Which one would you choose?
I came from a Chevy Blazer RS. I test drove both the EV6, Equinox EV, and the Blazer EV. Ended up going with the Kia EV6 Wind AWD in July 2024. Both have their pros and cons depending on the features you’re looking for. The biggest dealbreaker for me with Chevy was no CarPlay or Android Auto, which are really important to me.
The EV6 is quicker (it’s one of the fastest cars on the road), charges faster, but it doesn’t have a rear window wiper. That doesn’t matter though because of the angle of the rear window.
If you can afford the GT-Line, I’d recommend it for next time. Unfortunately, it wasn’t in my budget for this lease.
I love the car and I’m happy with my decision. I’m excited to see how battery technology improves over the next few years and I’ll see what the market has to offer then.
@JenifaLopes
I was honestly surprised at how well the rear window stays clean without a rear wiper.
I’d pick the EV6. Just don’t go for the first year model (2022) if you’re worried about issues. If you’re looking at new ones (2025), then definitely go for the EV6. It charges faster, has more power, and better tech.
@Williamson
I got a first gen 2022 Wind model with 43k miles and it’s been great.
petrabrinkman said:
@Williamson
I got a first gen 2022 Wind model with 43k miles and it’s been great.
Yeah, I’ve got a first-gen Wind AWD with 54k miles, and I haven’t had the usual issues like 12V or ICCU failures, but I did have the HVAC blower motor go out during a really cold -17F spell. Both of the horns went out too, but they were fixed under warranty quickly.
@Williamson
Yeah, I bought mine used, so my 12V battery went out at about 41k miles, which feels pretty normal to me. But that HVAC blower issue sounds rough.
Do you know if you can buy the same basic warranty from Kia once our warranties expire at 60k miles? When I had a Hyundai EV, they constantly called me to try and sell me an extended warranty.
@petrabrinkman
Not sure about the warranty. Mine was bought new, so I plan on keeping it until I hit 100k miles before getting a new one (probably an EV9 due to my growing family).
Williamson said:
@petrabrinkman
Not sure about the warranty. Mine was bought new, so I plan on keeping it until I hit 100k miles before getting a new one (probably an EV9 due to my growing family).
I got mine used and have been getting free fuel. I’ve never paid more than $40 in 12k miles, and that was only on road trips. I plan on keeping it for a long time, and I’m thinking about getting an extended warranty once the basic one expires. It’s around $3k, but it’s worth the peace of mind.
@Williamson
Faster charging? I must have missed this part. Could you clarify?
Mark said:
@Williamson
Faster charging? I must have missed this part. Could you clarify?
The max charging speed for the EV6 is 241kw, while the Equinox is 158kw. The Equinox takes 34 minutes to charge from 20-80%, while the EV6 takes just 18 minutes, assuming ideal charging conditions for both.
@Williamson
Oh, I misunderstood. I thought you meant the 2025 EV6 charges faster than the 2022 version.
Mark said:
@Williamson
Oh, I misunderstood. I thought you meant the 2025 EV6 charges faster than the 2022 version.
It does, actually. The 2025 model has about a 5Kw higher peak charging speed.
@Williamson
Yeah, the 2025 version charges from 10-80% in 18 minutes, so it has a greater range too.
@Williamson
My 2022 is doing fine. No issues at all. I’ve got 34k miles.
I traded a Bolt EUV for an EV6 GT-Line after getting frustrated with Chevy service. I didn’t consider current Chevy EVs because they lack CarPlay. So far, I’m really happy with the EV6.
The charging speed alone makes the EV6 a better choice in my opinion.
What exactly are you hoping to hear from the EV6 owner forum?
Barbara said:
What exactly are you hoping to hear from the EV6 owner forum?
People have been complaining about various issues here, including buying lemons from Kia. There was even someone who traded one for the Blazer, so maybe he has some helpful insights.
@DolphGabbana
People usually complain more online. The actual rate of ICCU failures is pretty low, just like with the 12V battery issues. And those are the main problems. It’s not the best car in heavy snow because the headlights can get packed with snow, but those are minor flaws.