Head-to-head
2027 Ford Explorer vs 2027 Rivian R1S
The Rivian R1S edges it, 87 to 81.4, on fuel & range, performance, safety. The Ford Explorer is ahead on price and tech & comfort.
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2027 Ford Explorer
The 2027 Ford Explorer is sold in the U.S. as a gas large SUV with 8 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Explorer AWD, is EPA-rated at 23 …
vs
A2027 Rivian R1S
The 2027 Rivian R1S is sold in the U.S. as an electric large SUV with 12 EPA-rated configurations. Its longest-range version, the R1S Premium Long Range (22in),…
Verdict · default weights
2027 Rivian R1S
Slight edgeThe Rivian R1S edges it, 87 to 81.4, on fuel & range, performance, safety. The Ford Explorer is ahead on price and tech & comfort.
Price 2027 Ford Explorer leads by 54.2
Fuel & range 2027 Rivian R1S leads by 70.3
Performance 2027 Rivian R1S leads by 45.5
| Category · weight | 2027 Rivian R1Soverall 87 | 2027 Ford Exploreroverall 81.4 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | 45.8 | 100 | |||||||||
Base MSRP of the trim (or the model's lowest trim). Lower is better. | |||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 100 | 29.7 | |||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | |||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 97.8 | 91.8 | |||||||||
NHTSA 5-Star rating, WhichTrim Safety Signal (open recalls by severity), owner complaints, standard driver-assist features (from the press kit, or from what the manufacturer filed with NHTSA where there is none). Open park-outside / do-not-drive advisories cost 25 points. | |||||||||||
| Space & cargow 2 | 100 | 100 | |||||||||
Seats, cargo volume behind the 1st and 2nd rows, rear legroom. | |||||||||||
| Performancew 2 | 100 | 54.5 | |||||||||
Horsepower, torque and horsepower per ton. | |||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 96.9 | 100 | |||||||||
Standard (1) and optional (0.5) infotainment, convenience, climate and interior features from the manufacturer's press kit. | |||||||||||
| Warrantynot compared | No data | No data | |||||||||
| Overall | 87 | 81.4 | |||||||||
Trim vs trim · 6 of 7 categories compared
Rivian R1S: base trim R1S Premium (Dual-Motor) AWD · Ford Explorer: base trim Explorer Active RWD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Change what matters to you →Scores are 0–100 per category from the data on this page. The weights are yours to set.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2027 Rivian R1S wins
- It is rated 85 combined against 23 (EPA mpg or MPGe).
- It costs $2,000 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($900 against $2,900).
- It turns out 610 lb-ft of torque against 310.
Where the 2027 Ford Explorer answers
- It starts $45,525 lower ($38,465 against $83,990 base MSRP).
- It lists more comfort and tech equipment (32.5 points against 31.5 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½).
What they share
- 19 standard driver-assist features.
- 7 seats.
Ranked by how far apart the two score on each measure, so a price gap and a horsepower gap are compared on the same scale. Every figure is on this page.
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Specifications side by side
36 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Rivian R1SR1S Premium (Dual-Motor) AWD | Ford ExplorerExplorer Active RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $83,990 | $38,465 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | — | twin turbo |
| Cylinder count | — | 4 |
| Engine displacement | — | 2,300 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | Dual-Motor AWD (1 in front, 1 in back) | 2.3L EcoBoost I-4 with Auto Start-Stop Technology |
| Fuel injection system | — | gdi mpi |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 533 hp | 300 hp |
| Torque | 610 lb-ft | 310 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (combined) | 85 mpg | — |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | — | 3.58 |
| Transmission speeds | — | 10 |
| Transmission type | AWD | automatic |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | 14.7 in | 7.6 in |
| Overall height | 77.3 in | 69.6 in |
| Overall length | 201 in | 199 in |
| Overall width | 88.4 in | 78.9 in |
| Wheelbase | 121 in | 119 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 1st row | 90.7 cu-ft | — |
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 48.6 cu-ft | — |
| Cargo volume behind 3rd row | 17.6 cu-ft | 16.3 cu-ft |
| Total interior volume | 106 cu-ft | 150 cu-ft |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | 7 | 7 |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | — | 40.7 in |
| Second-row headroom | — | 40.5 in |
| Third-row headroom | — | 38.9 in |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | — | 43 in |
| Second-row legroom | — | 37.5 in |
| Third-row legroom | — | 31.8 in |
| Weights | ||
| Payload capacity | 2,119 lbs | — |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | Independent air suspension | — |
| Rear suspension type | Independent air suspension | — |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 22 in | 18 in |
| Wheel material | — | aluminum |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | — | P255/65R18 |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | Connect+ | FordPass Connect |
| Connected services trial (standard tier) | — | 12 months |
Green marks the better value where the direction is unambiguous (more room, more power, lower price). Blank rows are specs the press kit does not publish.
