Kelley Blue Book: The 2023 Kia EV6 vs. the VW ID.4: Two very different approaches to going electric

Let’s take a closer look at these electric vehicles and find one that works for you.

Read: 5 reasons you should hold off on buying an EV

The 2023 Kia EV6

We’ll start with the obvious — the 2023 Kia
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EV6 is one of the best-looking vehicles without a luxury badge on it. Inside and out, it has an athletic design aesthetic we love. Range up to 310 miles doesn’t hurt, either. If you can swing the price, a high-performance GT edition backs up the sporty look with supercar-like acceleration. Pricing starts at $48,700.

Kia EV6 highlights

Greater range and efficiency: For many buyers, range is comfort. The EV6 boasts up to 310 miles of driving range between charges. The ID.4 gets 275. You probably don’t drive far enough on an average day to notice it, but if you’ll take road trips in this car, 35 extra miles between charges adds up.

Truly beautiful design: Kia has quickly become known for great-looking cars. The EV6 might be its prettiest product. On the outside, its broad haunches and sleek nose create an athletic look no other electric SUV can match. Inside, the look is high-tech and stylish, with the driver’s instrument panel and the central touchscreen mounted to look like a wide, curved screen. Higher trim levels get aluminum pedals that add a sporty flair.

Performance options: The base EV6 sends 225 horsepower to its rear wheels. But Kia offers options for both 320 and an eye-popping 576 horses. All-wheel drive (AWD) is available starting at $52,600 with the Wind e-AWD trim.

Also see: 11 reasons why the road to EV ownership remains closed for most Americans

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 is a great family SUV that happens to be electric. It boasts excellent safety scores and a lower starting price — $38,995 — than many rivals (including the EV6). Range tops out at 275 miles.

Volkswagen ID.4 highlights

Lower price, and the federal government may lower it further: Kia has a hit on its hands with the EV6 and knows it. They’ve raised prices for 2023, while VW
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has held the ID.4’s price much lower. Also, Volkswagen builds many ID.4 models in Tennessee, which means that right now, they’ll qualify for a $7,500 federal tax rebate that the EV6 — built overseas — won’t.

One of our favorite interfaces: The ID.4 has a truly clever piece of design; a thin LED strip mounted at the bottom of the windshield that communicates simple messages like turn-by-turn direction and the battery’s charge state in the driver’s peripheral vision. It becomes intuitive very quickly and gives the car personality.

More cargo space: If you’re buying an electric SUV for traditional SUV reasons, like cargo space, the ID.4 may be the right choice. Its styling is a little more conventional, in part to give it 14 more cubic feet of cargo space.

Be sure to read: The $7,500 EV question: Is it an SUV, or a car? Ask the IRS.

Similarities

These are two of the best of a new generation of electric midsize SUVs. Either will offer an easy transition to electric driving. Both offer standard Apple
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CarPlay and Android Auto and are available in rear- or all-wheel-drive.

Conclusion

If you’re looking to transition to electric driving, either the Kia EV6 or ID.4 could work for you. The EV6 has more curb appeal, and you might also like the design better from the inside. But it’ll cost you almost $10,000 more, even before tax rebates. The ID.4 can’t keep up with the high-performance models of the EV6, but it makes a great family car and offers a clever interface we fell in love with. It’s also far more affordable.

They’re two different approaches to going electric, and each will be right for some drivers.

Also read: How Consumer Reports ranks 11 popular electric vehicles for reliability

Specs

2023 Kia EV6

2023 Volkswagen ID.4

Starting Price

$48,700

$38,995

Popular Powertrains

Engine

Electric motor

Electric motor

Horsepower

167 hp

201 hp

Torque

258 lb-ft

229 lb-ft

Transmission

1-speed direct drive

1-speed direct drive

Fuel Economy

136 city/100 hwy/117 combined MPGe

115 city/99 hwy/107 combined MPGe

Maximum Range

310 miles

275 miles

Also Available

Dual-motor, AWD

Dual-motor, AWD

Specs

Basic Warranty

5 years/60,000 miles

4 years/50,000 miles

Powertrain Warranty

10 years/100,000 miles

4 years/50,000 miles

Battery Warranty

10 years/100,000 miles

8 years/100,000 miles

Max Seating Capacity

5

5

Wheelbase

114.2 inches

108.9 inches

Overall Length

184.3 inches

180.5 inches

Width

74.0 inches

72.9 inches

Height

60.8 inches

64.4 inches

Turning Diameter

38.2 feet

33.6 feet

Headroom, Front

39.0 inches

41.1 inches

Headroom, Rear

38.0 inches

38.4 inches

Legroom, Front

42.4 inches

41.1 inches

Legroom, Rear

39.0 inches

37.6 inches

Shoulder Room, Front

57.8 inches

57.5 inches

Shoulder Room, Rear

55.6 inches

55.9 inches

Cargo Volume

24.4/50.2 cubic feet

30.3/64.2 cubic feet

This story originally ran on KBB.com.