The automotive market is in turmoil, however the headline is that Tesla gross sales are dropping and income are down, whereas EV gross sales generally are up in 2025 thus far. Whereas Tesla remains to be the 800-pound gorilla within the EV market with 43% of all gross sales, the Mannequin Y US gross sales dropped by 33% in Q1 this yr. That is important as a result of the Mannequin Y shouldn’t be solely the best-selling Tesla, it was the fourth-best-selling car within the US in ’24.
For a lot of patrons, this creates a quandary. If not a Tesla, then what? Tesla equates to electrical automotive. If not a Tesla, then there’s nothing, proper? For the primary 10-12 years of the corporate’s existence, there was no various. Positive, there was the Nissan Leaf, Mitsubishi MiEV, and numerous Renault fashions, however they have been small, unassuming, lacked energy, and above all, did not look nice.
Tesla guidelines the roost as a result of different EVs are usually not eye-catching, they lack energy, have brief vary, take a very long time to cost, and are bland packing containers with no options. However there at the moment are a number of glorious options to every of the 5 Tesla fashions available on the market.
Here is one which particularly takes on the Mannequin Y in quite a lot of methods.
The Tesla Mannequin Y is an distinctive automotive that holds its personal it doesn’t matter what energy prepare you examine it with. This text shouldn’t be targeted on downplaying the Mannequin Y, however relatively to focus on that there are completely viable EV options available on the market.
The Tesla Mannequin Y is in a transition interval, with the 2025 vary discontinued in March and changed with a Launch model. The Tesla web site has the Lengthy Vary RWD and Lengthy Vary AWD as the one choices accessible, however with little or no info on specs resembling horsepower and torque. However Tesla fashions change incrementally over time, and the 2026 Mannequin Y shouldn’t be that totally different from the 2025 mannequin.
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The Kia EV6 challenges the Mannequin Y
The Kia EV6 and Tesla Mannequin Y are very related in that they are feature-rich compact electrical crossover/SUVs. Each seat 5 comfortably, though the Tesla will be configured to seat seven relatively extra snugly. The Mode Y launched in 2020, whereas the EV6 launched in 2022.
The Mannequin Y is presently accessible in two trims on its US web site — RWD and AWD, with the latter most likely the Launch model that is a lot mentioned, however that little or no is thought about. The EV6 is available in 5 variations, with RWD and AWD choices in three of them. Each vehicles presently qualify for the $7,500 tax credit score, however will probably lose this if US laws adjustments as deliberate.
The Kia EV6’s vary
| Kia EV6 | Gentle RWD | Gentle Lengthy RangeRWD/AWD | Wind RWD/AWD | G-T Line RWD/AWD | GT AWD |
| MSRP | $42,900 | $46,200/$50,300 | $50,300/$54,300 | $54,200/$58,900 | $63,800 |
| Vary* | 237 miles | 319 miles/295 miles | 319 miles/295 miles | 319 miles/270 miles | 231 miles |
| Horsepower | 167 hp | 225/320 hp | 225/320 hp | 225/320 hp | 601hp/641 hp launch mode |
| Torque | 258 lb-ft | 258 /446 lb-ft | 258 /446 lb-ft | 258 /446 lb-ft | 545/568 lb-ft |
| 0-60 mph | 8.3 | 7.3/5 seconds | 7.3/5 seconds | 7.3/5 seconds | 3.6 seconds |
These are Kia’s figures as a result of the EPA has not launched up to date figures for the present vary. The numbers are inside a snug ballpark with these of the earlier vary.
Kia and Hyundai each favor this vary unfold, with a less expensive, much less highly effective trim, a number of RWD/FWD choices, and ending with a little bit of an influence monster. The reasonably priced Gentle mannequin is right for drivers who need the advantages of an EV in a package deal with good options, however that do not want huge energy or lengthy vary. The center three trims most likely compete most carefully with the Mannequin Y.
Mannequin Y
The Tesla Mannequin Y is within the technique of switching its 2025 vary to 2026, so a number of particulars are usually not accessible. However Tesla tends to launch a mannequin and replace it over time. For instance, the Mannequin S launched method again in 2012 and remains to be accessible. The Mannequin Y launched 2020, so we are able to choose Tesla’s claims in opposition to identified info from the 2025 mannequin.
| Tesla Mannequin Y | Lengthy Vary RWD | Lengthy Vary AWD |
| MSRP* | $44,990 | $48,990* |
| Vary** | 257 miles | 327 miles |
| Horsepower and torque | Not given | Not given |
| 0-60 mph | 4.6 | 5.4 |
There are reviews that the Lengthy Vary Launch Collection can be bought fully-loaded with the usually elective $8,000 Full Self Driving suite and different choices, and the value can be round $60,000. Tesla claims these are EPA-tested figures, however they haven’t but been revealed by the EPA. The vary of the Lengthy Vary AWD drops to 303 miles with 20-inch tires as a substitute of 19-inch.
