The first two battery-electric vehicles on Hyundai Motor Group’s E-GMP architecture have been revealed and you may be wondering how different they are. While they share the same underpinnings, the 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 and 2022 Kia EV6 are going to be completely different beasts. It may not seem that way on paper but the closer you look, the more obvious that these two were developed with unique mission briefings.
2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 vs. 2022 Kia EV6 exterior
Both the 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 and 2022 Kia EV6 are super distinct from each other thanks to their styling. The Hyundai is more upright, bringing the 45 Concept to production nearly unchanged. Pixel-style LED exterior lighting gives the Ioniq 5 a unique look yet retains the Hyundai family identity with its angular retro styling. As the current generation Elantra and Tucson, there are character lines everywhere including the side, which means you won’t mistake it for anything but a Hyundai.
The Kia EV6 follows a clean, uncluttered design approach. Its low roofline and dramatic rear window angle give it a sporty appearance, hinting at its performance intentions. A new iteration of Kia’s corporate look dubbed the tiger face adds to the EV6’s imposing character, especially with the LED exterior lights on. Quite possibly the most controversial aspect of the EV6 is the rear end. The full-width LED taillights that start at the tip of each rear wheel well and are connected to another LED strip that curves down gives the EV6 a futuristic look, especially with the sequential lighting.
At 184.2 to 184.8 inches long, 74.0- to 74.4 inches wide, and 60.8- to 61.0 tall the Kia EV6 has a sportier profile. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is similar in width but shorter in length by 1.7- to 2.3 inches depending on the variant of the EV6 you compare it to. It’s also taller by 2.0- to 2.2 inches, giving it an upright greenhouse. The Hyundai’s wheelbase is also longer by 3.9 inches.
2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 vs. 2022 Kia EV6 interior and tech features
Both the 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 and 2022 Kia EV6 benefit from Hyundai Motor Group’s latest tech features. A dual-screen layout featuring two 12.0-inch displays under a single piece of curved glass will be offered on the two EVs. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 gets an eight-speaker Bose audio system while the Kia EV6 offers a 14-speaker Meridian surround sound unit. An augmented reality head-up display will also be available on both models.
Hyundai’s Smart Sense and Kia’s Driver Wise driver assistance suites will be available on the Ioniq 5 and EV6 respectively. The biggest addition is Highway Driving Assistant II, which enables the vehicle to react if another vehicle cuts you off and allows for automatic lane changes.
The long-wheelbase on the Ioniq 5 allowed designers to add cool convenience features like a sliding second row and center console. With all seats up, the Ioniq 5 has 27.2 cubic feet of cargo space and can be expanded to 59.3 cubic feet with the second row folded. Due to its low-slung styling, the Kia EV6 has less capacity with the rear seats folded at 53.5 cubic feet. However, with all seats in place, the Kia has slightly more than the Hyundai at 27.7 cubic feet.
2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 vs. 2022 Kia EV6 powertrain
In North America, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 will be offered with either a standard 58-kWh lithium-ion battery or an optional 77.4-kWh unit. Power outputs for the Ioniq 5 stand at 225 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque for the long-range single-motor variant or 320 hp and 446 lb-ft in dual-motor configuration. The bigger battery will allow the Ioniq 5 to travel up to 300 miles in single-motor configuration or between 245- to 269 miles in dual-motor guise depending on the trim. The Kia EV6, on the other hand, is rated at 218 hp for the single-motor long-range version or 313 hp with the dual-motor configuration.
Where the Kia EV6 distinguishes itself from the Ioniq 5 is in the availability of a high-performance model. The EV6 GT turns the wick up with 577 hp and 545 lb-ft from its dual-motor setup and 77.4-kWh battery. It also gets adaptive dampers, 21-inch alloy wheels, and an electronically-controlled limited-slip differential. Kia says the EV6 GT will hit 60 mph in under 3.5 seconds, putting its acceleration in supercar territory. However, that will come at the cost of driving range because Kia is expecting the EV6 to only get an EPA rating of 235 miles per charge.
CHECK OUT: 2022 U.S.-spec Hyundai Ioniq 5 revealed
The E-GMP platform enables the Ioniq 5 and EV6 to charge at 400- and 800-volt speeds. That means you can go from 10 to 80 percent in 18 minutes or gain back 62 miles in just 4.5 minutes on the long-range models. The built-in 10.9-kW charger will allow you to get from 0 to 100 percent in under 7 hours using a level 2 or 240-volt charger.
Although the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 are mechanically similar, each one has been developed with a specific mission in mind. Hyundai created an EV that’s focused more on tech and luxury. Kia, on the other hand, emphasized the sporting aspect, especially with the availability of the EV6 GT. As a result, it appears both cars have a distinctive character that goes beyond their designs. We look forward to getting some seat time in these two vehicles soon.
