Made-in-India Hyundai IONIQ 5 EV vs Kia EV6: Range, specs and price comparison

Hyundai launched the IONIQ 5 EV in the Indian market on the first day of the Auto Expo 2023, marking its entry into the luxury electric car space. For the uninitiated, the IONIQ 5 is built on the same E-GMP dedicated battery vehicle platform that also underpins the Kia EV6 which was launched in the country last year.

Despite a sizeable price gap, the Kia EV6 will be one of the biggest rivals to the new made-in-India Hyundai IONIQ 5, hence, here's a comparison between the two EVs to help you decide which one offers better value for your money -



Dimensions

The Hyundai IONIQ 5 measures 4635 mm in length, 1890 mm in width, stands 1625 mm tall (without shark-fin antenna) and has a 3000 mm long wheelbase. This means that it is 75 mm taller and has a 100 mm longer wheelbase as compared to the Kia EV6, however, the latter is 60 mm longer.




Despite being built on the same platform, both the Hyundai IONIQ 5 and Kia EV6 follow an approach that is unique to their respective brand identity. While the IONIQ 5 is styled like a boxy crossover SUV, the Kia EV6 features a curvy and sloping design.

Battery Pack and Range

Hyundai is offering the IONIQ 5 in India with a single 72.6 kWh battery that returns an ARAI-certified range of 631 km on a full charge. The Hyundai EV has a charging 10 - 80% time of 18 minutes with a 350 kW DC fast charger, while a 50 kW DC fast charger can do the same in just 57 minutes. On the other hand, an 11 kW AC charger will take 6 hours and 55 mins to fully charge the battery.




Both the RWD and AWD versions of the Kia EV6 are packed with the same 77.4 kWh battery pack, with the former having a claimed range of 708 km (ARAI). A 350 kW DC fast charger will charge the battery from 10% to 80% in just 18 minutes, while a 50 kW charger will take 73 minutes to complete the same task.

What's more, both the EVs are equipped with V2L (Vehicle-to-Load) feature which lends them an on-board socket that enable you to power your electric gadgets wherever you want. The IONIQ 5 gets a socket located at the backseat, as well as one on the outside, while the EV6 gets an exterior socket only.

Powertrain and Performance

The India-spec IONIQ 5 gets a single electric motor setup, mounted at the back with a rear-wheel drive configuration. This motor produces 217 PS of max power and 350 Nm of peak torque. As per the company claims, the IONIQ 5 can sprint from 0 to 100 kmph in 7.6 seconds, before topping out at an electronically limited top speed of 185 kmph.

Meanwhile, the Kia EV6 can be had with either a single rear-mounted motor producing 229 PS and 350 Nm with rear-wheel drive, or a dual motor setup with all-wheel drive, putting out 325 PS power and 605 Nm torque. Kia claims that the AWD version of the EV6 will take just 5.2 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 100 kmph - almost 2 and a half seconds quicker than its cousin.

Price

Given the fact that the Hyundai IONIQ 5 is being assembled right here in India unlike the Kia EV6 which is a direct import (CBU), the former undercuts its cousin significantly. The Hyundai IONIQ 5 is available in a single fully-loaded variant, priced at Rs 44.95 lakh. In contrast, the Kia EV6 is now priced from Rs 60.95 lakh to Rs 65.95 lakh (all prices, ex-showroom) after the price hike earlier this year.


*All prices are ex-showroom

If given a choice, which luxury EV out of these two would you prefer? Let us know in the comments down below.Discover everything about the automotive world at Times of India.