Compare the2025 Audi Q6 e-tronVS 2025 Rivian R1S

The Q6 e-tron’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 Q6 e-tron 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 Q6 e-tron has a standard Secondary Collision Brake Assist, 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.

Earlier warning of stopped traffic, traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, weather, or accidents, can keep driver's safer and prevent crashes. The Q6 e-tron has Car-to-X Services, 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.

The Audi Q6 e-tron offers an optional Top View Cameras and it also offers an optional rear camera washer to make backing always safe, regardless of road dirt or grime, while the Rivian R1S doesn’t offer a camera washer, requiring manual cleaning.

Both the Q6 e-tron and R1S have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Q6 e-tron has Automatic Brake Activation (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 Q6 e-tron and the R1S have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, 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 Q6 e-tron’s corrosion warranty is 4 years longer than the R1S’ (12 vs. 8 years).

There are over 6 times as many Audi dealers as there are Rivian dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Q6 e-tron’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Audi vehicles are better in initial quality than Rivian vehicles. With 24 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Audi higher than Rivian.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Audi vehicles are more reliable than Rivian vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Audi 15 places higher in reliability than Rivian.

On the EPA test cycle the Q6 e-tron gets better mileage than the R1S:

The Q6 e-tron Ultra’s standard 255/60R18 rear 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 Q6 e-tron SQ6’s optional 255/45R21 front and 285/40R21 rear tires have a lower 45 series front and 40 series rear profile than the R1S Ascend Quad Max’s 50 series front and 45 series rear tires.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the Q6 e-tron 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.

For better maneuverability, the Q6 e-tron’s turning circle is 1.6 feet tighter than the R1S Quad Max Ascend’s (39.7 feet vs. 41.3 feet). The Q6 e-tron’s turning circle is 3.6 feet tighter than the R1S’ (39.7 feet vs. 43.3 feet).

The Audi Q6 e-tron may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1500 pounds less than the Rivian R1S.

The Q6 e-tron is 1 foot, 1 inches shorter than the R1S, making the Q6 e-tron easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Q6 e-tron is 5.2 inches narrower on average than the R1S, making the Q6 e-tron easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

The Q6 e-tron is 10.7 inches shorter in height than the R1S, making the Q6 e-tron much easier to wash and garage and drive (lower center of gravity).

For excellent aerodynamics, the Q6 e-tron has standard flush composite headlights. The R1S has recessed headlights that spoil its aerodynamic shape and create extra drag.

The Q6 e-tron has a much larger cargo volume than the R1S with its rear seat up (30.2 vs. 17.6 cubic feet).

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Q6 e-tron. The R1S doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Q6 e-tron’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 Q6 e-tron’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 maintenance reminder system is standard on the Q6 e-tron to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals for vehicle inspections, vehicle inspection 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.

The Q6 e-tron offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed and navigation instruction 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 Q6 e-tron’s standard Audi Advanced Key allows 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.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Q6 e-tron to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The R1S doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The Q6 e-tron SQ6 has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The R1S doesn’t offer headlight washers.

The Q6 e-tron’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.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Q6 e-tron to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The R1S doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

When the Q6 e-tron is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The R1S’ mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Q6 e-tron SQ6 has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the R1S.

The Q6 e-tron’s available automated parking system can parallel park by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The R1S’ automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

The Q6 e-tron is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The R1S doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.