[BanditTA]

This isn't true.

The differences you see quoted are down to differences in tyres (comparing an M50 on wider 20" tyres to an eDrive 40 with narrower 19" tyres, for instance), not so much the cars themselves. If you compare the EPA estimates for the two cars with the same 19" tyres, the difference is not that great (about 4.3%). That assumes you drive them the same as well, which may not always be true

The only issues I had with the EV6 GT were the ICCU and battery issues. Other than that it was the best car we’ve had to date. Will provide more of a comparison after I drive the I4 more, but so far I like the steering, ride and handling better in the I4.

 

[BanditTA]

The e40 is plenty of fun to drive. More power than I actually need, but YMMV. Also it IS RWD, with all that entails, which might not be your thing!

Re: reliablility, zero issues with mine so far, but it's only been 2 years so probably too early to tell.

Overall, what did you think of the EV6, aside from the reliability issues? Was it fun to drive? Practical? It may have the i4 beat w.r.t. charging speed, what with the 800V architecture and all...? Did you ever use the V2H feature?

The EV6 GT is fun to drive - mostly due to the crazy power. It is a bit more practical than the I4 - though the I4 surprised me that the trunk space isn’t that much worse. I used the V2H feature a couple of times. We set up our house so we can power everything outside of the AC using the Natures Generator kit. Hopefully it works ok with the I4.

 

[cruzer666]

Now those are some cool wheels! First time I've seen those. Congrats on getting the fastest color too.

 

[A_Camera]

The only issues I had with the EV6 GT were the ICCU and battery issues. Other than that it was the best car we’ve had to date. Will provide more of a comparison after I drive the I4 more, but so far I like the steering, ride and handling better in the I4.

So far we have not had any issue with ours during the almost two years we had it. The car had a recall for the 12V battery charger, but the recall was a control and replacement on need, but ours didn't need any fixing, as opposed to the i4, which had to be fixed twice (coolant leak) during the same period. Anyway, I keep track of the 12V battery in both cars, my wife is happy with the EV6 and I am happy with the i4, though I find the EV6 to be the more comfortable one, especially when it is hot. I just love the cooled and ventilated seats and the facts that the seats are more comfortable and higher up from the floor.

 

[A_Camera]

The EV6 GT is fun to drive - mostly due to the crazy power. It is a bit more practical than the I4 - though the I4 surprised me that the trunk space isn’t that much worse. I used the V2H feature a couple of times. We set up our house so we can power everything outside of the AC using the Natures Generator kit. Hopefully it works ok with the I4.

There is no V2L in the i4. That's a nice feature, though we have never used it.

 

[PJBi4]

There is no V2L in the i4. That's a nice feature, though we have never used it.

I have never used it in my EV6 either. Would if we ever had a power outage but so far we have not.

 

[i42025]

Hi - brand new member. I have a lease expiring on my 2023 Kia EV6 GT in September but with the tariffs I’m starting to look a little early for my next option.

I love the Kia but it has had 12V battery issues and seems to know for recurring ICCU failures. Hence I don’t think I want to buy it out at the end of the lease. I’m thinking to buy this time so I want something that will be dependable too.

Thinking to buy a lightly used I4. The M50 looks similar performance wise to the GT. Any particular years or trims to avoid?

If there’s a good thread on this already feel free to point me to it. Thanks!

You might want to read what I just posted. I'd be surprised if buying it would be a good option...my 2022 GT Line was waaaay underwater at lease end.

 

[BanditTA]

We’ll see if the tariffs keep the values up a bit better going forward. Who knows - worst case we’ll turn it in, in 3 years. If it doesn’t depreciate as quickly we’ll buy it (assuming we like it). Thought it was a risk worth taking.

 

[BanditTA]

So far we love the I4. One thing I appreciate about BMW is they don’t skimp on tires. The Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires are really fantastic. I’ve had them on one other car and was pleased to see them on the I4.

