With the introduction of the all-new Cadillac Vistiq, the number of electric three-row SUVs got just a little bit bigger. Caddy’s latest EV slots between the Lyriq and the upcoming Escalade IQ, and rounds out the luxury American automaker’s battery-powered SUV portfolio nicely.
But how does the new Vistiq compare to some of our favorite American-made three-row electric SUVs? Well, you’ve come to the right place because that’s exactly what you’re going to find out after reading this comparison
We’ll look at how the 2026 Cadillac Vistiq stacks up against the Rivian R1S and Kia EV9 in terms of dimensions, powertrain options, battery size, standout features and pricing. We’ve also included some handy tables to make it easier to follow along. So, let’s get started
Size and weight
Cadillac Vistiq
All the cars on this list are considered large electric SUVs. The 2026 Vistiq’s wheelbase measures 121.81 inches; it’s also 205.59 inches long, 86.73 inches wide (with mirrors) and 71.02 inches tall. The Cadillac Vistiq weighs a minimum of 6,326 pounds and has a cargo volume of 15.2 cubic feet behind the third row. Folding the third row increases the cargo area to 43 cubic feet.
There’s no word on whether the Vistiq has a front trunk or not. We also don’t know what the maximum payload is. What we do know is the maximum trailering capacity: 5,000 pounds.
Rivian R1S
Rivian’s updated seven-seater SUV has a wheelbase of 121.1 inches, so marginally smaller than that of the Vistiq. Furthermore, the R1S measures 200.8 inches long (4.79 inches shorter than the Vistiq), 82 inches wide (with the side mirrors folded) and has a maximum height of 77.3 inches (6.28 inches taller than the Vistiq).
The R1S weighs an estimated 6,700 to 7,200 pounds and can tow 7,700 pounds. The maximum payload is 2,161 pounds and there’s a frunk under the hood.
Kia EV9
Kia’s first all-electric three-row SUV, the EV9, is 197.2 inches long (8.39 inches shorter than the Vistiq), 77.9 inches wide and 68.9 inches tall (2.12 inches lower than the Vistiq). The wheelbase is 122 inches, so one-fifth of an inch longer than the Cadillac.
The EV9 tips the scales at around 5,000 pounds. It can tow between 1,000 to 5,000 pounds depending on the powertrain and has a maximum luggage capacity of 20.2 cubic feet behind the third row and 42.5 cubic feet behind the second row. There’s also a 3.2 cubic feet frunk.
| Model | Wheelbase | Length | Width | Height | Weight | Towing |
| Cadillac Vistiq | 121.81 in | 205.59 in | 86.73 (with mirrors) | 71.02 | 6,326 lbs | 5,000 lbs |
| Rivian R1S | 121.1 in | 200.8 in | 82 in (mirrors folded) | 77.3 in (max. height) | 6,323 - 7,010 lbs | 7,700 lbs |
| Kia EV9 | 122 in | 197.2 in | 77.9 in (no mirrors) | 68.9 in | 5,039 - 5,866 lbs | 1,000 - 5,000 lbs |
Battery, range and charging
Cadillac Vistiq
According to Cadillac, the Vistiq will only be available with a single battery option, a 102-kilowatt-hour pack (usable) that enables a GM-estimated range of 300 miles.
The automaker didn’t say how many kilowatts the Vistiq can accept from a DC fast charger but said a high-powered stall can add up to 79 miles of range in about 10 minutes. On AC power the electric SUV can be recharged at up to 11.7 kilowatts. When hooked up to a 7.7-kW home charger, the EV’s range can be replenished by up to 20.5 miles per hour. Upgrading to an 11.5-kW unit ups the figure to 28.5 miles per hour, while a 19.2-kW charger can add up to 46.7 miles of range per hour.
Rivian R1S
The 2025 Rivian R1S SUV can be ordered with one of three battery packs. The Standard pack has a usable capacity of 92.5 kWh and offers an estimated range of 270 miles. Next is the Large battery pack with 108.5 kWh and an estimated range of 329 miles, followed by the 141.5-kWh Max battery pack that can deliver up to 410 miles in the R1S.
Rivian’s entry-level battery can accept up to 200 kW of power from a DC fast charger, while the Large and Max packs can take in up to 220 kW. The company claims a top-up from 10% to 80% state of charge on a fast charger should take anywhere from 30 to 41 minutes, depending on the battery size. Another metric used by Rivian says the R1S can get up to 140 miles of range in 20 minutes when hooked up to a DC stall.
On AC power, the American-made seven-seater can accept up to 11.5 kW, adding up to 25 miles of range per hour of charging.
Kia EV9
Kia offers two battery options for its electric family hauler. The entry-level Light model packs a 76.1-kWh battery that’s good for an EPA-estimated range of 230 miles. All the other trims come with a larger 99.8-kWh pack that can deliver up to 304 miles of range.
The EV9 uses Hyundai Motor Group’s E-GMP platform rated at 800 volts, so fast charging is … fast. It can accept up to 235 kW from a compatible dispenser, adding 100 miles of range in just 13 minutes. On a Level 2 charger, the EV9 can accept up to 11 kW
| Model | Battery size | Driving range | DC charging | AC charging |
| Cadillac Vistiq | 102 kWh | 300 miles (GM estimate) | 79 miles of range in 10 minutes. No kW rating yet. | Up to 11.5 kW |
| Rivian R1S | 92.5 kWh, 108.5 kWh or 141.5 kWh | 270 - 410 miles (EPA and Rivian estimates) | 200 kW or 220 kW | 11.5 kW |
| Kia EV9 | 76.1 kWh or 99.8 kWh | 230 - 304 miles (EPA estimates) | 210 kW or 235 kW | 11 kW |
Powertrain options
Cadillac Vistiq
GM’s latest electric offering is available with a single drivetrain configuration, at least for now: a dual-motor setup with a permanent magnet unit in the front and an induction motor at the rear. The power output is 615 horsepower and the maximum torque is rated at 650 pound-feet.
