
The Rivian R2, scheduled for global availability in 2026-2027, is expected to follow in the footsteps of the R1S. Teaser images show a vehicle with a lower roof but higher ground clearance than average compact SUVs. The Rivian R2 is projected to have a targeted 300-mile range with an optional 400-mile battery pack, offering impressive range for long road trips without worry.
The Rivian R2 will also feature fold-flat rear seats, all-wheel-drive, and optional roof-rack roof-top tent, making it a versatile and capable vehicle. Rivian's approach to luxury feels less like decadence and more like design logic filtered through a Patagonia catalog, focusing on practicality and purpose.
Ownership Experience: Luxury vs. Reliability and Purpose
The user's switch from a high-spec Kia EV9 to a Rivian R1S exemplifies how different national approaches to EV design affect ownership experience—luxury and innovation vs. reliability and purpose. While the Kia EV9 felt refined, intuitive, and feature-rich, it lacked the reliability and trustworthiness that the Rivian R1S provided.
In summary, the Rivian R2, with its stylish and capable design, promises to continue Rivian's focus on honesty, utility, and rugged capability, offering a compelling alternative to the luxurious and tech-rich offerings from Eastern brands.
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- The Rivian R2, with its focus on practicality and resilience, is expected to follow in the footsteps of the R1S, offering a 300-mile range and a versatile design that includes fold-flat rear seats, all-wheel-drive, and optional roof-rack roof-top tent.
- Rivian's approach to luxury feels less like decadence and more like design logic filtered through a Patagonia catalog, as the company prioritizes practicality and purpose over refined technology and premium feel.
- The comparison between the Kia EV9 and the Rivian R1S highlights a cultural divide in the electric vehicle industry, with Eastern brands focusing on technology, refinement, and luxury, and Western startups emphasizing rugged capability and trustworthy performance.
- One user's switch from the Kia EV9 to the Rivian R1S showcased the impact of national approaches to EV design on ownership experience, demonstrating how different perspectives on luxury, innovation, reliability, and purpose can influence the user's satisfaction with their vehicle.
