2022 Kia Sportage vs 2022 Kia EV6

The 2022 Kia EV6 presented a striking and sporty design, reminiscent of a Ford Mustang Mach-E, with a lower and wider stance that gave it a visually appealing presence. Its short highback tail featured a lip spoiler doubling as a lightbar, and the wheels were pushed to the far corners of the chassis, creating a body with pronounced hips. The EV6's voluptuous curves, similar to those on a Porsche 911, added both style and stability. The headlights, with their V-shaped pattern, mirrored the black trim below, which mimicked sealed air intakes. The EV6's wedgy profile, with its angled roofline and twin ducts in the rear spoiler, combined with a smooth lower body, especially in matte silver paint, made it a standout in terms of design.

In contrast, the 2022 Kia Sportage's design was less universally appealing, with its tiger-nose grille appearing somewhat out of place beneath oversized headlights and a chrome trim. Despite this, the Sportage excelled in other design aspects, featuring a four-dot running light signature reminiscent of the Porsche Macan and a Volkswagen-style symmetry in its rear design. The SX trim's 19-inch alloy wheels, pushed to the corners, gave it a planted stance. Inside, the Sportage adopted Germanic design cues, with a black dashboard featuring polished metallic accents and straightforward instrumentation. The use of buttons and knobs made it easy to adjust various settings, contributing to an upscale feel.

The 2022 Kia EV6, particularly in its GT-Line e-AWD configuration, delivered impressive performance with its dual electric motors producing 320 horsepower and 446 pound-feet of torque. This setup allowed the EV6 to accelerate to 60 mph in a claimed 4.6 seconds, with a top-power GT trim promising even more power at 576 hp. The EV6's handling was agile, with torque distributed effectively, providing a seamless driving experience. The regenerative braking system offered multiple settings, including a strong I-Pedal mode for one-pedal driving. However, the EV6's range was disappointing in cold weather, achieving only 65 percent of its estimated range in winter conditions. Charging was efficient, with the ability to accept up to 240 kW, but real-world charging times fell short of Kia's claims.

The 2022 Kia Sportage, on the other hand, offered a more conventional performance with its 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque. The Sportage SX trim featured a more robust engine with 237 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque, providing ample power for a compact crossover. The six-speed automatic transmission and Dynamax all-wheel-drive system contributed to a smooth and compliant ride. The Sportage's suspension, with MacPherson struts and independent multi-link rear suspension, provided a sophisticated driving character, though it lacked the refinement of some competitors. The Sportage SX's acceleration was quick, but the steering and tire performance could have been sharper.

The 2022 Kia EV6 offered innovative features, such as pop-out door handles and a twisting rotary shifter. Its interior was spacious, with generous legroom and headroom, though the cargo space was limited, with 690 litres behind the seats and 1,322 litres when folded. The EV6's towing capacity was 1,043 kilograms, and it featured an onboard power generator for added utility.

The 2022 Kia Sportage, despite being on the smaller side of the compact crossover scale, provided a roomy passenger compartment. The SX trim offered luxurious features like perforated leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, and heated and ventilated front seats. Rear passengers enjoyed generous legroom and amenities like air conditioning vents and USB charging ports. The Sportage's cargo space was limited, with 1,703 litres when the second-row seats were folded, falling short of segment leaders. The smart liftgate technology added convenience, though it could be turned off if not needed.

The 2022 Kia EV6 featured a user-friendly infotainment system, though it lacked wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The instrument panel provided useful information, and the 360-degree surround-view cameras were sharp and clear. The head-up display used augmented reality for navigation, and the highest trim offered a 14-speaker Meridian stereo and remote parking assist.

The 2022 Kia Sportage came equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The SX trim added UVO Intelligence connected services, satellite radio, and a premium Harman Kardon audio system. While the infotainment system was easy to use, the UVO Intelligence system lagged behind in terms of technological sophistication, lacking features like a WiFi hotspot and wireless smartphone mirroring.

The 2022 Kia EV6 lacked published test results from safety organizations, but it came equipped with impressive safety features, including forward collision avoidance assist, lane keep assist, and blind spot monitoring. Higher trims offered additional features like rear cross-traffic alert and 360 cameras.

The 2022 Kia Sportage, particularly in the EX and SX trims, offered a comprehensive suite of safety features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assistance. The SX trim also included adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability. The Sportage received favourable crash-test ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS, with the SX earning an Acceptable headlight rating.