Equipment, feature by feature
171 features · differences first, then sharedSafety33 differ · 36 listed
| Feature | Rivian R1SR1S Premium (Dual-Motor) AWD | Ford ExplorerExplorer Active RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Adaptive Cruise Control | std | — |
| 360 View | std | — |
| Forward Collision Warning | std | — |
| Rear Cross-Traffic Warning | std | — |
| First Row Driver and Passenger Dual-Stage Front, Front Seat Side, and Front Knee Airbags | — | std |
| First Row Driver and Passenger Dual-Stage Front, Front Seat Side, and Front Knee Airbags | — | std |
| Lane Departure Warning | std | — |
| Safety Canopy - Side-Curtain with Rollover Sensor Airbags | — | std |
| 11-camera surround view system | std | — |
| 12 ultrasonic surround sensors | std | — |
| 6 front-row and 2 side-curtain airbags | std | — |
| Auto Hold | — | std |
| Automatic Emergency Braking | std | — |
| Automatic High Beams | std | — |
| Autonomy+ (60-day trial included) | std | — |
| Battery Saver | — | std |
| Blind Spot Monitoring | std | — |
| Brake hold | std | — |
| Dynamic Brake Support | std | — |
| First Row Driver and Passenger Dual-Stage Front, Front Seat Side, and Front Knee Airbags | — | std |
| Ford Co-Pilot360™ Assist+ (Active) | — | std |
| Ford Security Package (1-Year Included) | — | std |
| Gear Guard Security System | std | — |
| Highway Assist | std | — |
| Intelligent 4WD with 6 selectable Drive Modes and Hill Descent Control | — | opt |
| LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tether Anchors for Children) | — | std |
| Perimeter Alarm | — | std |
| Power Door Locks - Auto Lock/Unlock and Child-Safety Rear | — | std |
| Rear Parking Sensors | — | std |
| Rear View Camera with Backup Assist Grid Lines | — | std |
| SOS Post-Crash Alert System™ | — | std |
| Trailer Sway Control | — | std |
| SecuriLock® Passive Anti-Theft System | — | std |
| Lane Keeping System (includes Lane-Keeping Assist, Lane-Keeping Alert and Driver Alert) | std | std |
| AdvanceTrac® with Roll Stability Control™ | std | std |
| Individual Tire Pressure Monitoring System (ITPMS) | std | std |
Infotainment23 differ · 23 listed
| Feature | Rivian R1SR1S Premium (Dual-Motor) AWD | Ford ExplorerExplorer Active RWD |
|---|---|---|
| SOS emergency response | std | — |
| FordPass Connect™ | — | std |
| Wireless charging for up to 2 phones | std | — |
| 12.3" driver display screen | std | — |
| 15.6" infotainment screen | std | — |
| 6.8" digital rear screen | std | — |
| 8 (USB-C charging ports) | std | — |
| AM/FM, MP3-Compatible with Six Speakers | — | std |
| Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Wireless Compatibility | — | std |
| Connect+ (60-day trial included) | std | — |
| Ford app | — | std |
| Ford Connectivity Package (1-Year Included) | — | std |
| Ford Digital Experience with 13.2" Center Display | — | std |
| Hands-free Bluetooth interface | std | — |
| Instrument Panel with 12.3" Cluster Display | — | std |
| Rivian navigation | std | — |
| Rivian Premium Audio (Available in Sound + Vision Package / Included) | opt | — |
| SiriusXM® with 360L (3-Month Prepaid Subscription) | — | std |
| Sound + Vision Package (Optional / Included) | opt | — |
| USB Ports, First Row – One (1) "A" and one (1) "C" in the Media Hub, two (2) "C" in center console | — | std |
| USB Ports, Second Row - Two (2) "C" | — | std |
| USB Ports, Third Row - Two (2) "C" | — | std |
| Voice assistance | std | — |
Convenience13 differ · 13 listed
