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 $20,678 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
$85,885
purchase price
Acura MDX
$55,350
purchase price
Gas saves
$20,678
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
Enter what you actually pay to charge. On a time-of-use or EV plan (cheap overnight rates) or with solar, your rate may be well below the state average, e.g. 8¢ overnight vs 12¢ standard.
Acura MDX Is Cheaper
Gas saves you
$20,678
over 5 years
EV saves per month
$124
fuel + maintenance + insurance
Operating cost payback
19 years
beyond ownership
The Acura MDX costs $20,678 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
$20,678
over 5 years (all-in)
EV saves per month
$124
fuel + maintenance + insurance
Operating cost payback
19 years
beyond ownership period
Vehicles compared
Rivian R1S vs Acura MDX
Adventure SUV
Full Cost Breakdown
| Rivian R1SPremium Dual-Motor AWDElectric | Acura MDXSH-AWD (2026 MY proxy)BestGas | |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase Price | $85,885 | $55,350 |
| Monthly Fuel | $51 | $167 |
| Annual Fuel | $616 | $2,000 |
| Total Fuel | $3,081 | $10,000 |
| Total Maintenance | $3,250 | $6,000 |
| Total Insurance | $13,000 | $10,750 |
| Resale Value | $28,342 | $25,904 |
| Total Cost of Ownership | $76,874 | $56,196 |
Rivian R1S
Premium Dual-Motor AWD
Electric
Acura MDX
SH-AWD (2026 MY proxy)
Gas
Cost Over 5 Years
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 $616/year vs $2000/year for gas in the Acura MDX. That's $1384/year in fuel savings alone.
Your electricity rate matters
Home charging is the EV's biggest lever. Every 1¢/kWh lower saves about $47/year ($237 over 5 years) for the Rivian R1S. Charging from rooftop solar can lower it further. Enter your actual overnight or solar rate above to see your own numbers.
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 47% of its value vs 33% 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 $20,678 over 5 years. Check yours → isevworthit.com
About the Rivian R1S
The Rivian R1S is a fully electric adventure suv with an efficiency of 0.395 kWh per mile. Priced at $85,885, 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 21 MPG. Priced at $55,350, 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.