Polestar 3 vs Rivian R1S: Specs Compared
Also searched as Rivian R1S vs Polestar 3 specs — both orientations show this same side-by-side comparison.
The Polestar 3 is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 97 mpg combined versus 85 mpg for the Rivian R1S, a 12 mpg advantage and costs about $100 less per year to fuel.
Across 4 measured categories, the Polestar 3 leads in 4. Figures are EPA test data, not manufacturer claims.
2025–2026
Polestar 3
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD · 12 configurations
2022–2027
Rivian R1S
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD · 94 configurations
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | Polestar 3 | Rivian R1S |
|---|---|---|
| Best combined MPG | 97 mpg ✓ | 85 mpg |
| Best city MPG | 105 mpg ✓ | 94 mpg |
| Best highway MPG | 89 mpg ✓ | 77 mpg |
| Lowest annual fuel costEPA estimate at 15,000 miles per year | $800 ✓ | $900 |
| Lowest CO2 output | Not available | Not available |
| Engines offered | Not available | Not available |
| Transmissions | Automatic (A1) | Automatic (A1) |
| Drivetrains | Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive | 4-Wheel Drive, Part-time 4-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel types | Electricity | Electricity |
| EPA class | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
| Years covered | 2025–2026 | 2022–2027 |
| Configurations on record | 12 | 94 |
Source: EPA fuel economy records via fueleconomy.gov. Best-case values across all recorded configurations for each model.
Polestar 3 vs Rivian R1S: what the numbers mean
Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Polestar 3 burns about $800 of fuel annually against $900 for the Rivian R1S. That $100 yearly gap compounds to roughly $500 over five years and $800 over eight — often more than the price difference between two trims of the same vehicle, and the single largest running-cost line item separating these two.
City and highway economy: the Polestar 3 leads in both cycles — 105 mpg city and 89 mpg highway against 94 and 77 mpg — so its fuel-efficiency advantage holds whether you commute in traffic or cover long highway miles.
Drivetrain and class: the Polestar 3 is offered with Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive, the Rivian R1S with 4-Wheel Drive, Part-time 4-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive. All-wheel drive typically costs one to two mpg combined against the same vehicle in front- or rear-wheel drive, which is worth remembering when the gap between these two is small. The EPA classes them as Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD and Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD respectively — the class drives the interior volume, cargo space and passenger space each one is measured against.
3 vs R1S: common questions
Which is better on gas, the Polestar 3 or the Rivian R1S?
The Polestar 3 is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 97 mpg combined versus 85 mpg for the Rivian R1S, a 12 mpg advantage and costs about $100 less per year to fuel.
Which costs less to run per year?
By EPA estimates at 15,000 miles a year, the Polestar 3 runs about $800 a year in fuel at its most efficient configuration, versus about $900 for the Rivian R1S — a difference of roughly $100 per year.
What engines do the 3 and R1S offer?
Polestar 3: no engine data on record. Rivian R1S: no engine data on record.
Are they in the same vehicle class?
Yes — the EPA classifies both the Polestar 3 and the Rivian R1S as Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD, so they compete directly.
More 3 comparisons
More R1S comparisons
Comparison id: polestar-3-vs-rivian-r1s