The Vistiq can accelerate from zero to 60 miles per hour in 3.7 seconds. Cadillac has not disclosed the maximum speed.
Rivian R1S
After this year’s update, the R1S is available with three powertrain options. The entry-level version comes with a dual-motor setup with up to 665 hp and a 0 to 60 time as fast as 3.4 seconds.
If that’s somehow not enough power, there’s also a tri-motor configuration with 850 hp and a 2.9-second sprint to 60. A quad-motor version will join the range in 2025 with 1,025 hp and a 0-to-60 sprint in just 2.6 seconds.
Kia EV9
Kia’s electric three-row SUV is available with either rear- or all-wheel drive. The least powerful variant, the Light Long Range, has 201 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, followed by the standard-range Light trim with 215 hp and 258 lb-ft. Both are rear-wheel drive with a single motor.
The dual-motor, all-wheel drive versions of the Kia EV9 offer a maximum output of 379 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque, except for the top-tier GT-Line which ups the torque figure to 516 lb-ft.
Speaking of the GT-Line, it can go from zero to 60 miles per hour in 5 seconds. The other AWD versions need 5.7 seconds to reach 60 mph, but the top speed is the same–124 mph. Meanwhile, the entry-level Light trim accelerates to 60 mph in 7.7 seconds and has a top speed of 118 mph. The Light Long Range needs 8.8 seconds to reach 60 mph and has a top speed of 115 mph.
| Model | Drivetrain | Power | Torque | 0-60 mph | Top speed |
| Cadillac Vistiq | Dual-motor all-wheel drive | 615 hp | 650 lb-ft | 3.7 s | N/A |
| Rivian R1S | Dual-, Tri- or Quad-motor all-wheel drive | 665 hp, 850 hp or 1,025 hp | 610 lb-ft, 829 lb-ft, 1,103 lb-ft or 1,198 lb-ft | Between 2.5 and 4.5 s | 111 - 130 mph |
| Kia EV9 | Single-motor rear-wheel drive or dual-motor all-wheel drive | 201 hp, 215 hp or 379 hp | 258 lb-ft, 443 lb-ft or 516 lb-ft | Between 5 and 8.8 seconds | 115 - 124 mph |
Features
Cadilac Vistiq
Cadillac’s three-row EV comes as standard with a 33-inch diagonal high-resolution LED screen, 21-inch wheels and a 23-speaker AKG Studio Audio system with Dolby Atmos. GM’s Super Cruise hands-free advanced driving assistance system is also standard.
On the options list, Cadillac offers adaptive air suspension, rear-wheel steering and 23-inch wheels, among other things.
Rivian R1S
The Rivian R1S comes with air suspension on all trim levels. Two screens are also included, one of which measures 15.6 inches diagonal, along with 20-inch wheels. Optionally, customers can add an air compressor, a huge panoramic glass roof and an all-terrain pack that comes with reinforced underbody shielding, 20-inch all-terrain tires and a compact spare tire. Bigger wheels are also available.
The standard kit also includes the Rivian Autonomy Platform, which comes with 11 cameras, five radars and AI prediction tech to help the car “see” further even in poor weather conditions and low light. It offers automatic steering, braking and acceleration on select highways, as well as adaptive cruise control and a lane-changing assistant, among other features.
The R1S is the only car on this list that doesn’t support vehicle-to-load (V2L).
Kia EV9
The EV9 comes with a pair of 12.3-inch scenes, one for the instrument cluster and the other for the infotainment. A bunch of safety features are also included as standard, like automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist and adaptive cruise control with hands-free driving.
19-inch wheels come with the base trim, along with automatic headlight control, high-beam assist, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, as well as Bluetooth connectivity.
Pricing and availability
Cadillac Vistiq
The 2026 Vistiq starts at $78,790 including destination. Three trim levels will be available: Luxury, Sport and Premium Luxury. The Cadillac Vistiq will be manufactured at GM’s Spring Hill facility in Tennessee starting in early 2025.
Rivian R1S
The base R1S with the Standard battery pack and dual-motor powertrain starts at $75,900 without destination. Upgrading to the Large battery will set you back $82,900 while the Max battery increases the dual motor vehicle’s price tag to $89,900. The tri-motor variant is only available with the Max battery and starts at $105,900. The quad-motor version is not yet on sale.
Kia EV9
The entry-level Kia EV9 Light starts at $56,395 including destination. The Light Long Range, which is rear-wheel drive, ups the MSRP to $60,696. The cheapest dual-motor all-wheel drive version, the Wind, starts at $65,395, while the Land trim costs $71,395. The most expensive Kia EV9, the GT-Line, starts at $75,395.
The least expensive model on this list is the Kia EV9, but going for the top-tier GT-Line gets very close to the Cadillac Vistiq’s price tag. However, the Vistiq is more powerful than the EV9 GT-Line and has a longer driving range–300 miles versus the GT-Line’s 270 miles. That said, the EV9 Light Long Range RWD can go 304 miles and is roughly $20,000 cheaper than the Vistiq.
The Rivian R1S, meanwhile, is the most expensive of the bunch but also the most powerful and most capable when going off-road.
| Model | Starting price |
| Cadillac Vistiq | $78,790 (including destination) |
| Rivian R1S | $75,900 (excluding destination) |
| Kia EV9 | $56,395 (including destination) |