I imagine the Kia GT would handle a lot better if it had similar tires - it comes with mediocre Goodyears.

Not noticing that much of a drop off power wise.

I do think the surround view cameras on the Kia are better and the parking assistance is better on it as well. I like the blind spot camera that pops up in the dash on the Kia too when you put your signal on.

The I4 feels better built, more luxurious, rides nicer and handles nicer. But the Kia is a little higher off the ground too and it has a bit more of a sports car feel to it - you feel the bumps more.

The screens and controls on both cars have their pluses and minuses - the BMW screens look more sophisticated but the Kia so far is a tad simpler to me but that may change over time. I like the BMW voice recognition - works great so far - much better than the Kia.

The Harman Kardon stereo is much better than the Kia’s crappy Meridian stereo system. That’s one of the Kia’s worst aspects. The HK system isn’t quite as nice as the custom system I put in my Trans Am but it’s close.

When driving the BMW on the freeway I really feel like I’m going slower than I really am - didn’t notice that as much in the Kia.

The ability to back the Kia out of the garage with the key fob and ability to use it to power the house are also some items I lose with the I4.

The Kia is surprisingly good for being a Kia - it’s actually a great car but I think we’ll like the BMW slightly better. I think the I4 looks a bit better and our kids do too…but the GT isn’t a bad looking car for being a glorified station wagon.

 

[pdk42]

The Harman Kardon stereo is much better than the Kia’s crappy Meridian stereo system. That’s one of the Kia’s worst aspects. The HK system isn’t quite as nice as the custom system I put in my Trans Am but it’s close.

I only had a short drive of the EV6, but I found the Meridian system to be pretty good, and certainly better than the HK at its default settings.

 

[A_Camera]

So far we love the I4. One thing I appreciate about BMW is they don’t skimp on tires. The Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires are really fantastic. I’ve had them on one other car and was pleased to see them on the I4.

I imagine the Kia GT would handle a lot better if it had similar tires - it comes with mediocre Goodyears.

Not noticing that much of a drop off power wise.

You shouldn't notice any power drop since the EV6 is the more powerful car...

I do think the surround view cameras on the Kia are better and the parking assistance is better on it as well. I like the blind spot camera that pops up in the dash on the Kia too when you put your signal on.

Well, I only partially agree with this. The self parking of the EV6 is a feature we don't have in the i4, but it is also something we never used. I mean, I wouldn't like to stop, get out of the car and park it with the fob on a public parking. It would feel awkward to do it, and would take a lot, and i mean A LOT longer, and if I or my wife can't park the car somewhere then that parking is no good (or we lost our ability to drive). Regarding the cameras, the i4 with the PAP is definitely better and more informative. It has the panoramic view, and car wash mode which the EV6 does not have, and which I love and use very often. The blind spot camera view is nothing I am interested in, or impressed about. In fact, I wish it was possible to switch it off. I don't know if my wife ever uses it, but we are used to use the mirrors. So yes, the EV6 has more parking assist features, but the i4 has more useful features.

The I4 feels better built, more luxurious, rides nicer and handles nicer. But the Kia is a little higher off the ground too and it has a bit more of a sports car feel to it - you feel the bumps more.

Yes, definitely true. I like the EV6 when it comes to height, both in terms of seat height, but also road clearance, but the i4 feels definitely more luxurious and better built.

When driving the BMW on the freeway I really feel like I’m going slower than I really am - didn’t notice that as much in the Kia.

That's because the Kia is noisier, so the same speed feels faster in the Kia.

The ability to back the Kia out of the garage with the key fob and ability to use it to power the house are also some items I lose with the I4.

Yes, I'd love to have the V2L in the i4. It is a useful feature, though we never yet needed that during the almost two years we had the EV6. Nevertheless, I would have been ready to pay extra for the i4 if it was an option to select V2L.

The Kia is surprisingly good for being a Kia - it’s actually a great car but I think we’ll like the BMW slightly better. I think the I4 looks a bit better and our kids do too…but the GT isn’t a bad looking car for being a glorified station wagon.

