Adventure SUV comparison

Rivian R1S vs Acura MDX

Which costs less to own over 5 years? Compare purchase price, fuel, maintenance, insurance, and depreciation — then customize with your own numbers.

Rivian R1S vs Acura MDX: Quick Verdict

Based on average driving (12,000 miles/year), the Acura MDX costs approximately $8,956 less over 5 years compared to the Rivian R1S. The gas vehicle's lower purchase price outweighs the EV's fuel savings at this mileage.

Rivian R1S

$75,900

purchase price

Acura MDX

$51,050

purchase price

Gas saves

$8,956

over 5 years

Customize your mileage, gas price, and electricity rate below to get a personalized comparison.

Your Numbers

Adjust the inputs to match your situation. Results update instantly.

Average American drives ~13,500 miles/year

Charge at home overnight — cheapest option

Gas/Hybrid is better for this scenariohigh confidence

Acura MDX Is Cheaper

Gas saves you

$8,956

over 5 years

EV saves per month

$118

fuel + maintenance

Operating cost payback

8.7 years

beyond ownership

Best case (Home charging): EV costs $8,956
Worst case (Public charging only): EV costs $14,302

The Acura MDX costs $8,956 less over 5 years than the Rivian R1S.

These vehicles are in different classes. The comparison is still valid but keep the size/class difference in mind.

Operating cost payback falls outside your ownership period. You may not recover the extra upfront cost through fuel and maintenance savings alone.

Gas saves you

$8,956

over 5 years (all-in)

EV saves per month

$118

fuel + maintenance

Operating cost payback

8.7 years

beyond ownership period

Vehicles compared

Rivian R1S vs Acura MDX

Adventure SUV

Full Cost Breakdown

Rivian R1S

Electric

Purchase Price$75,900
Monthly Fuel$43
Annual Fuel$515
Total Fuel$2,574
Total Maintenance$3,250
Total Insurance$13,000
Resale Value$39,468
Total Cost of Ownership$55,256

Acura MDX

Gas

Best
Purchase Price$51,050
Monthly Fuel$152
Annual Fuel$1,826
Total Fuel$9,130
Total Maintenance$6,000
Total Insurance$10,750
Resale Value$30,630
Total Cost of Ownership$46,300

Cost Over 5 Years

Year 1Acura MDX leads
Rivian R1S
$13,070
Acura MDX
$10,134
Year 2Acura MDX leads
Rivian R1S
$24,999
Acura MDX
$19,787
Year 3Acura MDX leads
Rivian R1S
$35,927
Acura MDX
$29,004
Year 4Acura MDX leads
Rivian R1S
$45,977
Acura MDX
$37,830
Year 5Acura MDX leads
Rivian R1S
$55,256
Acura MDX
$46,300
Rivian R1S (EV)Acura MDX (GAS)

Why This Result

The gas vehicle's lower purchase price and depreciation outweigh the EV's fuel savings at your current mileage. Driving more or higher gas prices could change this.

Fuel vs Charging

Charging the Rivian R1S costs about $515/year vs $1826/year for gas in the Acura MDX. That's $1311/year in fuel savings alone.

Maintenance

EVs have fewer moving parts — no oil changes, less brake wear, no transmission fluid. The Rivian R1S saves roughly $2750 in maintenance over the ownership period.

Depreciation & Resale

The Acura MDX holds 60% of its value vs 52% for the Rivian R1S. Purchase price and resale value are often the largest factors in total cost of ownership.

Insurance

EV insurance tends to run higher due to specialized repair costs. We've included $2,600/year for the Rivian R1S vs $2,150/year for the Acura MDX in the total comparison.

Share Your Result

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At my mileage, the Acura MDX beats the Rivian R1S by $8,956 over 5 years. Check yours → isevworthit.com

About the Rivian R1S

The Rivian R1S is a fully electric adventure suv with an efficiency of 0.33 kWh per mile. Priced at $75,900, it costs around $650/year to maintain and $2,600/year to insure. It's widely regarded as the Adventure Ready option in its class.

About the Acura MDX

The Acura MDX is a gas-powered adventure suv achieving 23 MPG. Priced at $51,050, it costs around $1,200/year to maintain and $2,150/year to insure. Note that these vehicles are in different classes — keep size and use-case differences in mind.

How We Calculate Total Cost

Total cost of ownership includes purchase price, fuel or charging costs over your ownership period, annual maintenance, annual insurance, minus estimated resale value based on depreciation. This gives you the true all-in cost of each vehicle — not just the sticker price.

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