| Feature | Rivian R1SR1S Premium (Dual-Motor) AWD | Ford ExplorerExplorer Active RWD |
|---|---|---|
| 2 (120V three-prong outlets) | std | — |
| 4-Door Intelligent Access (Lock/Unlock) with Push-Button Start | — | std |
| Air Compressor (Included) | std | — |
| E-latch door release | std | — |
| Easy Fuel® Capless Fuel Filler | — | std |
| Garage door opener | std | — |
| Ignition-free drive | std | — |
| Power front trunk release | std | — |
| Power Liftgate | — | std |
| Remote Start System (optional) | — | opt |
| SecuriCode® Keyless Entry Keypad | — | opt |
| Starting price (USD): $83,990 / $106,990 / $121,990 | std | — |
| 12V Powerpoints, 3 total (1 first row, 1 second row and 1 cargo area) | — | std |
Climate5 differ · 5 listed
| Feature | Rivian R1SR1S Premium (Dual-Motor) AWD | Ford ExplorerExplorer Active RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Tri-zone Electronic Automatic Temperature Control | — | std |
| Cabin Particulate Air Filter | — | std |
| Dual zone automatic climate control | std | — |
| Pre-entry climate control | std | — |
| Rear Auxiliary Climate Control | — | opt |
Seating10 differ · 11 listed
| Feature | Rivian R1SR1S Premium (Dual-Motor) AWD | Ford ExplorerExplorer Active RWD |
|---|---|---|
| 10-way Power Driver seat | — | std |
| First-Row Heated and Ventilated | std | — |
| 4-way Manual Passenger seat | — | std |
| 8-way power driver and passenger lumbar adjustment with memory settings | std | — |
| Capacity: 7 seats | std | — |
| Captain's Chairs (Optional) | opt | — |
| Second-row 35/30/35 split-fold-flat Bench Seat | — | opt |
| Second-row Captain's Seats with E-Z Entry and Armrests | — | std |
| Third-row 50/50 split-fold Bench Seat, Manual | — | std |
| Unique Cloth Seats | — | std |
| First-Row Heated Seats | std | std |
Interior14 differ · 14 listed
| Feature | Rivian R1SR1S Premium (Dual-Motor) AWD | Ford ExplorerExplorer Active RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Heated Steering Wheel | std | opt |
| Power tilt and telescoping steering column | std | — |
| Active Noise cancellation | — | std |
| Door-Sill Scuff Plates, Front and Rear | — | std |
| First-row center floor console with armrest and storage bin | — | std |
| Grab Handles – Front-Passenger; Second Row – two (2), includes Coat Hooks | — | std |
| Illuminated door sills | std | — |
| Integrated door flashlight | std | — |
| Interior: Black Mountain; Ocean Coast / Black Mountain Signature; Ocean Coast Signature; Slate Sky Signature | std | — |
| Knitted textile headliner / Soft-touch sueded textile headliner | std | — |
| LED ambient lighting | std | — |
| Manual Tilt/Telescoping Steering Column | — | std |
| Floor Mats - Black Carpet, Front and Second Rows | — | std |
| Overhead Console with Dome/Map Lights and Sunglasses Holder | — | std |
Exterior35 differ · 36 listed
| Feature | Rivian R1SR1S Premium (Dual-Motor) AWD | Ford ExplorerExplorer Active RWD |
|---|---|---|
| 18" Sparkle Silver-Painted Aluminum wheels | — | std |
| 20" Carbonized Gray-painted Aluminum wheels | — | opt |
| 20" Luster Nickel-Painted Aluminum wheels | — | opt |
| Accents and badging: Bright Package; Darkout Package / Darkout Package | std | — |
| Acoustic-Laminate Windows - Front-Row Side | — | std |
| All-Terrain Package: 20" All-Terrain Wheels, Compact Spare, Reinforced Underbody Shield | opt | — |
| Grille - Black Mesh Insert with Chrome Bars | — | std |
| Headlamps – LED Low & High Beams with Courtesy Delay, Autolamp (Automatic On/Off), Auto High-Beam | — | std |
