Tesla Model Y v Kia EV6 2022 Comparison

The 2022 Tesla Model Y has been eagerly awaited in Australia for more than two years.

Whether you’re a Tesla fan, someone looking for a competitive mid-size SUV or simply EV interested, the larger sibling to the Tesla Model 3 has been a magnet for attention.

Now it’s here (well, you can order one at least!), we wanted to test how it stacks up against the most convincing electric SUV to date, the Kia EV6.

The Kia EV6 won our previous comparison test against its closely-related cousin, the Hyundai IONIQ 5.

The Tesla Model Y provides it with more competition from the brand that dominates EV sales in Australia, if only for the fact it looks set to arrive here in big numbers.

Tesla has been selling upwards of 1000 cars per month for the past 18 months and the Model Y is expected to continue that trend.

Many rivals aren’t even getting one-tenth of that, providing untenable queues. And, yes, the EV6 is in that basket.

As with the Model Y, the Kia EV6 started from a clean-sheet design, placing batteries and electric motor/s in an ideal position to maximise interior space.

Each is available in single-motor rear-wheel drive configurations as well as dual-motor all-wheel drive set-ups. It’s the former we’ve chosen here, only because that’s the first of the Tesla Model Y EVs to be available Down Under.

Despite the similarities, there are also significant differences.

The Model Y Rear-Wheel Drive, for example, uses lithium-iron phosphate batteries. They’re still a form of lithium-ion batteries, but do without cobalt, which is one of the more expensive materials in a typical EV’s battery pack.

The EV6 uses a more traditional lithium-ion battery (with cobalt), something that is said to have better energy density (meaning it can hold more energy for the size of the battery).

The proof of each will be in how it works in the real world – which is exactly where we’re testing these two EV fresh faces.

The 2022 Tesla Model Y wins on affordability, at least with the two we’re testing here.

At $72,300 plus delivery and on-road costs, the 2022 Tesla Model Y Rear-Wheel Drive undercuts the Kia EV6 GT-Line RWD – which starts at $74,990 plus ORCs – by $2690.

That difference stretches further once dealer and government costs are factored in. Such is the shortage of supply of EV6s that Kia dealers are charging more than the fixed $1725 ordering and dealer delivery fee charged by Tesla.

For those looking to spend less there’s a Kia EV6 Air priced at $67,990 plus ORCs, although that version of the Kia arrives with a relatively skinny list of standard kit.

In GT-Line guise tested here, it’s a closer match-up on equipment.

Both get ‘vegan’ leather, dual-zone climate control, digital radio tuning, heated front seats, satellite navigation, a powered tailgate, tinted windows, heated steering wheel and a surround view camera.

The Kia edges ahead with 20-inch wheels (versus 19s on the Tesla), a head-up display, alloy pedals, physical keys (the Tesla has cards), five USB ports (the Tesla gets four), ventilated front seats and ambient lighting with 64 colours (the Tesla’s ambient lighting is white).

There’s also Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity (the Tesla uses its own Bluetooth-based smartphone connectivity) and an AM radio (yep, the Tesla misses out).

The Kia can also be parked remotely from the key fob and has a seven-year warranty versus the Tesla’s measly four-year coverage. That said, the Tesla covers the most expensive part of the car – the battery – for eight years, whereas Kia tops out at seven years of battery warranty.

The Tesla fights back on the equipment front with a panoramic sunroof, heated rear seats (all three of them), dual wireless phone chargers (the Kia only gets one), a power-adjustable steering column and a hospital-grade HEPA filter that gives the car its so-called ‘Bioweapon Defense Mode’ to clear odours, pollen and nasties from the cabin.

The Model Y also gets an advanced smartphone app that not only allows you to use it as the key but also allows remote operation of ventilation, locking/unlocking, lights and windows as well as a handy way to monitor charging.

For now, there’s no remote connectivity for the Kia, although it is coming to future models.

On to touch-screens and the Kia has the numbers, the Tesla sheer size.

The EV6 has an instrument cluster housed in a 12.3-inch display screen. Infotainment is taken care of with an identically-sized central screen.

The Tesla fights back with a dominant 15.0-inch central display that houses the infotainment as well as a speedo and other driver information. That sizeable screen also incorporates arcade games, karaoke, YouTube and other surprise-and-delight features that Tesla nails.

The Model Y can also perform over-the-air software updates, potentially unleashing more functionality or features in future. The Kia needs to have any software updates done at a dealership.

As for servicing, Tesla asks the car to be checked every two years, something that involves tyre, brake and suspension checks as well as new filters.

Tesla doesn’t quote service pricing but it should cost close to the $1089 Kia quotes for the first five years or 75,000km of ownership. It’s unlikely to be a metric that shapes any decisions.

Our final point on value goes to the audio systems.

Kia endows the EV6 GT-Line with a 14-speaker system developed by boutique UK brand Meridian. It’s a crisp, clear unit that delivers on presence.

