Tesla Model Y vs Kia EV6: The choice is clear
Kia has made a concerted effort to electrify its lineup, and its EVs have been well-received thus far. The EV6 leads the pack for Kia, rivaling its twin, the Hyundai Ioniq 5. Still, Tesla looms large in the EV space, and all roads lead to - or through - Tesla.
The Model Y is the best-selling EV on earth, and for good reason. It set the standard for what a good EV SUV is, and its long range and charging network are massive boons to buyers.
But which should you buy?Kia offers eight options for its EV6, with prices starting at $42,600 and scaling to $61,600.
The Tesla Model Y keeps things much more straightforward, and its pricing remains competitive.
Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive: $44,990
Long Range All-Wheel Drive: $47,990
Performance All-Wheel Drive: $51,490
New Model Y Launch Edition: $59,990
Light RWD: $42,600
Light Long Range RWD: $45,950
Light Long Range AWD: $49,850
Wind RWD: $48,700
Wind AWD: $52,600
GT-Line RWD: $52,900
GT-Line AWD: $57,600
GT AWD: $61,600
Tesla's pricing starts higher, but its top-end pricing is also lower than that of the Kia EV6. We appreciate Tesla's simpler, more straightforward options.A car's appearance, inside and out, matters to buyers. Modern EVs tend to have a minimalist interior, though several car makers are shifting away from that ethos.
Similarly, some automakers design EVs that are simple and effective. In contrast, others try to keep their EV options reflective of the brand's longstanding design principles.
The Tesla Model Y and Kia EV6 couldn't be further apart here.
The Tesla Model Y's interior is clean, minimal, and almost too simple. Many praise its simplicity, but there's a growing disdain for automakers who hide everything behind a screen.
The New Model Y has a slightly modified interior, but the overall design is unchanged. Tesla made iterative updates to please its core audience but still chooses to have the most features and settings in the software. Its dash and center console are largely uninterrupted plastic sheets with clean lines. The seats and steering wheel are about as basic as you can get.
Inside, the Kia EV6 resembles a traditional car or SUV. Its two dashboard-mounted displays—one behind the steering wheel and the other centrally on the dashboard—are encased in a single large pane. The dash has physical buttons for AC controls, and the steering wheel has cruise control and buttons for functions like volume control.
The center console on the Kia EV6 has a dial-based drive mode selector and a power button. Both SUVs have cup holders, armrests with storage, and wireless charging pads in the center console area.
The front and rear seats in the Kia EV6 have more personality. We'll stop short of saying they're more comfortable than the Tesla Model Y, but they are softer.The New Tesla Model Y also has a few exterior updates, namely a Cybertruck-esque lightbar running across the front. The rear gate also has a light bar running across the back, but other changes are minimal. Overall, the newest Model Y is largely unchanged and looks like any other Tesla, save for the Cybertruck.
The Model Y's curves and drop-rear roofline make the vehicle inviting, with a curvy, basic aesthetic that doesn't hint at its powerful underpinnings.
The Kia EV6, on the other hand, screams its prowess with its styling. It's a bit more squat, and its aggressively horizontal roofline and sloping hood make it look eager to go fast. Like the Model Y, the EV6 has a light bar racing across its rear end, but that's been part of Kia's design language for a few model years.
Around the front, the EV6 sports a lot of linear shaping below the hood and a normalized set of headlights. The curvy hood doesn't blend into the blocky body and roofline as much as we'd like. Still, the car is nonetheless aggressively styled to appeal to a younger buyer.
In short, the EV6 is a far more 'standard' crossover, while the Model Y's styling resembles that of a small SUV.Taller drivers may have issues with top-end EV6 models, specifically the GT line, which has a moonroof that cuts into headroom. The Model Y has no such issues and has more headroom overall. Both have plenty of overall interior space, but the Model Y's use of glass will make it feel much more spacious.
Each vehicle is comfortable, front and rear, so this is a toss-up. The Model Y has a third-row option, but we can only recommend very small children sit back there. Both vehicles also have poor rear and side visibility, leaving you glad they're laced with cameras.
Each car also handles well, though the Model Y's stiffer suspension makes it a touch livelier.
Let's start with the estimated range for both models:
Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive: 337 miles
Long Range All-Wheel Drive: 311 miles
Performance All-Wheel Drive: 277 miles
New Model Y Launch Edition: 327 miles
Light RWD: 232 miles
Light Long Range RWD: 310 miles
Light Long Range AWD: 282 miles
Wind RWD: 310 miles
Wind AWD: 282 miles
GT-Line RWD: 310 miles
GT-Line AWD: 252 miles
GT AWD: 218 miles
The Kia EV6 can charge from 10 to 80 percent in 18 minutes when connected to a 350kW fast charger, which is incredible if you can find an actual fast charger in the wild.
Tesla's Superchargers are a class-leading EV charging network. Still, as more vehicles are allowed to access them, they are becoming increasingly busy.
Whether charging at home or on the go, we prefer Kia's fast charging capabilities. If you can set this up at home and are okay with popping your EV6 back into the garage on high-mileage days when you're running errands, we recommend it.
Those who need to travel long distances, take road trips, or can't charge from home may want to consider the Model Y. It has a slightly better range, and although Superchargers are becoming crowded, they are still superior.Kia's availability is suspect, but we think it's worth pursuing. Kia dealers can't always order the car you want and often have to trade with another dealership, but if you find the EV6 you want, jump on it.
Dealership service centers can be pretty bad, and Kia's are no exception. Still, having more of them around makes it easier to get your EV6 serviced when something goes wrong.
If you're dead-set on a Tesla Model Y, it's not a bad option, but more people will likely prefer the EV6.
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