Kia EV6 vs. Volvo C40: Which One Wins?

In the battle for mid-range EV supremacy, the Kia EV6 and the Volvo C40 are two of the better options available to consumers.

While the EV6 bests the Volvo in range, the Volvo’s sharp looks and improved ride quality help make any decision between these two vehicles very tough. As the EV market continues to focus on a world where Tesla isn’t the only dominant player, both Kia and Volvo are all-in on electric vehicles, with Volvo committing to going all-electric by 2030. 

So, what are the deciding factors when looking at these two well-equipped vehicles? Range is definitely going to play a big factor as is charging speed, so let’s take a look at how these two EVs compare and see which one is the winner in 2023. 

Kia EV6 vs. Volvo C40: Side-by-Side Comparison

Kia EV6 vs. Volvo C40: What’s the Difference? 

Pricing

When looking at pricing, it’s pretty clear from the start that, at the entry point, the Kia EV6 is going to win this round. With a starting MSRP of $48,700, the EV6 offers a sub $50,000 price point that is increasingly attractive to buyers. However, depending on the trim level you choose, you can quickly push into the $50,000-plus range with the GT-Line model, or above $61,600 with the speedy GT trim. 

If you’re looking for the best value with the EV6, it’s definitely going to be the GT-Line RWD which offers Kia’s best range at right around a $52,900 MSRP. For the price, you get Kia’s largest battery, a host of options including different interior and exterior colors, a sunroof, GT-Line body styling, plus the 800V Ultra-Fast DC charging capability, and finally, towing for up to 2,300 pounds. 

Looking over at the Volvo C40 and you’ll see that the pricing is more expensive overall when compared to the Kia EV6. As more of a luxury brand, there is a premium price tag all Volvo C40 buyers will want to factor in when considering a new vehicle purchase. Available in three different trim levels, you’ll start right around $56,395 as a base MSRP, which includes up to 226 miles of range. 

If you move up in trim levels, you can add an additional $1,550 to the base price and receive a 360-degree camera plus fog lights. Make the move to the Ultimate trim level for an additional $4,800 and you get all of the base and mid-level features plus a Harmon Kardon sound system, adaptive cruise control, 20-inch wheels, and Volvo’s Pilot Assist for driving assistance. Regardless of which trim level you purchase, you receive Volvo’s built-in Google software which includes Google Maps and Google Voice Assistant. 

Range

As you start to explore different EVs on the road, it’s easy to try and compare range across all options to Tesla. The same goes for the Kia EV6, which can offer some impressive range. With its entry-level Wind RWD trim, you can get upwards of 310 miles of range (282 with AWD), which is pretty comparable to both the Tesla Model 3 and Y. Things get a little more interesting with the GT-Line as you can expect 310 miles with RWD but only 252 miles of range with AWD. 

Where Kia starts to falter a little is with its GT trim level, which is faster than you might expect a Kia to go with 206 miles of range on a single charge. If you stick close to home and value speed above all else, the GT trim is a fantastic choice and it’s the fastest vehicle in Kia’s lineup at 0-60 in 3.2 seconds. If you want the absolute best range, you can stick with RWD and go with either the Wind or GT-Line trims for a long-lasting 310 miles of range on a single charge. 

The Volvo C40 only offers one range option, which is a bit disappointing overall. At 226 miles of range, it’s perfect for commuting around town, driving to work, or any other activity that keeps you close to home. It’s when you start to think of longer driving scenarios like a road trip that its range really starts to become a factor. However, it’s very interesting that Volvo offers three separate trim levels of the C40 without changing the available range on any of them. This is a different take than many of Volvo’s competitors, which often pair trim levels with various range choices. 

Charging

Charging with the Kia EV6 is absolutely one of the biggest reasons to buy, as Kia has really considered how quickly buyers want to charge up and be back on the road. Using a Level 2 home charger isn’t going to knock your socks off at around 7 hours of charging, but it’s a different conversation when you are on the road.

Where the Kia EV6 really shines is when it’s using a DC Fast Charger where it can power up from 20-80% in between 18-20 minutes in optimal weather conditions. This is really fast and, while battery age will also play a role, given the newness of the Kia EV6, battery age shouldn’t be a huge factor for many years. There is no question that the Kia EV6 has an advantage over the Volvo C40 when it comes to charging speed. 

