Compare the2024 Volkswagen ID.4VS 2024 Kia EV6

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Volkswagen ID.4 have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Kia EV6 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The ID.4’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The EV6 doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The ID.4 has a standard Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The EV6 doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Both the ID.4 and the EV6 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The Volkswagen ID.4 achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The EV6 has not yet been fully evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

The ID.4’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the EV6’s (7/100,000 vs. 5/100,000).

Volkswagen pays for scheduled maintenance on the ID.4 for 2 years and 20,000 miles. Volkswagen will pay for tire rotations, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Kia doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the EV6.

The ID.4 has more powerful engines than the EV6:

On the EPA test cycle the ID.4 gets better mileage than the EV6:

The ID.4 can travel longer on a full charge than the EV6 on a full charge:

For better stopping power the ID.4’s standard front brake rotors are larger than those on the EV6:

The ID.4 stops much shorter than the EV6:

The ID.4 Pro S AWD handles at .86 G’s, while the EV6 Wind e-AWD pulls only .85 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the ID.4’s turning circle is 6.7 feet tighter than the EV6’s (31.5 feet vs. 38.2 feet). The ID.4 AWD’s turning circle is 2.8 feet tighter than the EV6 GT’s (36.42 feet vs. 39.2 feet).

For greater off-road capability the ID.4 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the EV6 (6.8 vs. 6.1 inches), allowing the ID.4 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The ID.4 is 3.8 inches shorter than the EV6 Light/Wind, making the ID.4 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

As tested by Car and Driver while under full throttle, the interior of the ID.4 is quieter than the EV6 GT (68 vs. 70 dB).

The ID.4 has 1.6 inches more front headroom and .3 inches more rear shoulder room than the EV6.

The ID.4 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the EV6 with its rear seat up (30.3 vs. 24.4 cubic feet). The ID.4 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the EV6 with its rear seat folded (64.2 vs. 50.2 cubic feet).

The ID.4’s minimum standard towing capacity is much higher than the EV6’s (2200 vs. 0 pounds).

Standard trailer stability control on the ID.4 uses the Electronic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The EV6 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The ID.4’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The EV6’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the ID.4 the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the EV6 can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the ID.4 to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The EV6 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the ID.4 has a standard rear wiper. The EV6 doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the ID.4 S/S Plus has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The EV6 doesn’t offer cornering lights. The ID.4 S/S Plus also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

The ID.4 S/S Plus has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the EV6.

Insurance will cost less for the ID.4 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the ID.4 will cost $1665 less than the EV6 over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Volkswagen ID.4 will be $5412 to $6937 less than for the Kia EV6.

The Volkswagen ID.4 outsold the Kia EV6 by over two to one during 2023.