Compare the2024 Kia EV6VS 2023 Toyota bZ4X

Both the EV6 and bZ4X 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 bZ4X’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.

Both the EV6 and the bZ4X 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 bZ4X has not been fully 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 bZ4X’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the EV6 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Toyota covers the bZ4X. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the bZ4X ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia above average in initial quality. With 24 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is rated below 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 Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in reliability, above the industry average. With 13 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is ranked fifth.

The EV6 has more powerful engines than the bZ4X:

As tested in Car and Driver the Kia EV6 is faster than the Toyota bZ4X electric motors:

As tested in Motor Trend the EV6 GT electric motors is faster than the Toyota bZ4X (base engine):

As tested in Motor Trend the EV6 GT electric motors is faster than the Toyota bZ4X electric motor:

On the EPA test cycle the EV6 gets better mileage than the bZ4X:

The EV6 can travel longer on a full charge than the bZ4X on a full charge:

The EV6 has a standard locking charge port which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The bZ4X doesn’t have a locking charge port. A locking charge port prevents tampering and damage.

For better stopping power the EV6 GT’s brake rotors are larger than those on the bZ4X:

The EV6 stops much shorter than the bZ4X:

For better traction, the EV6 GT-Line e-AWD’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the bZ4X (255/45R20 vs. 235/60R18).

The EV6’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the bZ4X XLE’s standard 60 series tires. The EV6 GT’s tires have a lower 40 series profile than the bZ4X Limited’s 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the EV6 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the bZ4X XLE. The EV6 GT’s 21-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels on the bZ4X Limited.

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 bZ4X’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the EV6’s wheelbase is 2 inches longer than on the bZ4X (114.2 inches vs. 112.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the EV6 is 1.1 inches wider in the front and 1.1 inches wider in the rear than the track on the bZ4X.

The EV6’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (48.3% to 51.7%) than the bZ4X’s (56% to 44%). This gives the EV6 more stable handling and braking.

The EV6 GT handles at .92 G’s, while the bZ4X Limited AWD pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The EV6 GT executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.3 seconds quicker than the bZ4X Limited (25.1 seconds @ .77 average G’s vs. 27.4 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the EV6’s turning circle is 1.8 feet tighter than the bZ4X’s (38.2 feet vs. 40 feet). The EV6 GT’s turning circle is .8 feet tighter than the bZ4X’s (39.2 feet vs. 40 feet).

The Kia EV6 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 300 pounds less than the Toyota bZ4X.

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 bZ4X doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The EV6 has 8.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the bZ4X (103 vs. 94.4).

The EV6 has .4 inches more front headroom, .3 inches more front legroom, .5 inches more front hip room, .9 inches more rear headroom, 3.7 inches more rear legroom and 8.4 inches more rear hip room than the bZ4X.

The front step up height for the EV6 is 1.7 inches lower than the bZ4X (16.6” vs. 18.3”). The EV6’s rear step up height is 1.2 inches lower than the bZ4X’s (16.8” vs. 18”).

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the EV6’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The bZ4X doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The EV6 offers up to a 2300 lbs. towing capacity. The bZ4X has no towing capacity.

The EV6 uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The bZ4X 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.

When two different drivers share the EV6 Light/Wind/GT-Line, 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 bZ4X doesn’t offer a memory system.

The EV6 Light/Wind/GT-Line’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The bZ4X doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

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 bZ4X doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

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 bZ4X’s power window (except driver window) and power lock switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

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 bZ4X’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

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 bZ4X 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 bZ4X doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Kia EV6, based on reliability, safety and performance.

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 bZ4X isn’t in the top three.

The EV6 was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2023. The bZ4X 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 bZ4X has never been chosen.

The Kia EV6 outsold the Toyota bZ4X by almost 9 to one during 2022.