Compare the2023 Kia EV6VS 2023 Hyundai Kona Electric

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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Both the EV6 and Kona Electric have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The EV6 has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The Kona Electric’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The Kia EV6 has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer knee airbags.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The EV6 offers optional Parking Collision-Avoidance Reverse that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The EV6 offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The EV6 (except Light) offers an optional Surround View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Kona Electric only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.

Both the EV6 and the Kona Electric have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the EV6 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 109 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Kona Electric has not been fully tested, yet.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 29 more problems per 100 vehicles, Hyundai is ranked 17th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in reliability, above the industry average. With 3 more problems per 100 vehicles, Hyundai is ranked third.

Engine

The EV6 Wind/GT-Line’s standard electric motor produces 24 more horsepower (225 vs. 201) than the Kona Electric’s electric motor. The EV6’s optional electric motors produces 119 more horsepower (320 vs. 201) and 155 lbs.-ft. more torque (446 vs. 291) than the Kona Electric’s electric motor. The EV6 GT’s standard electric motors produces 375 more horsepower (576 vs. 201) and 254 lbs.-ft. more torque (545 vs. 291) than the Kona Electric’s electric motor.

As tested in Car and Driver the Kia EV6 is faster than the Hyundai Kona Electric:

	EV6	EV6 GT	Kona Electric
Zero to 60 MPH	4.4 sec	3.2 sec	6.4 sec
Quarter Mile	13.1 sec	11.6 sec	15 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	103 MPH	119 MPH	95 MPH
Top Speed	118 MPH	161 MPH	107 MPH

As tested in Car and Driver the EV6 GT electric motors is faster than the Hyundai Kona Electric (base engine):

	EV6	Kona Electric
Zero to 30 MPH	1.3 sec	2.6 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	3.2 sec	6.4 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	3.4 sec	6.4 sec
Passing 30 to 50 MPH	1.7 sec	2.4 sec
Passing 50 to 70 MPH	2.2 sec	3.5 sec
Quarter Mile	11.6 sec	15 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	119 MPH	95 MPH
Top Speed	161 MPH	161 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

The EV6 can travel longer on a full charge than the Kona Electric on a full charge:

			Miles
EV6
	RWD	Wind/GT-Line Electric Motor	310 miles
	AWD	19” Wheels Electric Motors	282 miles
Kona Electric
	FWD	Electric Motor	258 miles

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the EV6’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Kona Electric:

	EV6	EV6 GT	Kona Electric
Front Rotors	12.8 inches	15 inches	12 inches
Rear Rotors	12.8 inches	14.2 inches	11.8 inches

The EV6 GT’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Kona Electric are solid, not vented.

The EV6 stops much shorter than the Kona Electric:

	EV6	Kona Electric
70 to 0 MPH	159 feet	185 feet	Car and Driver

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the EV6 has larger standard tires than the Kona Electric (235/45R20 vs. 215/55R17). The EV6 GT’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Kona Electric (255/40R21 vs. 215/55R17).

The EV6 GT’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Kona Electric’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the EV6 has standard 19-inch wheels. Only 17-inch wheels are available on the Kona Electric. The EV6 GT has standard 21-inch wheels.

Suspension and Handling

The EV6 offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Kona Electric’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the EV6’s wheelbase is 11.8 inches longer than on the Kona Electric (114.2 inches vs. 102.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the EV6 is 2.5 inches wider in the front and 2.5 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Kona Electric.

The EV6’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (48.3% to 51.7%) than the Kona Electric’s (54% to 46%). This gives the EV6 more stable handling and braking.

The EV6 GT handles at .92 G’s, while the Kona Electric Limited pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

Passenger Space

The EV6 has 10.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Kona Electric (103 vs. 92.4).

The EV6 has .9 inches more front legroom, 1.6 inches more front hip room, 2.3 inches more front shoulder room, .3 inches more rear headroom, 5.6 inches more rear legroom, 1 inch more rear hip room and 1.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the Kona Electric.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the EV6’s rear seats recline. The Kona Electric’s rear seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The EV6 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Kona Electric with its rear seat up (24.4 vs. 19.2 cubic feet). The EV6 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Kona Electric with its rear seat folded (50.2 vs. 45.8 cubic feet).

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the EV6’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the EV6 Wind/GT-Line/GT’s power liftgate can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The EV6’s power liftgate can also be opened or closed by pressing a button. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening liftgate.

Towing

The EV6 offers up to a 2300 lbs. towing capacity. The Kona Electric has no towing capacity.

Servicing Ease

The EV6 uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Kona Electric uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the EV6, the memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer a memory system.

The EV6’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The EV6 GT-Line has a standard heads-up display that projects speed and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

On a hot day the EV6’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Kona Electric can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The EV6’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Kona Electric’s passenger power window and power mirror switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The EV6’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Kona Electric’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The EV6’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Kona Electric SE/SEL’s standard projector halogen headlights and light instantly. LED lights also last over twenty times longer than halogen.

When the EV6 is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Kona Electric’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

Both the EV6 and the Kona Electric have standard heated front seats. The EV6 also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Kona Electric.

The EV6’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

Both the EV6 and the Kona Electric offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the EV6 has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Kia EV6 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the Kona Electric SEL/Limited offers wireless charging.

The EV6 Wind/GT-Line/GT has a 115-volt a/c outlet, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The EV6 (except Light)’s optional Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Smart Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Recommendations

J.D. Power and Associates rated the EV6 first among compact suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Kona Electric isn’t in the top three.