Kia EV6 vs Tesla Model Y:The Battle of Next-Gen EVs

When ex-Whole Foods Market co-founder John Mackey said, "It's competition that forces companies to get out of their complacency," he must have had Kia and Tesla in mind because the automakers have battled to the death in the quest to create the next-gen EVs, and the result has been nothing but exquisite perfection in the resulting models. 

Tesla, started in 2003, released its first electric car, the Road star, in 2008, and since then, it has been scaling from height to height, and today, it's the largest EV manufacturer in the US by market share. But that doesn’t mean it has always had it easy as there is intense competition from rivals like Kia, which alongside its parent company Hyundai, have taken the second position in the US market and have been pushing Tesla all the way ever since they entered the EV fray. 

But what makes these companies so revered in the US market? Well, it's not just for the sentiments; they also make incredible models, such as the Kia EV6 and Tesla Model Y, which make up our discussion today. In this Kia EV6 vs Tesla Model Y comparison, we bring you an elaborate side-by-side comparison, defining what they mean for EV enthusiasts and helping you decide which of them would be ideal for you. 

Market Overview: Kia EV6 vs Tesla Model Y 

Tesla is the indisputable king of the EV markets in the US, with sales of almost 50% of all-electric vehicles in the country. This is down to a plethora of reasons, such as their impressively built batteries with a higher output, fast charging capabilities, and a host of other contemporary features, such as autonomous driving capabilities and an up-to-date navigation system. 

Also, suffice to say that Tesla has benefited from being a company dedicated to making futuristic and unique-design EVs, thus building a reputable brand that is trusted by thousands of Americans. But does that mean that their position is safe? Well, based on the current trends, Tesla’s dominance in the EV market is under threat primarily by new entrants, and chief among these rivals is Kia and its parent company, Hyundai. 

In 2015, Kia launched the all-electric Soul Compact EV specifically for the EV market, and at its inception, it clocked around 100 miles on a full charge, which was quite impressive for a debut model. 

Ever since, Kia has eaten slowly into Tesla’s market share and the latest insights project into Hyundai group, Kia’s parent company being the second dominant EV manufacturer in the US for the years to come going by their rapid rise over the years since entering the market. True to this projection is the 2023 sales charts that depicted Hyundai Motors having taken a whopping 7.5% of the US EV market, and this was key in seeing Tesla's significant drop in the market share by over 10%. 

What has made this possible is the array of Kia’s impressive EVs that go toe-to-toe with Tesla’s innovative trims. They include models such as: 

• 2024 Kia Niro EV
• 2024 Kia EV6
• Kia EV 9
• Kia Niro 
• Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid
• Kia Sorento Hybrid
• Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid

To match up the evolving consumer demands and latest trends in the EV industry, Kia is still rolling out new models such as the EV3, and the EV5, both of which are expected to take the market by storm owing to their improved features on the existing models. The EV3 model is specifically aimed at serving individuals in the low to mid-income bracket looking to own a utility EV without digging too deep into their pockets, meaning Kia EV’s future is so promising that Tesla has enough reason to worry. 

Tesla Model Y: Key Features

Model Y Design: Interior/Exterior

The first thing that meets your eye when you enter this car is its plain ‘button-less’ dashboard design, which is synonymous with all Teslas. Its primary control system is the 15” infotainment display occupying the center space. This is all by design, following Tesla’s principle of creating unique, simplistic cars with phenomenal capabilities. Also noticeable is the all-tinted glass roof with a dark hue that brings deluxe appeal to the interior. 

It’s quite spacious, with the option for a third row, but it’s best utilized as a two-row car as the third seat is quite cramped and barely fits an adult comfortably. So what more is contained on the infotainment display? In addition to the typical controls, it's here where you also access entertainment functionalities such as Netflix and YouTube, ensuring you’re properly entertained throughout your drives. 

Noteworthy is that this is a roomy SUV with a stylish, streamlined appeal. It's essentially designed to be a speed car, with the Model Y Long Range hitting 60mph from 0mph in 4.4 seconds. 

