Compare the2023 Kia EV6VS 2023 Mercedes EQS

Both the EV6 and EQS 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 EQS’ 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.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the EV6 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The EQS doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Both the EV6 and the EQS have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee 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, driver alert monitors and available around view 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 127 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The EQS has not been tested, yet.

The EV6 comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The EQS’ 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the EV6 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than Mercedes covers the EQS. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the EQS ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 2 times as many Kia dealers as there are Mercedes dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the EV6’s warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the EV6’s reliability 54 points higher than the EQS.

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 Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 33 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 19th, 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 Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in reliability, above the industry average. With 50 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 18th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 15 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

As tested in Car and Driver the EV6 GT is faster than the EQS 580 4MATIC:

As tested in Car and Driver the EV6 GT is faster than the EQS 450+:

On the EPA test cycle the EV6 gets better mileage than the EQS:

The EV6 stops much shorter than the EQS:

The EV6 GT handles at .92 G’s, while the EQS 580 4MATIC pulls only .88 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Kia EV6 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1150 to 1600 pounds less than the Mercedes EQS.

The EV6 Light/Wind is 1 foot, 11 inches shorter than the EQS, making the EV6 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

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

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

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 EQS doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Kia EV6, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Mercedes EQS isn't recommended.

The EV6 was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2023. The EQS has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the EV6 as the 2023 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year. The EQS has never been chosen.

The Kia EV6 outsold the Mercedes EQS by 31% during 2022.