But the Model Y goes further, with meatier bass and a cleaner overall sound, albeit from only 13 speakers. It may be short one speaker, but the unbranded system is an impressive unit.

There’s no shortage of safety tech lurking beneath the bodies of the 2022 Tesla Model Y Rear-Wheel Drive and Kia EV6 GT-Line RWD.

Each provides blind spot warning with side view cameras in addition, as well as autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and semi-autonomous driving.

The Tesla takes the driver-control feature a step further with its Autopilot system, which is in many ways a triumph of marketing rather than anything radically different in the driver assist stakes. It’s Level 2 autonomy and like all such systems has its issues.

Tesla’s Autopilot does its best work on a well-marked freeway, where clear lane markings and sweeping corners are more easily processed and dealt with by the car.

We still had some reminders that Autopilot is a long way off allowing you to take your mind off the task of driving. On two occasions the system randomly decided it was in the wrong lane, but instead of a gentle easing into where it thought it ought to be, it aggressively reefed the wheel to make the (unnecessary) lane change as quick as possible. Needless to say, the system needs work…

As for safety ratings, the Kia EV6 has been awarded a five-star ANCAP rating, whereas the Tesla Model Y is yet to be rated. But the Y shares plenty with the five-star-rated Tesla Model 3.

The big sales pitch with the 2022 Tesla Model Y is that it bowls up more space than the Tesla Model 3 that dominates the EV market in Australia.

You get that as soon as you look for places to stash luggage. The boot is seriously deep and teams with a 40/20/40-split folding rear seat to boost flexibility.

There’s no luggage cover, although there are two thoroughly useful cavities beneath the boot floor that can keep valuables out of sight. Deep pockets in either corner of the boot also add to its loading smarts.

If that’s not enough then the front load area is a handy back-up; the so-called frunk (front trunk) or froot (front boot) could easily swallow a soft bag or two.

The Kia EV6 has a vast load area but it’s a lot shallower than the Tesla’s. It also only gets a 60/40-split folding back seat, reducing the usefulness in loading long or bulky items.

It does, however, get a luggage cover to keep your gear out of view.

The figures reinforce the story. The Tesla has 854 litres of luggage space in the boot as well as 117L up front, for a total of 971L. The Kia gets a 480L boot with another 52L up front, for 532L total.

But the Kia hits back when it comes to accommodating people.

Those in the back of the EV6 get more welcoming knee-room than those in the Model Y, although the Model Y has more headroom as well as the openness of a glass roof; plus there’s decent foot space under the front seats.

Each has a flat floor, a result of being based on a bespoke EV architecture. That makes life a lot more comfortable for whoever is caught in the middle seat.

In the rear-drive guises we’ve tested them in, the 2022 Kia EV6 and the new Tesla Model Y each get a single electric motor driving the rear wheels.

In the EV6 it makes 168kW and 350Nm, which Kia says is enough to zip it to 100km/h in 7.3 seconds.

Tesla is secretive about the outputs for its vehicles, although some digging eventually uncovered the Model Y Rear-Wheel Drive makes 194kW and 340Nm.

The Model Y RWD 0-100km/h claim is 6.9 seconds, the swifter time in part due to less weight. That smaller battery capacity helps the Model Y tip the scales at 1909kg, a full 91kg less than the EV6.

Not that there’s much in it in the real world. The two are remarkably close, albeit with the acceleration ledger tilting in the Model Y’s favour, especially feeding on power when already underway.

One area there is a more marked difference is in how much energy they require to do their thing.

The EV6 is more efficient as the entry-level Air model, which gets more eco-focused tyres that drop electricity usage to a claimed 16.5kWh/100km. But as a GT-Line with more aggressive 20-inch rubber, the EV6 uses a claimed 17.2kWh/100km.

It’s a decent drop to the Model Y, which uses an average 14.6kWh/100km, making it one of the more frugal EVs on the market.

Claimed range switches to the EV6’s favour courtesy of a big battery pack. It’s officially a 77.4kWh battery, but the usable capacity is more like 72.5kWh.

Still, that’s about 20 per cent more than the circa-60kWh of usable capacity in the Model Y. (Battery capacity is another figure Tesla doesn’t divulge, although it can be calculated from energy usage.)

It means the EV6 can travel further between charges. Its claimed WLTP range is 504km and within a few kilometres of what we found in the real world.

The Model Y has a WLTP range of 455km and we found something like 435km in the real world.

When it comes to recharging the 2022 Tesla Model Y and the Kia EV6, they’re remarkably close.

Kia claims a maximum 10.5kW AC charge, which will mean a full top-up in about seven hours.

The Tesla can take 11kW for a full charge in about 5.5 hours. But, again, it’ll have about 70km less range.

