Compare the2024 Kia EV6VS 2023 Lucid Motors Air

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 Air doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The EV6 has standard 911 Connect, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Air doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the EV6 and the Air 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 126 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Air has not been tested, yet.

There are almost 27 times as many Kia dealers as there are Lucid Motors 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 Air.

As tested in Car and Driver the EV6 GT electric motors is faster than the Air Pure electric motors:

The EV6 stops much shorter than the Air:

The EV6 GT handles at .92 G’s, while the Air Grand Touring pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the EV6’s turning circle is 1.1 feet tighter than the Air’s (38.2 feet vs. 39.3 feet). The EV6 GT’s turning circle is .1 feet tighter than the Air’s (39.2 feet vs. 39.3 feet).

The Kia EV6 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 550 to 950 pounds less than the Lucid Motors Air.

The EV6 Light/Wind is 11.6 inches shorter than the Air, making the EV6 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front grille of the EV6 uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Air doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The EV6 has .9 inches more front legroom, 1.4 inches more rear legroom and 1.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the Air.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the EV6’s liftgate can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Air doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its trunk, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

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

The EV6 GT-Line/GT 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 Air doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

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

Consumer Reports rated the EV6’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Air’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

The EV6’s power mirror controls are mounted on the armrest for easy access. The Air’s power mirror controls are embedded in the infotainment system, seriously distracting drivers who have to adjust them while driving.

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 Air’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

On extremely cold winter days, the EV6 Light AWD/Wind AWD/GT-Line AWD’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The Air doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

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

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

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 Air isn’t in the top three.

The EV6 was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2023. The Air 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 Air has never been chosen.

The Kia EV6 outsold the Lucid Motors Air by almost five to one during 2022.