The 2021 Tesla Model Y is one of the most popular electric SUVs available. That may be in part because it’s one of the cheapest Teslas, alongside the Tesla Model 3. That fact alone makes it more attractive to those who want an electric SUV but don’t want to pay big bucks for it. Now the 2022 Kia EV6 has come along and offered up another affordable option. Will it be enough to compete with the Tesla Model Y, or maybe, just maybe, take it down? Let’s look at what each electric SUV offers to see who will win when it comes down to the Kia EV6 vs the Tesla Model Y.

The Kia EV6 vs the Tesla Model Y: what are the major differences?

The Kia EV6 is built on a dedicated EV platform. Its range is shorter than the 2021 Tesla Model Y. The range for the Kia EV6 Long Range AWD is 250-270 miles on a single charge, while the 2021 Tesla Model Y’s range is 330 miles. However, if you opt for the Kia EV6 Long Range RWD, that number becomes comparable to the Tesla Model Y Performance, at 300 miles to 303 miles per charge.

The Kia EV6 and the Tesla Model Y also have a lot of similarities. They’re both pretty spacious electric SUVs. However, they aren’t quite the behemoths that some people may be eager for, perhaps because of large families or the need to transport a decent amount of cargo fairly regularly. For those people, they’ll have to wait for the Kia EV9 or the Hyundai Ioniq7, both of which will be out in the next year or two. Whether Tesla produces a larger SUV that can battle those remains to be seen.

Is the Kia EV6 available?

One of the benefits of choosing the Kia EV6 over the Tesla Model Y is its availability. There’s a long wait for Teslas right now, including the Model Y. Even if you were to order a Tesla Model Y in November of 2021, you wouldn’t get your SUV until June of 2022.

Yet the Kia EV6 isn’t without its own availability problems. Kia isn’t making a ton of them right now, and according to Inside EVs, they aren’t available in all states yet. Given the current automotive climate – there are few vehicles ready for purchase, and little bargaining room for consumers – some Kia dealers are charging way over MSRP for the Kia EV6. Unless you’re a Tesla hater, you’d have to pause and think before overpaying for a newish electric SUV when the tried and true Tesla Model Y can be had for a somewhat reasonable price. The 2022 Kia EV6 should start being delivered in early 2022.

How much does a 2021 Tesla Model Y cost?

Even though the 2021 Tesla Model Y is one of the cheapest Teslas, its popularity has caused its price to go higher. Currently, the price for a new Tesla Model Y Long Range starts at over $60,000.

On the other hand, the 2022 Kia EV6 starts at about $58,500. One of the biggest differences between the Tesla Model Y price and Kia EV6 price is that the Kia EV6 is eligible for the full $7,500 tax credit. The Tesla Model Y is not.

The Kia EV6 vs Tesla Model Y battle should prove to be an interesting one to watch. Each electric SUV has its advantages and drawbacks. How much people are willing to pay for those – or wait for them – will play a large role in which electric SUV comes out on top.