The Kia EV6 is a class-leading new electric SUV, but for the same price you could have a used version of Jaguar’s super-desirable I-Pace. So, which is the better buy?…
The contenders
NEW Kia EV6 77kWh RWD GT-Line
List Price £43,945
Target price £43,945
Our 2022 What Car? Car of the Year has it all: a 328-mile official range, superfast charging and some clever features that make it very compelling indeed
USED Jaguar I-Pace EV400 SE
Price new £69,495
Price today: £44,500*
Jaguar’s lush I-Pace has power, prestige and an official range that’s almost as long as the EV6’s. It looks conspicuously good value as a used buy
*Price today is based on a 2019 model with average mileage and a full service history and is correct at the time of writing
It wasn’t so long ago that anyone in the market for an upmarket electric car that offered not only a great range but also a desirable badge could buy a Tesla or nothing.
Things have moved on, though, with the launch of the Jaguar I-Pace in 2018 sparking a revolution; the question has become not, “Do I want to buy a luxurious electric car?” but “Which one shall I have?”
The I-Pace was enjoyable to drive, stylish and opulent, with a long range – plus it was an SUV. It wasn’t long before a lot of other premium brands started to offer electric SUVs of their own, including Audi, BMW and Mercedes.
The problem is that to buy any of these cars new requires a great deal of money. But a solution is to go for a used I-Pace: buying a three-year-old model will save you around £25,000.
Here, we’re pitching just such an example against one of our favourite new electric cars: the Kia EV6. Indeed, we like the EV6 so much that we’ve just crowned it our overall What Car? Car of the Year for 2022. Brand new, as tested here, it actually costs the same as the used Jag.
So, can the EV6 cut it against its premium-badged rival? Read on to find out.
Driving
Performance, ride, handling, refinement
In a straightforward drag race, the 395bhp, four-wheel-drive I-Pace wins handsomely: at our test track it sprinted from 0-60mph in just 4.3sec, whereas the 223bhp, rear-wheel-drive EV6 required 5.9sec. However, that still means the EV6 is faster than plenty of hot hatches, and the sheer responsiveness of both cars to accelerator inputs means they never leave you wanting for performance on public roads.
Besides, the EV6 counters with a longer range, with it officially covering up 328 miles between charges, compared with the 292 miles of the I-Pace. And when we tested both cars in winter conditions (albeit on different days), the EV6 managed 3.4 miles/kWh, compared with the 2.5 miles/kWh of the I-Pace.
You’d expect something wearing the Jaguar badge to handle well, and the I-Pace does, even though it’s a heavy car. It has quicker and slightly meatier steering than the EV6, and leans less through corners, all of which makes it feel sportier. The EV6 is still a pleasant enough car to punt through the twisties, but it never feels quite as exciting to drive or as well balanced.
Similarly, the I-Pace has the edge for ride comfort, even if you don’t buy a used example that’s equipped with the air suspension that’s an option from new; even the standard springs cope brilliantly with the worst pot-holed roads and broken surfaces. There is one caveat, though: you need avoid cars that have been specified with optional 21in alloy wheels, because these make the I-Pace far less settled.
The EV6 feels firmer than the I-Pace when both are fitted with standard 19in wheels, but it’s not in the least bit irritating, and it rides more smoothly than bigger-wheeled I-Paces.
You’ll also find it easier to come to a smooth stop in the EV6, because the I-Pace’s brakes are rather grabby. Plus, the EV6 is very quiet even by electric car standards, whereas the I-Pace lets in some wind and road noise on the motorway, and its motors whine more as you accelerate and decelerate.
Keyword: New Kia EV6 vs used Jaguar I-Pace