For Volvo, they put a lot of emphasis on ensuring long battery life but by doing so, they’ve also created an environment where the Volvo C40 is one of the slower-charging EVs in this mid-range price category. From 10-80%, C40 owners can expect to be hanging around a DC Fast Charge station for around 37-40 minutes, or almost double the time of the Kia EV6. Whether the Kia battery will wear faster with a quicker charging time is unknown at this point, but Volvo would like to think it’s a real possibility. Separately, the Volvo C40 takes around 8 hours to go from 0-100% on a Level 2 240V charger or a full 60 minutes more than a Kia EV6. 

Technology

There is little question that, when it comes to electric vehicles, Tesla has set the bar on technology, so it’s up to brands like Kia and Volvo to try and help reset the bar. Kia has taken a much bigger leap in the Tesla direction with dual 12-inch displays that combine to make up most of the dashboard and driver display. It’s really a good middle ground between Tesla’s ultra-minimal interior and avoiding the familiar button-heavy infotainment area that makes up Kia’s current gas-powered vehicle lineup. 

The primary 12.3-inch display sits above the steering wheel and provides the driver with different camera views when using a turn signal as well as lane positioning, etc. When combined with the second 12.3-inch display, you get a full overview of navigation, entertainment, convenience, and vehicle diagnostics. Additionally, the EV6 also features an available heads-up display that can show driver information like speed, when to make a turn while navigating, and more. There’s also an available system for smart parking assistance for anyone who still struggles with parallel parking or when simply exiting a space. 

The Volvo C40 Recharge doesn’t offer quite the same level of display space as it opts for a vertical screen, all while maintaining an interior that best aligns with the rest of its non-EV lineup. It offers the full suite of Google services, including a best-in-class navigation experience with Google Maps, as well as voice assistance with Google Assistant for hands-free help with getting directions, playing music, etc. Google Play is also built right in so you can download some of your favorite listening apps to help pass the time while you’re stuck in traffic. Plus, Volvo includes free over-the-air updates so you are sure to always have the latest possible software. 

Driver Assistance

Kia isn’t going nearly as deep into driver assistance of full-self driving as Tesla, but they are not standing still either. To help boost driver assistance and safety, they are including a number of critical features like blind-spot detection and surround view monitor. The latter feature includes 360 degrees of camera protection to help you best maneuver the vehicle in and out of tight space. 

The Kia EV6’s auto emergency braking technology helps all Kia EV6 owners avoid collisions when turning left in an intersection and similar technology helps avoid vehicles while passing through an intersection. A Highway Driving Assist 2 package includes the front-facing camera as well as radar sensors and GPS data to maintain a safe distance from cars traveling ahead of you on major roadways. 

Like the Kia, the Volvo C40 doesn’t go all in on self-driving and instead focuses on driver assistance support. The C40 includes a similar blind-spot information system as well as cross-traffic alerts if you are backing out of a parking spot and a car or pedestrian comes up behind you.

A 360-degree camera offers similar comfort with maneuvering in tight spaces and lane keep assistance ensures you don’t veer into another vehicle while driving. Volvo’s intelligent braking also ensures that you can avoid collisions by utilizing the front-facing camera for auto braking. 

Kia EV6 vs. Volvo C40: 5 Must-Know Facts

• The Kia EV6 offers multiple trim levels, which can offer up to 310 miles of range, well above the Volvo C40’s 226 miles of range across all three of its available trim levels. 
• The Volvo C40 incorporates multiple Google programs like Google Maps and Google Voice Assistant across its interface aligned with over-the-air updates for the latest software. 
• Kia’s EV6 GT trim is one of the fastest mid-range EVs on the road with a 0-60 mph speed of 3.2 seconds. 
• Charging the Kia with DC Fast Charging technology will provide almost double the charge speed over the Volvo C40. 
• The Kia EV6 also wins on having more cargo space with 24.4 cubic feet of space behind the passenger row compared to Volvo’s 15 cubic feet. 

Kia EV6 vs. Volvo C40: Which Wins? 

As pretty and fun to drive as the Volvo C40 Recharge can be, it costs more than the Kia EV6 and offers almost 100 fewer miles of range, making this a pretty easy win for the Kia EV6.

Unless you absolutely need to tell someone you drive a Volvo which sounds more luxurious than a Kia, there is little here in favor of the Volvo C40. Not to mention Kia’s well ahead of Volvo’s small display with its dual 12.3-inch screens which feels much more like the future.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©ben bryant/Shutterstock.com.