Model Y Performance, Range & Charging Time

Irrespective of the powertrain of the trim that you choose, this car won’t let you down as it’s an out-and-out performance vehicle with competitive ranges and incredible power. It comes in three main powertrains that include the following: 

• Base/Standard Powertrain: This is a single motor usually available in the Rear-wheel drive Standard Range models, capable of accelerating the car to a 135 mph top speed. Its range on a full charge is approximately 260 miles, and despite being a base model, this trim has a phenomenal acceleration of approximately 6.6s to reach a top speed of 60mph from 0mph. 
• All-wheel-drive Long Range: Unlike the base trim, this one sports dual motors. Despite sharing a similar top speed to the Standard trim of 135mph, it's more powerful thanks to its AWD functionality. It also accelerates from 0mph to 60mph in about 4.8 seconds, while its range is also incredibly rated at 330 miles. 
• Finally, we have the Performance Trim, which is designed to move at breathtaking speed and hits tops of 155mph. This also translates to incredible acceleration of 3.5s from zero to 0mph. How about its range? Well, being a speed car with a dual motor, it undoubtedly expends more power and, therefore, has a relatively lesser range of between 285 miles and 303 miles. 

Tesla cars are designed to charge pretty fast. With a DC fast charger, plugging your Model Y into a public charging station will add approximately 200 miles of range in about 15 minutes. You can also enjoy the convenience of charging your car at home, where with a Type 2 charger, an hour of charging can add enough charge to last you for up to 44 miles. So, ideally, it's best to plug this EV charger in overnight to fill the battery to full capacity. 

Model Y System/Safety

You’re guaranteed your safety every time you step into a Tesla car and the Model Y is not an exception with features such as Autopilot driving-assist system and its optional Full Self-Driving Capability. While these features don’t simply mean that this is an autonomous car, they edge it closer to being the safest EV thanks to its range of features, such as the following that come in handy, especially when you’re feeling worn out: 

• Automatic braking if there’s a pedestrian ahead of the vehicle to avoid crashing. 
• Lane keeping assistance and adaptive cruise control to help you stay in the middle of the lane while driving. 

Model Y Advantages and Disadvantages

Some of the top reasons you should invest in a Model Y are: 

• Its modern battery technology and capacity with the all-wheel drive long-range is designed to clock up to 330 miles on a full charge. 
• It also boasts a robust cargo space of up to 76.2 cubic feet when the back seats are folded. In addition, you can store your stuff in the car’s peaceable frunk and its concealed underfloor bin. 
• It’s also the go-to car if you’re looking for a top-speed EV, with this premium trim model (Performance)  hitting a top speed of 155mph in a nerve-wracking acceleration of 3.5s from 0mph to 60mph. 

But, it also has some imperfections, such as: 

• A cluster-free dashboard makes controls quite complicated, as everything is only available from the touchscreen, which can be distracting while driving. 
• Some Model Ys have a Sports Car suspension and relatively large wheels, which can affect driving comfort. 
• Also, packing the car can be quite a headache, especially considering its relatively tiny side mirrors and sloping roof. 
• Finally, controlling the Model Y from your smartphone is impossible since it lacks Apple CarPlay or Android Auto smartphone integration like other premium EVs. 

Kia EV6: Key Features

Kia EV6 Design: Interior/Exterior

The nearest car to the EV6 is the Hyundai Ioniq 5, which is unsurprising given that the two are sister companies. However, while the Ioniq 5 has a lounge-esque interior, the EV6 is more of a cockpit. Among the standout features of its interior is its static center between the two driver seats, which offers some incredible storage space. 

Also outstanding in the car is a 12.3-inch touchscreen that features driver control features and the car’s infotainment, and although it's not a purely ‘button-less’ dashboard, it employs a minimalistic design ensuring the dash is not cramped up with confusing controls. The touchscreen is highly responsive, making it easy to control while driving. Once inside, you’ll be treated to ultimate comfort by the car’s 5-seat upholstery comprising of sustainable suede and vegan leather, and this crossover also makes the perfect camping car thanks to its ample interior storage space. With the back seats rolled, the EV6 has around 1300l of storage space. 

The exterior is also sporty and impressive, with the wide electric sunroof completing this appeal, while its curved LED tail lights mean the car is identifiable even from a distance. In addition, you can't help but get wowed by the EV6’s futuristic design, especially on flash door handles sporting a similar color to the rest of the car. These handles pop up when you approach the vehicle with its smart key, and completing this appeal are the 19-inch thick crystal-cut alloy wheels to give it the necessary traction when driving at high speeds. 