Kia still cheekily suggests the EV6 can accept a 350kW charge, but it can’t. It tops out at about 240kW for a 10-80 per cent charge in about 18 minutes. That’ll add a bit over 300km of range in the process, making it one of the fastest-charging EVs currently on the market.

Tesla claims up to 299km of range in 15 minutes from one of its V3 Superchargers (which charge at double the rate of the more common V2 Superchargers). A quick calculation suggests it’s averaging about 160kW of charge over those 15 minutes.

So, if you find the right charger then you should be able to add around 300km of range in 15 minutes in either car.

However, with the Model Y it’ll sometimes charge slower if you’re not at a Tesla Supercharger. Plug the Supercharger destination in the sat-nav and the battery can pre-condition (optimise its battery temperature for charging) on the way to the charger. The Tesla won’t recognise non-Tesla ultra-rapid chargers, so won’t precondition for those.

Also, you’re a better chance of finding one of those very fast chargers in the Tesla. That’s because the Model Y can not only use the regular (expanding) EV charging network that includes 350kW charging stations, but it also has access to the entire network of Tesla chargers.

That’s a big bonus, something perhaps more appreciated by anyone who’s been on the search for a charger on a road trip.

However, the EV6 has one charging – or discharging – trick. It has a vehicle-to-load (V2L) plug, which is a 230V power point. It means it can supply up to 3.6kW to anything from power tools or a laptop or even for charging another EV.

Theoretically it could give the Model Y a top-up charge to even out the difference between EV ranges…

You don’t need long behind the wheel to realise these two electric cars are very different in their driving set-ups.

The new 2022 Tesla Model Y Rear-Wheel Drive has super-direct steering that darts the nose towards the apex of a corner in an almost playful manner. It requires finesse but also rewards with its agility.

Despite the high-riding body there’s an assertiveness to the way it tackles a corner. Agile, go-kart-like steering adds to the sense you’re there for a smile as much for the journey.

It’s helped by taut suspension that ensures the body is ready to react.

Its 19-inch Hankook tyres may have an emphasis on efficiency, but they’re also strong on traction, allowing for spirited attacks.

A low centre of gravity reinforces the planted feel and provides reassurance as you approach its limits. Push too hard and it gently leans on the stability control to contain the excitement.

The 2022 Kia EV6 GT-Line RWD is a much different beast, with more traditional reactions through its steering.

It’s still immensely capable, its 20-inch Continental tyres ensuring it stays on track. There’s impressive grip and the sort of mid-corner poise few SUVs get close to.

But the Kia’s big surprise is how it deals with bumps. Despite the slinky rubber, it cushions blows beautifully and makes for easier running on B-grade country roads.

The trade-off is a more comfortable ride in part because of the local tuning efforts and the hardware underneath. The EV6 uses frequency-dependent shock absorbers, which can adjust their reactions depending on the size and severity of the bump.

It works. The Kia relaxes into a corner, devouring multiple bumps as if it’s all one extended challenge. It’s as though it’s pre-planned its responses to the point where the driver has less to brace for.

The Tesla is more animated, jiggling more often and making every bump that little more obvious. It’s not uncomfortable but is, equally, not as calming.

If your budget doesn’t stretch to six figures, then the 2022 Tesla Model Y Rear-Wheel Drive and Kia EV6 GT-Line RWD are the standout SUVs in the current EV crop.

They’re both accomplished SUVs that deliver more space than their exterior dimensions may imply.

And they’re both enjoyable to live with, whether trundling through the suburbs or tackling something more challenging.

Each delivers a slick driving experience, the EV6 tilted more towards comfort and the Model Y trading some of that for driver engagement.

The EV6 will ultimately travel further between charges, but the Tesla is still thoroughly acceptable and comes armed with a vast bespoke charging network that increases opportunities to top up.

Plus, the Model Y fights back with an armoury of tech, a (slight) performance and efficiency edge and some clever packaging that better fulfils the family duties.

Its connectivity reinforces the electric elegance that is the main course.

Throw them into the mix and it’s a narrow but deserved win to the Tesla Model Y – for those prepared to wait almost a year.

How much does the 2022 Kia EV6 GT-Line RWD cost?
Price: $74,990 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Powertrain: Single permanent magnet synchronous motor
Output: 168kW/350Nm
Transmission: Single-speed reduction gear
Battery: 77.4kWh lithium-ion (72.5kWh usable)
Range: 504km (WLTP)
Energy consumption: 17.2kWh/100km (WLTP)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2022)

How much does the 2022 Tesla Model Y Rear-Wheel Drive cost?
Price: $72,300 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Powertrain: Single permanent magnet synchronous motor
Output: 194kW/340Nm
Transmission: Single-speed reduction gear
Battery: 60kWh (usable) lithium-iron phosphate
Range: 455km (WLTP)
Energy consumption: 14.6kWh/100km (WLTP)
Safety rating: Not tested