The i4 looks better for me as well, but the EV6 is the better car when you have kids, especially as they grow. It is more comfortable and there is more space in the car. I don't have that need, and we have the EV6 also, but if I could only have one car and would have kids living with me I'd definitely select the EV6 before the i4 since that is a better family car in my opinion.

 

[i42025]

Hi - brand new member. I have a lease expiring on my 2023 Kia EV6 GT in September but with the tariffs I’m starting to look a little early for my next option.

I love the Kia but it has had 12V battery issues and seems to know for recurring ICCU failures. Hence I don’t think I want to buy it out at the end of the lease. I’m thinking to buy this time so I want something that will be dependable too.

Thinking to buy a lightly used I4. The M50 looks similar performance wise to the GT. Any particular years or trims to avoid?

If there’s a good thread on this already feel free to point me to it. Thanks!

I think there is no comparison. Happily out of a lease of a 2022 EV6 GTLine…after numerous 12 volt problems. Basically a good car but there ought to be a class action suit re the ICCUs in all three (Kia, Genesis, Hyundai). We would only drive it near home by the end of the lease, as I had no confidence that the latest recall (which took forever to schedule) would resolve the problems. Whatever, it’s gone. The i4 X Drive 40 M Sport is waaay better in many ways: materials inside and out; build quality; suspension, both handling and ride; HUD; controls; quietness; access to hatch; parking cameras; visibility outward; and most especially the agility….the Kia got around corners but it didn’t inspire confidence. I’d guess the shorter wheelbase is partly responsible but also just a much better sorted suspension. The i4 is certainly heavy, but handles the weight MUCH better. (BTW my sense is that a drawback of EVs is the skateboard batteries necessitate a relatively long wheelbase in most instances…perhaps the i4 and Polestar 2 are exceptions b/c they are ICE adaptations.). Downsides of the i4 compared to the Kia (GT Line, not GT) a shorter wheelbase is probably why the back seat is small, a trade off I’m fine with; it needs a less aggressive throttle setting than “eco pro”— like the Kia’s
”eco”— which would give it better around town range and not be so fast….I like to have more time to enjoy the ride!; charging is slower, although I almost always charge at home over night so not much of a concern; and the i4 is somewhat harder to exit, presumably b/c of ride height, although somehow the Kia didn’t seem that great. Will see how road trips go….I don’t like the idea of another 20 min or so to charge, but the reliability/availability of charging is more important — hope Tesla chargers are available soon. The last word on my comparison between the two is that, surprisingly, the lease rate is lower. Granted, I got the Kia when they were new and in vary high demand…I’m sure lease rates are much lower now. Still, for me, I got a demonstratively better car for less $$, with a shorter lease term, and the dealer covered the last two Kia payments so I could exit before Trumpet unleashed tariff Armageddon.

 

[BanditTA]

You shouldn't notice any power drop since the EV6 is the more powerful car...


Well, I only partially agree with this. The self parking of the EV6 is a feature we don't have in the i4, but it is also something we never used. I mean, I wouldn't like to stop, get out of the car and park it with the fob on a public parking. It would feel awkward to do it, and would take a lot, and i mean A LOT longer, and if I or my wife can't park the car somewhere then that parking is no good (or we lost our ability to drive). Regarding the cameras, the i4 with the PAP is definitely better and more informative. It has the panoramic view, and car wash mode which the EV6 does not have, and which I love and use very often. The blind spot camera view is nothing I am interested in, or impressed about. In fact, I wish it was possible to switch it off. I don't know if my wife ever uses it, but we are used to use the mirrors. So yes, the EV6 has more parking assist features, but the i4 has more useful features.

Yes, definitely true. I like the EV6 when it comes to height, both in terms of seat height, but also road clearance, but the i4 feels definitely more luxurious and better built.


That's because the Kia is noisier, so the same speed feels faster in the Kia.