Finally, the vehicle has Dual LED Headlights that accentuate the sporty exterior outlook. These also come with adaptive driving beams to avoid blinding oncoming cars from opposite directions. 

Kia EV6 Performance, Range & Charging Time

This car is available in single (RWD) and dual motor configurations (for the all-wheel drive) with powertrains of 167/225hp and 320/576hp, respectively. The 576hp is for the all-wheel drive GT performance model, the top trim made for speed and power, while the 320hp is for the GT-line trim, which is equally swift, although not like the former. 

However, this is not to say that the GT-line is a slow car, as it registers zero to 60mph in an explosive 4.5 seconds. If you’re primarily interested in a more extensive range, then you should go for the rear-wheel drive model, which clocks 60mph in about 6.6 seconds. For ultimate speed, there’s definitely no better trim than the premier 576hp GT Performance, which only requires 3.2 seconds to reach 60mph from scratch. 

All the EV6 trims also come with long-lasting batteries. The base Light rear-wheel drive model trim has the smallest capacity at 58.0 kWh, while the rest use an 84.0 kWh battery pack. But notably, there was an exception to these battery sizes, with last year’s Kia EV6 Long Range AWD coming with a 77.4 kWh battery unit with a rated range of around 506km. 

Kia also boasts of having easily chargeable batteries and claims that with a 350-kW charger, the EV6 can charge from 10% to 80% in less than 20 minutes, meaning you can add about 70 miles of range in approximately 5 minutes.  

Kia EV6  System/Safety

The EV6 perfectly matches the Model Y in drive safety thanks to its standard driver-assistance technology with effective features like: 

• Automatic emergency braking if there’s an object/person ahead of the vehicle. 
• Remote packing assist and lane keeping assist to keep you always on your lane when driving. 
• Other features include adaptive cruise control and a rear cross-traffic alert system. 

Kia EV6 Advantages and Disadvantages

What are some of the reasons you’d choose an EV6 over the other electric crossovers in the market? 

• First, it's all about its extensive range. With a full battery charge, all EV trims reach above 300 miles, making them ideal for long-distance driving. 
• The car’s performance is also awesome, with some decent acceleration speeds from zero to 60mph with the Performance GT capable of taking a measly 3.3 seconds to accelerate to this speed and a maximum speed of 161mph. 
• Thirdly, the EV6 boasts of a phenomenal 800-volt electrical system which is a real game changer in improving the charging speeds, and this car charges pretty faster than many other typical EVs. 
• The interior design of the EV6 is also an ace, while its range of safety features means you’re unlikely to cause accidents. 

All in all, there are some reservations about this car model, which, if fixed, can make it the ultimate go-to EV for long and short-distance drives. They include: 

• Limited cargo space. Although the EV6 can pack quite a substantial amount of goods, at 50.2cu ft, it’s not really large enough, especially when you’re looking to package massive goods for traveling. 
• While it's a fast-charging car, this all changes when you use a 240V outlet, and it can take quite longer than with the 340V charger. 
• Also, some users have not been impressed by the car's safety controls as they find them quite disruptive to normal driving. 

Kia EV6 vs Model Y Pricing

With around $44,630, you can be a proud owner of a Model Y, although other trims of the car are more pricier, at $48,490 and $52,490 for the Long Range and Performance models, respectively. The cost can rise above this depending on the customization you choose for your car. For instance, adding a third row of seats to increase capacity will add $2,500 to the buying price and an extra $1,000 for the tow hitch, and so on. 

On the other hand, the 2025 Kia EV6 trims are also within the Model Y’s price, with an estimated range of between $44,000 and $63,000. The GT performance will be the priciest model, understandably, because of its extensive range of features, such as a 576hp powertrain and excellent acceleration. 

Final Thoughts

Choosing between these two models is always going to be a difficult challenge as they are almost similar in all aspects but at the end of the end, there are subtle differences that are mainly anchored on personal preference. For instance, if you’re looking for a sleek and simplistic interior design, then you’ll find joy in owning a model Y. Also, this applies to those looking for a spacious car to stuff their belongings. But for a more sporty drive and if you fancy driving an EV that has a traditional car feel, then you’d rather go Kia which is such an impressive crossover with relatively fast charging, especially on the 350kW charger.