| Heated auto-folding side mirrors | std | — |
| LED brake and taillights | std | — |
| LED entry lights | std | — |
| LED Fog Lamps | — | opt |
| LED front light bar with RGB design | std | — |
| LED rear lightbar | std | — |
| LED stadium headlights | std | — |
| LED Taillamps | — | std |
| Length: 200.8 in | std | — |
| Lightbar charging indicator | std | — |
| Max height: 77.3 in | std | — |
| Min height: 71.8 in | std | — |
| Mirrors, Sideview – Power and Heated Glass | — | std |
| P255/65R18 All-Season BSW Tires | — | std |
| Paint: Esker Silver; Glacier White; Forest Green; Half Moon Grey; Rivian Blue; Midnight [+ Storm Blue; Canyon Red on Perf/Quad] | std | — |
| Panoramic glass roof / Dynamic Glass Roof | std | — |
| Panoramic Vista Roof® with Power Shade | — | opt |
| Rain-Sensing Wipers (Front only) | std | — |
| Rear fog lights | std | — |
| Reinforced Underbody Shield (Available in All-Terrain Package / Included) | opt | — |
| Roof-Rack Side Rails - Black | — | std |
| Skid Plate Elements, Front - Silver Painted | — | std |
| Wheels and tires: 22" Sport Bright; 22" Sport Dark; 22" Range; 20" All-Terrain Dark / 22" Super Sport; 20" Dune Satin Graphite All-Terrain; 22" Sport Burnished Bronze | std | — |
| Width (with mirrors folded): 82.0 in | std | — |
| Width (with mirrors): 88.4 in | std | — |
| Privacy Glass - Second, Third Row and Liftgate | — | std |
| Body-Color Rear Spoiler | — | std |
| Tire Inflator and Sealant Kit | std | std |
Powertrain19 differ · 19 listed
| Feature | Rivian R1SR1S Premium (Dual-Motor) AWD | Ford ExplorerExplorer Active RWD |
|---|---|---|
| 10-Speed Automatic Transmission | — | std |
| 2.3L EcoBoost I-4 Engine with Auto Start-Stop Technology | — | std |
| 3.58 Non-Limited-Slip Rear Axle | — | std |
| Acceleration: 4.5 sec (0–60 mph) / 2.9 sec (0–60 mph) / 2.6 sec (0–60 mph) | std | — |
| Battery / Range: 329 mi (EPA est.) (Large battery) / 371 mi (EPA est.) (Max battery) / 374 mi (EPA est.) (Max battery) | std | — |
| Drive modes: All Purpose; All-Terrain; Snow / All Purpose; All-Terrain; Snow; Sport; Soft Sand; Rally; Drift; Rock Crawl; Conserve | std | — |
| Dual-Motor AWD (1 in front, 1 in back) / Tri-Motor AWD (1 in front, 2 in back) / Quad-Motor AWD (2 in front, 2 in back) | std | — |
| EPA efficiency (22" wheels/tires): 85 MPGe / 76 MPGe / 76 MPGe | std | — |
| Horsepower: 533 hp / 850 hp / 1,025 hp | std | — |
| Intelligent 4WD with 6 selectable Drive Modes and Hill Descent Control | — | opt |
| Life cycle carbon footprint: 321 g CO2e/mi / 360 g CO2e/mi / 358 g CO2e/mi | std | — |
| Max battery upgrade: 410 mi (EPA est.) | opt | — |
| NACS Charging Port (Included) | std | — |
| Power Upgrade: 3.4 sec (0–60 mph); 829 lb-ft (Torque); 665 hp (Horsepower); Sport; Soft Sand; Rally | opt | — |
| Powered by renewable energy: First 10,000 miles | std | — |
| Rear-Wheel Drive with 6 selectable Drive Modes | — | std |
| Regenerative braking system | std | — |
| Terrain Management System™ | — | std |
| Torque: 610 lb-ft / 1,103 lb-ft / 1,198 lb-ft | std | — |
Chassis6 differ · 6 listed
| Feature | Rivian R1SR1S Premium (Dual-Motor) AWD | Ford ExplorerExplorer Active RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Independent air suspension with 4 ride heights / Independent air suspension with 5 ride heights | std | — |
| Kinetic roll control | std | — |
| Max approach angle: 35.8° | std | — |
| Max departure angle: 34.4° | std | — |
