Compare the2026 Lexus ESVS 2025 Kia EV6

The Lexus ES has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The EV6 doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The Lexus ES’ rear backup camera has a standard washer for maintaining a clear view under various conditions. In contrast, the Kia EV6 does not offer a rear camera washer, meaning its effectiveness relies on manual cleaning by the user when necessary.

Both the ES and the EV6 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive, around view monitors and driver alert monitors.

The ES’ corrosion warranty is 1 year and unlimited miles longer than the EV6’s (6/unlimited vs. 5/100,000).

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than Kia vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in initial quality, above the industry average. With 15 more problems per 100 vehicles, Kia is ranked 8th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in reliability, above the industry average. With 56 more problems per 100 vehicles, Kia is ranked 11th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2026 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus third in overall reliability. Kia is ranked 10th.

The ES can travel longer on electricity, only, on a full charge than the EV6 on a full charge:

			Miles
ES
	FWD	19" Wheels Electric Motor	307 miles
		21" Wheels Electric Motor	292 miles
	AWD	500e 19" Wheels Electric Motors	276 miles
		500e 21" Wheels Electric Motors	272 miles
EV6
	RWD	Light Standard Range Electric Motor	240 miles
	AWD	20" Wheels Electric Motors	270 miles
		GT Electric Motors	231 miles

For better stopping power the ES’ standard brake rotors are larger than those on the EV6:

	ES	EV6
Front Rotors	13.4 inches	12.8 inches
Rear Rotors	13.3 inches	12.8 inches

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

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the ES’ wheelbase is 1.9 inches longer than on the EV6 (116.1 inches vs. 114.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the ES is 1.5 inches wider in the front and 2.2 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the EV6.

The ES uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The EV6 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The ES has 1.9 inches more front hip room, 1.7 inches more rear legroom and .7 inches more rear hip room than the EV6.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Kia. J.D. Power ranks Lexus second in service department satisfaction. With a 60% lower rating, Kia is ranked 27th.

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the EV6 Wind/GT-Line/GT, the ES Luxury has a passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The ES’ front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The EV6’s standard passenger windows don’t open or close automatically. With the EV6 GT-Line/GT’s power windows, only the front windows open or close automatically.

The ES’ standard Smart Access allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the trunk, and start the car, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Smart Key standard on the EV6 doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The ES offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The EV6 doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the ES Luxury has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The EV6 doesn’t offer cornering lights.

A power rear sunshade and manual rear side window sunshades are standard in the ES Luxury to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The EV6 doesn’t offer a rear or rear side window sunshades.

The ES has standard front air conditioned seats and the ES 350e Luxury offers them optionally in the rear. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The EV6 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats in the rear.

The ES has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the car heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the EV6.

Both the ES and the EV6 offer available massaging front seats. The ES 350e Luxury also offers optional massaging rear seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging rear seats aren’t available in the EV6.

The Lexus ES has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the rear view mirror. Homelink® eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries. Kia charges extra for Homelink® on the EV6.

The Lexus ES stands out above the Kia EV6 by offering not one, but two Qi-compatible phone chargers. This convenience helps travelers with multiple devices to keep powered up on-the-go. Wireless charging eliminates lost or cluttered charging cables and one of them provide more flexibility.

The Lexus ES outsold the Kia EV6 by over three to one during 2025.