Question 1

Which has lower long-term cost — Mercedes-Benz GLS or Rivian R1S?

Accepted Answer

Based on national-average assumptions, the Rivian R1S is about $18,501 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 — Mercedes-Benz GLS 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 — Mercedes-Benz GLS 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 Mercedes-Benz GLS 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	Mercedes-Benz GLS	Rivian R1S
MotiveGrid Score	62	66
Cost of Ownership	31	44
Powertrain	63	63
Driver Assistance	70	46
Livability	37	37
Safety	80	97
5-Year Cost to Own	$103,746	$85,245
Depreciation (5-yr)	$44,674	$44,038
Fuel / Energy (5-yr)	$13,363	$4,658
Insurance (5-yr)	$23,630	$18,650
Maintenance (5-yr)	$4,235	$1,705
Tires (5-yr)	$2,150	$2,150
Financing (5-yr)	$13,579	$11,584
Registration (5-yr)	$2,115	$2,460
Starting Price	$90,250	$76,990
Horsepower	375 hp	533 hp
MPG (combined)	22 mpg	—
Electric range	—	270 mi
Cargo volume	17.4 cu ft	104.7 cu ft
Seating	7	7
Towing capacity	7,700 lbs	7,700 lbs
Drivetrain	AWD	AWD

Mercedes-Benz GLS vs. Rivian R1S

Five measured pillars, weighted into one score.

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Cost of Ownership

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