| Max ground clearance: 14.7 in | std | — |
| Wheelbase: 121.1 in | std | — |
Cargo8 differ · 8 listed
| Feature | Rivian R1SR1S Premium (Dual-Motor) AWD | Ford ExplorerExplorer Active RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Bumper-matched trailer hitch | std | — |
| Cargo volume (second row folded): 90.7 cu ft | std | — |
| Cargo volume (third row folded): 48.6 cu ft | std | — |
| Cargo volume (third row up): 17.6 cu ft | std | — |
| Class III Trailer Tow Package | — | std |
| Payload: 2,119 lb / 1,702 lb / 1,724 lb | std | — |
| Total interior storage: 105.8 cu ft | std | — |
| Towing: 7,700 lb | std | — |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
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Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPRivian R1S
Safety Signal 97 A
NHTSA overall —
Frontal / side / rollover — / — / —
Recalls 1
Owner complaints —
Top recalls
- minor Back Over Prevention 26V597000 · 98,828 vehicles
Ford Explorer
Safety Signal 89 B
NHTSA overall —
Frontal / side / rollover — / — / —
Recalls 2 · 1 filed unfixed
Owner complaints —
Top recalls
- moderate Seats 26V470000 · 76,748 vehicles · filed unfixed
- moderate Back Over Prevention 26V415000 · 66,383 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Rivian R1SR1S Premium (Dual-Motor) AWD | Ford ExplorerExplorer Active RWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $83,990 (base trim) | $38,465 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $83,990 – $121,990 3 trims | $38,465 – $53,660 9 trims |
| Powertrains | BEV | GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | R1S Premium (22in) | Explorer RWD |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 85 | 23 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $900 | $2,900 |
| EV range | 329 mi | — |
| Basic warranty | — | — |
| Powertrain warranty | — | — |
| Roadside assistance | — | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2027 Rivian R1S or the 2027 Ford Explorer?
The Rivian R1S edges it, 87 to 81.4, on fuel & range, performance, safety. The Ford Explorer is ahead on price and tech & comfort. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2027 Rivian R1S scores 87 and the 2027 Ford Explorer 81.4. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which is cheaper, the 2027 Rivian R1S or the 2027 Ford Explorer?
The 2027 Ford Explorer starts lower — $38,465 against $83,990, a gap of $45,525 at the trims compared here. Both are manufacturer MSRPs before destination, options and dealer charges.
Which has the better safety record, the 2027 Rivian R1S or the 2027 Ford Explorer?
2027 Rivian R1S: no NHTSA rating yet, grade A, 1 recall. 2027 Ford Explorer: no NHTSA rating yet, grade B, 2 recalls (1 filed with no repair available). Crash ratings come from NHTSA's own tests; the grade is WhichTrim's read of the recall record, and the two can disagree.
What are the biggest differences between the 2027 Rivian R1S and the 2027 Ford Explorer?
Where the 2027 Rivian R1S wins: it is rated 85 combined against 23 (EPA mpg or MPGe), costs $2,000 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($900 against $2,900), and turns out 610 lb-ft of torque against 310. Where the 2027 Ford Explorer answers: it starts $45,525 lower ($38,465 against $83,990 base MSRP) and lists more comfort and tech equipment (32.5 points against 31.5 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½). What they share: 19 standard driver-assist features and 7 seats.