Yes, I'd love to have the V2L in the i4. It is a useful feature, though we never yet needed that during the almost two years we had the EV6. Nevertheless, I would have been ready to pay extra for the i4 if it was an option to select V2L.

The i4 looks better for me as well, but the EV6 is the better car when you have kids, especially as they grow. It is more comfortable and there is more space in the car. I don't have that need, and we have the EV6 also, but if I could only have one car and would have kids living with me I'd definitely select the EV6 before the i4 since that is a better family car in my opinion.

Thanks - agreed on pretty much all
of your comments. I think I do just need some time to adjust to the cameras. We’re aware that we lost some leg room but that wasn’t a huge concern. We never needed to use the V2L either but we had a transfer switch installed to leverage it. There are fairly cheap / small electric generators we may just get at some point instead.

 

[BanditTA]

I think there is no comparison. Happily out of a lease of a 2022 EV6 GTLine…after numerous 12 volt problems. Basically a good car but there ought to be a class action suit re the ICCUs in all three (Kia, Genesis, Hyundai). We would only drive it near home by the end of the lease, as I had no confidence that the latest recall (which took forever to schedule) would resolve the problems. Whatever, it’s gone. The i4 X Drive 40 M Sport is waaay better in many ways: materials inside and out; build quality; suspension, both handling and ride; HUD; controls; quietness; access to hatch; parking cameras; visibility outward; and most especially the agility….the Kia got around corners but it didn’t inspire confidence. I’d guess the shorter wheelbase is partly responsible but also just a much better sorted suspension. The i4 is certainly heavy, but handles the weight MUCH better. (BTW my sense is that a drawback of EVs is the skateboard batteries necessitate a relatively long wheelbase in most instances…perhaps the i4 and Polestar 2 are exceptions b/c they are ICE adaptations.). Downsides of the i4 compared to the Kia (GT Line, not GT) a shorter wheelbase is probably why the back seat is small, a trade off I’m fine with; it needs a less aggressive throttle setting than “eco pro”— like the Kia’s
”eco”— which would give it better around town range and not be so fast….I like to have more time to enjoy the ride!; charging is slower, although I almost always charge at home over night so not much of a concern; and the i4 is somewhat harder to exit, presumably b/c of ride height, although somehow the Kia didn’t seem that great. Will see how road trips go….I don’t like the idea of another 20 min or so to charge, but the reliability/availability of charging is more important — hope Tesla chargers are available soon. The last word on my comparison between the two is that, surprisingly, the lease rate is lower. Granted, I got the Kia when they were new and in vary high demand…I’m sure lease rates are much lower now. Still, for me, I got a demonstratively better car for less $$, with a shorter lease term, and the dealer covered the last two Kia payments so I could exit before Trumpet unleashed tariff Armageddon.

Yeah as mentioned above we also lost confidence in driving the EV6 as well. That was my main reason for switching to BMW. Our EV6 charged a bit faster however the charger port overheated a lot and cancelled the charging at the fastest setting.

I was also surprised that the lease is cheaper overall than the Kia too on a very loaded Xdrive40. I went to the dealer last week not expecting it to be in my price range.

 

[BanditTA]

I don’t know if this is karma or what but my Kia EV6 GT died today and flashed “pull over immediately- service the electrical system.” This is just 3 weeks after the first 12V battery was replaced at 11K miles (along with 3 recalls to supposedly fix the issue). It’s now at the Kia dealer and it appears to be the fried ICCU issue. It died as my wife was taking my daughter to school and freaked her out a bit.

I bought the BMW with 4 months left of payments as mentioned above and planned to just use it here and there over the next 4 months. We’re more confident in driving my nearly 50 year old Trans Am than the Kia right now. My wife said she’ll never drive the Kia again. Going to call Kia Finance tomorrow to see if they’ll be willing to refund the remaining lease payments. Doubt it but worth trying as I can’t see driving this car any more.