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Security, reliability, charging, and guarantee
Kia
I am evaluating the identified amount of the Mannequin Y with the comparatively unknown attributes of the Kia EV6, and earlier than I come to options, expertise, and cargo house, we have now to set the parameters of security, reliability, the place and how briskly every automotive can cost, and guarantee.
Security
The Mannequin Y and EV 6 each rating a most of five-stars in crash exams with the NHTSA. The 2025 Mannequin Y had two remembers, whereas the EV6 had none. The IIHS scored each automobiles as ‘good’, which is its prime metric, though neither automotive acquired the uncommon Prime Security Decide score.
Reliability
J.D Energy is among the many most trusted sources within the automotive sphere. It charges automobiles out of 100 for numerous metrics. Listed below are the rankings for the 2025 Mannequin Y and 2024 EV6, because the 2025 mannequin has not but been rated.
Tesla Mannequin Y
- General – 76/100
- High quality and reliability 69/100 – honest
- Driving expertise 81/100 – nice
- Resale 85/100 – nice
Kia EV6
- General – 78
- High quality and reliability – 76 – common
- Driving expertise – 89/100 – nice
- Resale 75/100 – common
Charging
Any EV vary of 300 miles is greater than sufficient more often than not, and can take you 5 and a half hours to do on the freeway pace restrict. House or at work charging is finest as a result of it occurs within the background, and the vitality value is a couple of quarter of an analogous tank of fuel. The problem is when it’s important to recharge on the fly if you could go additional than your battery can deal with at the moment.
The Tesla Mannequin Y can cost as much as 250 kW max, giving it as much as 169 miles of vary in quarter-hour. Tesla doesn’t give the standard 10 to 80% cost time. Nonetheless, the Mannequin Y is clearly optimized for the intensive Tesla Supercharger community.
The Kia EV6 can cost as much as 350 kW max, giving it a ten to 80% cost time of 20 minutes. It might probably cost at most public charging services, together with the Tesla Supercharger community.
Guarantee
Electrical automobiles are far mechanically far easier than corresponding inside combustion engine automobiles. So whereas there are fewer issues to go flawed, the largest concern with an EV is the battery pack, as that is nonetheless by far the most costly a part of the automotive.
Tesla Mannequin Y guarantee
- Fundamental car 4 years / 50,000 miles
- Battery and drive unit 8 years / 120,000 miles
Kia EV6 guarantee
- Fundamental car 5 years / 60,000 miles
- Battery 10 years / 100,000 miles
- EV system 10 years /100,000 miles
- Roadside help 5 years / 60,000 miles
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Options
Kia
The Tesla Mannequin Y has been round since 2020 and is the bestselling Tesla mannequin, and was the fourth best-selling car within the US final yr. It provides all the standard options you’ll count on from a premium EV, together with ventilated and heated seats, contact screens within the entrance and the again, and nice sound.
The mannequin Y has extra cargo house than the EV6, each behind the rear seats and with the seats folded flat. The EV6 has two 12.3-inch shows for infotainment and devices, and these are joined to kind a big display on the fascia. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is customary throughout the vary, whereas the Mannequin Y would not provide this, infotainment choices like Spotify and Audible fill the hole a bit.
Driver help
The Tesla Full Self Driving package deal, whereas not fairly completely really self-driving, is a significantly superior driving help characteristic. The Kia EV6 provides a complete suite of driver help, starting from collision warning to freeway help that makes use of radar and cameras to assist the motive force navigate the freeway, change lanes, and preserve following distance. Some options are customary, whereas others are elective or depending on trim stage.
The EV6 as a viable various to the Mannequin Y
The Kia EV6 is a wonderful automotive and stacks up very nicely in opposition to the good Mannequin Y. For many who thought Tesla was the one EV choice, the EV6 is one in all many worthy contenders. If you’re on the lookout for an EV proper now, however perhaps not a Tesla, check drive the EV6 and see if it really works for you.
