2023 Honda HR-V vs 2022 Kia EV6

The 2022 Kia EV6 was a striking vehicle, boasting a sporty and svelte design reminiscent of a Ford Mustang Mach-E. Its low and wide stance, combined with a highback tail featuring a lip spoiler that doubled as a lightbar, gave it a dynamic appearance. The wheels were pushed to the corners, creating a body with pronounced hips, similar to the curves of a Porsche 911. The headlights, with their V-shaped pattern, added to the aggressive look, while the wedgy profile and smooth lower body, especially in matte silver paint, contributed to its sleek aesthetic. The interior was equally impressive, with dual 12-inch screens, a floating center console, and a mix of suede and leather seats, creating a futuristic yet driver-focused environment.

In contrast, the 2023 Honda HR-V underwent a significant styling update, resulting in a more sophisticated and modern appearance. The lowered beltline and simplified detailing gave it a sleeker look, with cleaner lines and fewer interruptions. The dusky, oceanic gray-green color, Nordic Forest Pearl, added to its refined aesthetic. Inside, the HR-V featured new seats with options for black or gray cloth, and the EX-L trim offered perforated leather seats with additional shoulder support. The interior design followed the trend set by the 2022 Civic, with a metal honeycomb grille hiding the vents and a sculptural center console, creating a sense of thoughtful design and premium feel.

The 2022 Kia EV6 was a powerhouse, especially in its GT-Line e-AWD variant, which featured two electric motors producing 320 horsepower and 446 pound-feet of torque. This setup allowed the EV6 to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in a claimed 4.6 seconds. The car's handling was impressive, with torque being routed quickly and effectively, providing a seamless driving experience. The regenerative braking system offered more than eight settings, allowing for one-pedal driving in its maximum I-Pedal setting. However, the EV6's range was disappointing in cold weather, achieving only 65 percent of its 274-mile EPA estimate during testing. Charging was efficient, with the car accepting up to 240 kW, but real-world charging speeds were often lower than Kia's claims.

The 2023 Honda HR-V, on the other hand, was equipped with a single powertrain option: a 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque. This was an improvement over the previous model, but the HR-V was still not overpowered. The updated CVT with Step-Shift function aimed to mimic traditional automatic transmission sounds. The HR-V offered Normal, Snow, and ECON drive modes, with Sport mode available by pulling the shifter back. The new front and fully independent rear suspensions, along with widened tracks, made the HR-V surprisingly fun to drive, though it lacked the power of some competitors.

The 2022 Kia EV6 offered a spacious interior with generous legroom and headroom, thanks to its low floor. The rear seats reclined and had air vents, providing a comfortable space for passengers. However, the cargo space was limited, with only 24 cubic feet behind the seats and 50 cubic feet when folded. The EV6's towing capacity was 2,300 pounds, and it featured an onboard power generator for 120-volt equipment.

The 2023 Honda HR-V, while a subcompact SUV, felt comfortably sized and well thought out. The center console featured a shelf for storing cords and phones, and the rear seats offered a higher seating position for easier entry and egress. Cargo space was 24.4 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 55.1 cubic feet when folded, slightly smaller than the previous model. The HR-V's passenger volume was among the largest in its class, with 98.7 cubic feet for LX and Sport trims and 97.3 for EX-L.

The 2022 Kia EV6's infotainment system was user-friendly, with dual 12-inch screens and a head-up display with augmented reality. However, it lacked wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The EV6 featured a 360-degree camera system, customizable engine sounds, and a remote parking system. Some features, like Kia Connect, were disabled in Massachusetts due to legal compliance issues.

The 2023 Honda HR-V featured a tablet-style infotainment display, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard across all trims. The EX-L trim offered a 9-inch display with wireless connectivity and a Qi-compatible wireless charging pad. The HR-V also included a 7-inch digital gauge cluster and a range of connectivity options, such as USB ports and Bluetooth.

The 2022 Kia EV6 came equipped with a range of safety features, including the HDA system, lane-keeping assist, and cyclist and pedestrian detection. However, it had no published test results from U.S. agencies. The GT-Line trim added evasive steering assist and adaptive cruise control with machine learning.

The 2023 Honda HR-V included the Honda Sensing suite as standard, offering adaptive cruise control, collision-mitigation braking, and lane-keeping assist. New features for 2023 included traffic-sign recognition and traffic jam assist. The HR-V had not been crash-tested for 2023, but the 2022 model received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.