KIA EV6 versus Tesla Model Y
Can the challenger topple the market leader?
Ask ten people to name an electric car brand and the majority will answer 'Tesla'. This pioneer in electric cars has been at the top of the sales charts for years, and with the Model Y it is now marketing a model that founder Elon Musk expects to become the most popular car ever.
Of course, the competition is not standing still, and manufacturers in Korea are also building electric cars for a wide audience. In the midrange segment, KIA has launched its EV6, which will be a real challenger. Following the electrified versions of the KIA Niro and KIA Soul, the forward-thinking manufacturer has launched its brand-new KIA EV6 electric car, designed entirely from scratch on a new platform. How well does the KIA EV6 score? Will this be a David versus Goliath struggle?
Range and power
The KIA EV6 is available in two versions: the entry-level model has a 58 kWh battery, while its larger sibling has a 77.4 kWh battery to meet the power needs of the optional four-wheel drive.
The KIA EV6 is also equipped with the handy vehicle-to-load (V2L) function. This makes your car a mobile power bank that can provide the energy you need for your other devices. And with this 'socket on wheels', you can also energise other devices, such as an electric bicycle. This function on the Kia EV6 can deliver up to 3.6 kW, which is sufficient for small electric devices. Your espresso will be ready in no time.
In addition, the Kia EV6 is a real family car thanks to the large luggage space that you can expand to 1,300 litres and its high towing capacity (up to 1,600 kg). A caravan, horse trailer, or trailer for transporting all your electric bicycles? No problem for the Kia EV6.
The Model Y first came to market in our region in the Long Range version. This will be followed in 2022 by the Performance version, which accelerates a little faster but has a shorter range, and is more expensive than the Long Range. Less quick is relative, because the Long Range takes you from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.1 seconds. If you notice that you do not have enough energy to get home, you can use the quick charging function to charge the car’s battery in just 19 minutes (up to 80%), which is enough for another 336 km. As with other Tesla cars, the Model Y's centre of gravity is relatively low, which not only gives it nice handling but also provides an excellent safety score.
Design and engineering
The Tesla Y’s egg shape is in the middle ground between an SUV and a people carrier. It fits perfectly into the Tesla line-up, as it adopts the typical snout of the other models. The low loading threshold makes it easy to access the luggage compartment.
What first stands out about the KIA EV6 is the car maker's new, clean logo. Kia follows through with this in the design of the car, with lines that are easily comparable the other popular electric car in the premium segment: the Polestar 2. Inside, you also immediately notice the 'floating' centre console and the fully digital dashboard with two 12.3" screens in a curved display.
Both cars are also spacious. With the Tesla Y, the panoramic glass roof allows enough light to enter the back and create a spacious feel. With the Kia EV6, the new EV architecture provides a spacious interior with high-tech gadgets delivering a very intuitive operating and user experience.
Availability
In the coming weeks, you will see both cars appearing on the streets in different versions. The Kia EV6 is the most economical in this comparison and is the ideal family car. Both on the outside and on the inside, you notice the care devoted to the design, with the floating console as the absolute eye-catcher. As a result, the KIA EV6 managed to get one point more than the Tesla Y in our final score. If you want to lease one of the two cars, don't wait too long, and you should look a few months ahead.