 

[amancuso]

Excellent advice - thank you! You were 100% right about the $7500 rebate only being there for the lease.

We bought a 2022 i4 M Sport eDrive40 with 26,000 miles for 38k in November. We checked the carfax and dealer records for issues/buyback and there weren't any. It's been insanely reliable, and we liked it so much we bought a second one with 36k miles (also a 2022) for my daily. Both have been trouble free, and being CPO cars there are protections there, and I'm paying basically half price of a new one. (We leased our first EV, a VW ID.4 that turned out to be nothing but problems, so we had VW buy it back). Will not lease or buy new again, It's a huge waste of money IMHO.

 

[A_Camera]

I don’t know if this is karma or what but my Kia EV6 GT died today and flashed “pull over immediately- service the electrical system.” This is just 3 weeks after the first 12V battery was replaced at 11K miles (along with 3 recalls to supposedly fix the issue). It’s now at the Kia dealer and it appears to be the fried ICCU issue. It died as my wife was taking my daughter to school and freaked her out a bit.

I bought the BMW with 4 months left of payments as mentioned above and planned to just use it here and there over the next 4 months. We’re more confident in driving my nearly 50 year old Trans Am than the Kia right now. My wife said she’ll never drive the Kia again. Going to call Kia Finance tomorrow to see if they’ll be willing to refund the remaining lease payments. Doubt it but worth trying as I can’t see driving this car any more.

You must have had really rotten luck with your EV6. We haven't had any issues since the almost two years we have had ours. No 12V issues, no coolant leak, nothing. It was recalled once for the 12V charging issues some EV6 had, but ours was given back without any service, checked, and no service or parts replacement was needed. I keep track of the 12V battery in both cars, and both the i4 and the EV6 is fine. The coolant leak is common in i4, and we (the community) also had some drive train failure, 12V charging issues, and some other unwanted stuff, but apart from the coolant leak, I don't know about any global and large issues. Anyway, keep track of your coolant level, and hope you get some refund for the EV6.

 

[BanditTA]

You must have had really rotten luck with your EV6. We haven't had any issues since the almost two years we have had ours. No 12V issues, no coolant leak, nothing. It was recalled once for the 12V charging issues some EV6 had, but ours was given back without any service, checked, and no service or parts replacement was needed. I keep track of the 12V battery in both cars, and both the i4 and the EV6 is fine. The coolant leak is common in i4, and we (the community) also had some drive train failure, 12V charging issues, and some other unwanted stuff, but apart from the coolant leak, I don't know about any global and large issues. Anyway, keep track of your coolant level, and hope you get some refund for the EV6.

Thanks! From the Kia EV Forums this does appear to be prominent issue that tends to happen around the 18 month mark. Sounds like you’ve had better luck but I’d watch out for it. It’s not easy to catch ahead of time though - I have a battery voltage monitor. All looked fine but then suddenly it just got killed off.

 

[A_Camera]

Thanks! From the Kia EV Forums this does appear to be prominent issue that tends to happen around the 18 month mark. Sounds like you’ve had better luck but I’d watch out for it. It’s not easy to catch ahead of time though - I have a battery voltage monitor. All looked fine but then suddenly it just got killed off.

I follow the Kia forum, but could not really see that it is a HUGE issue. Yes, it happens, but you should have been here a year ago... we had threads about 12V battery failure, HV battery failure, drive train failure, severe coolant leak... and I don't know what not. Anyway, anything can happen with a car, even the i4, but as I said, our car was in and is checked. Other than that, it is right now around the 18 months marker, so we will see, but I am not particularly worried. If it happens, we will deal with it. The car has a 7 year warranty, so I don't see any reason to worry about it.

 

[petee_c]

n=1

Our gv60 has been in service for about 24 months and has about 30k miles on the clock. No battery issues of note.

My wife did report a heater issue after 40 minutes of highway driving in -20c temps,but it cleared itself after a few minutes. This was only once.