Electric vehicles are taking over the automotive industry. More than a passing trend, these long-awaited and modern vehicles are proving to be the efficient, eco-friendly, and stylish solution that drivers have been wanting for decades. Having quickly gone from a unique and anomalous vehicle here or there to commonplace, sought-after vehicles in high demand, electric vehicles are here to stay. While some brands have been relatively late to the party, Kia has been offering electric vehicles for quite some time. If you seek out Kia EVs for sale, you’ll find that Kia isn’t offering just one electric model but several, in addition to an abundance of hybrid and plug-in hybrid options.
Kia’s market position has always been one of stylish efficiency, and its electric vehicles perfectly capture this brand image. Two of the brand’s premier battery electric vehicles (BEVs)—the EV6 and the EV9—offer drivers one of the most thrilling, stylish, and modern driving experiences possible at this point in time. That said, the two vehicles are not the same—they cater to different markets with different capabilities and focuses. Let’s take a look at these two very exciting vehicles and see how Kia is electrifying the automotive industry and leading it into the future.
What Is the EV6?
The EV6 is a BEV compact SUV. While technically classified as an SUV, the EV6 can be appropriately labeled as a “crossover” as it really bridges the gap between sedan and SUV, offering a build that provides the best features of both in a very attractive way. The EV6 was initially released for the 2022 model year and was instantly appealing to EV enthusiasts.
As a compact SUV, the EV6 caters to those living in cities or urban areas; its style is reminiscent of the night-time city glow, with an edgy, creatively lit, and fully modern exterior and interior design. Drawing its inspiration from sports cars, the EV6 provides impressive all-electric performance, offering up to 641 hp and 568 lb-ft of torque. Considering that this is a compact SUV, those performance specs (which exceed those of many high-end sports cars) are really a testament to the power of electric vehicles. To complement its thrilling performance, the EV6’s interior feels like a futuristic technology hub with great comfort and convenience features.
The EV6 is the perfect modern vehicle, delivering impressive all-electric power with the latest and greatest technology. Not only that, but it perfectly captures Kia’s brand image as cutting-edge, efficient, and stylish.
What Is the EV9?
The EV9, while also a BEV, is quite different from the EV6. As a three-row SUV, the vehicle’s focus is a bit different, being more family-friendly yet just as performance-savvy, albeit in a different way from the EV6. With seating for up to seven passengers, the EV9 is perfect for on-road family driving, but it also has the prowess to be an off-roader. With electric power and off-roading combined, you are in for a treat.
While the EV9’s specs may not be quite as high as the EV6, topping out at 379 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque (still very impressive), it’s made for a different purpose altogether. The EV9 has dual motor all-wheel drive with torque vectoring, giving it the traction and agility to leverage those 516 lb-ft of torque for adventurous off-roading. The EV9’s architecture is designed to be amiable to different types of terrains with 7.8 inches of ground clearance. Moreover, the EV9 can tow up to 5,000 lbs, so it’s perfect for hauling loads to make those outdoor adventures more fun.
While the EV9 is geared towards thrilling street driving, it is made to tackle the elements with the thrill of all-electric power. It’s an SUV that works just as well for the soccer carpool as it does for fast-paced off-roading adventures. The EV9 is what you make of it, and it’s always ready to go further than you think.
EV6 Highlights
With both vehicles defined and established, let’s go over some highlights of the EV6. As we said, this is a street-oriented, sporty, performance EV. With that in mind, the exterior’s sharp appearance serves its style just as much as it serves its aerodynamics to make it ready to utilize its full 641 hp. Looks and functionality are intimately connected for the EV6.
Leaning into its urban aesthetic and performance, the EV6 is close to the ground, achieving a low center of gravity. Aided by multi-link rear suspension, the vehicle’s handling helps it perform astonishingly well when put to the test. While it’s marketed as a city cruiser, the EV6 is also able to tow up to 2,700 lbs. Towing is a rare feature on an electric SUV the size of the EV6, but when you’ve got 568 lb-ft of torque at your disposal, you might as well put it to use.
Electric vehicles need to be just as electrified with technology as they are with their powertrain, and the EV6 absolutely leans into this. The car’s technology features go beyond “modern” and could be more appropriately labeled “futuristic.” The first thing you may notice is the dual panoramic displays, which translates to a huge infotainment screen in the center right next to an equally-sized driver information center in the driver’s line of sight. However, the driver won’t have to look down there all too often thanks to an augmented reality head-up display. This feature is where you really start to feel the future take shape; the augmented reality head-up display presents holographic images to give the driver vital information related to performance, navigation, and anything else they may need.
The EV6 provides not only everything you could possibly need but more than you could imagine. As a fully-electric, beyond-modern, futuristic vehicle, it fits in perfectly on city streets and is designed to perform to the max in such environments.
EV9 Highlights
Just as the EV6’s exterior is designed with performance in mind, so too is the EV9’s exterior. With an aerodynamic design achieving an impressive drag coefficient of 0.28 and sitting atop 21-inch wheels, the EV9 incorporates off-roading even into the finer details. The EV9 is ready to spend long periods of time in more desolate areas; with an estimated range of 304 miles, you’ll be set with power for a good long while, and with a 1.9 kW onboard power generator, you can use the vehicle as a power source when needed.
Aside from its off-roading capability, one of the biggest advantages of the EV9 over the EV6 is the interior space. All seven of your passengers can have a comfortable ride, with 42.8 inches of second-row legroom. That beats many other leading SUVs and ensures a good time for everyone. One of the most unique features of the EV9 is its first-row and second-row lounge seats, which recline and offer comfortable headrests, power legrests, and power-extendable footrests; we can guarantee you’ve never experienced comfort like this in any vehicle before.
The second row offers some good storage solutions, including a slide-out center console, and when the rear seats are folded, the EV9 can offer up to 81.7 cu.ft. of cargo space, perfect for road trips, camping, or DIY projects. The EV9’s three-row design serves drivers very well, whether you’re looking to load the car up with friends or cargo. With many advanced technology features similar to those in the EV6, as well as highly advanced driver-assistance technology features, the EV9 provides a ride that is easy, relaxing, and enjoyable, whether you’re on the road or off the road.
Beyond Electric
The EV6 and EV9 are highly advanced electric vehicles. Certainly, they showcase some of the most impressive electric performance in the industry, but beyond that, they offer some of the most advanced interior features not only in the EV sector but in the industry as a whole. With leading technology features, amazing comfort and convenience features like lounge seats, and fantastic driver connectivity features, these two spectacular EVs are going above and beyond to provide a futuristic experience. The EV6 and EV9 are a foretaste of what will likely become standard in vehicles throughout the industry. But, as has happened in the past, Kia is way ahead of the game, and drivers can access these features right now without having to wait. The EV6 and EV9 are making the future happen in the present.