Question 1

Which has lower long-term cost — BMW X5 or Rivian R1S?

Accepted Answer

Based on national-average assumptions, the Rivian R1S is about $8,065 cheaper to own over 5 years. The breakdown includes depreciation, insurance, fuel or energy, maintenance, financing, and registration. Your localized total may differ based on state fuel prices, insurance rates, and EV registration fees.

Question 2

Which is cheaper to insure — BMW X5 or Rivian R1S?

Accepted Answer

Insurance varies by state, ZIP code, age, and credit tier. Enter a ZIP to see a localized estimate; both vehicles' national-average premiums are shown on the compare page.

Question 3

Which depreciates faster — BMW X5 or Rivian R1S?

Accepted Answer

Depreciation over the first five years is itemized in the cost breakdown. Luxury and EV models typically lose more value in early years; segment leaders and Toyota/Honda hold value better.

Question 4

Is the BMW X5 better than the Rivian R1S?

Accepted Answer

It depends on how you drive. The compare page scores both vehicles across five pillars — cost of ownership, powertrain, driver assistance, livability, and safety — combined into one MotiveGrid Score, alongside a 5-year cost breakdown and a clear verdict. Pick the one whose strengths match how you actually use a car.

Question 5

Why do these two vehicles get different ADAS (driver-assist) scores?

Accepted Answer

Our ADAS scale weighs sensor stack (radar + camera vs camera-only), hands-free operating domain (highway vs any divided road), driver-monitoring quality (eye-tracking vs torque sensor), and whether the system gets OTA improvements. Two vehicles can advertise the same feature names and still score 20+ points apart once operating envelope and update cadence are accounted for.

Question 6

Why does EV depreciation differ from a comparable gas vehicle?

Accepted Answer

EV residuals follow a different curve for three reasons. Aggressive manufacturer price cuts and subsidized lease deals compress the used market — a new EV often transacts well below MSRP, dragging down used values. Battery state-of-health uncertainty creates a risk premium on used EVs. And fast-improving charging speed, range, and ADAS hardware make a 3-year-old EV feel older than a 3-year-old gas car.

Metric	BMW X5	Rivian R1S
MotiveGrid Score	49	66
Cost of Ownership	32	44
Powertrain	54	63
Driver Assistance	6	46
Livability	30	37
Safety	96	97
5-Year Cost to Own	$93,310	$85,245
Depreciation (5-yr)	$41,663	$44,038
Fuel / Energy (5-yr)	$12,476	$4,658
Insurance (5-yr)	$20,995	$18,650
Maintenance (5-yr)	$4,080	$1,705
Tires (5-yr)	$2,150	$2,150
Financing (5-yr)	$10,276	$11,584
Registration (5-yr)	$1,670	$2,460
Starting Price	$68,300	$76,990
Horsepower	375 hp	533 hp
MPG (combined)	27 mpg	—
Electric range	—	270 mi
Cargo volume	33.9 cu ft	104.7 cu ft
Seating	5	7
Towing capacity	7,200 lbs	7,700 lbs
Drivetrain	RWD	AWD

BMW X5 vs. Rivian R1S

Five measured pillars, weighted into one score.

Which vehicle is right for you

Cost of Ownership

Frequently asked questions

Where these rank

Helpful guides