As the newer EV in the catalog, the 2023 Kia EV6 is superior to the 2023 Kia Niro EV in several ways. For shoppers looking for their first electric vehicles, these advantages make the Kia EV6 a more appealing option! Let’s look at these four advantages in more detail.

1. The 2023 Kia EV6 has more torque than the 2023 Kia Niro EV

According to Edmunds, the baseline trim of the Kia EV6 has a powertrain that produces 167 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. Meanwhile, the 2023 Kia Niro EV has a baseline rating of 188 lb-ft of torque. However, while the Niro EV loses to the EV6 in terms of torque, it does trump its Kia sibling with 201 hp.

2. The EV6 is more energy efficient

EVs aren’t judged by gas mileage or miles per gallon (mpg) but by miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe) to determine their energy efficiency with electricity. The 2023 Kia EV6 has a 117 MPGe rating compared to the 2023 Kia Niro EV’s rating of 113 MPGe. However, while slightly less efficient than the EV6, this still puts the redesigned Niro EV above many other popular EV models on the market, including the Ford Mustang Mach-E (103 MPGe) and Hyundai Ioniq 5 (110 MPGe).

3. More ground clearance than the Kia Niro EV

While EVs aren’t known for off-road driving, ground clearance is still a weighty concern. Most electric vehicles have their battery packs attached to the bottom of the model, meaning you want to avoid anything hitting the undercarriage of your car.

In this category, the 2023 Kia EV6 sports 6.1 inches of ground clearance, whereas the new Niro EV only offers 5.9 inches.

4. The Kia EV6 offers AWD, and the Niro EV doesn’t

Lastly, the Kia EV6 has a distinctive performance advantage over the new Kia Niro EV, that being all-wheel drive (AWD). While the Kia EV6 doesn’t come with standard AWD like the Subaru Solterra, it is an optional add-on, offering EV6 owners better traction for off-road driving and slippery terrain. However, the Kia Niro EV doesn’t have that option, offering the same drivetrain across its trim level options.