In the past decade, the Hyundai Motor Group has undergone one of the biggest glow-ups in automotive history. The Korean automotive group went from producing bland and unrecognizable cars to creating some of the most exciting EVs on the market.
Within Kia’s lineup, the EV6 and EV9 stand out with excellent charging capabilities, nicely-appointed interiors, and a healthy array of standard safety features. But the EV market is getting quite crowded (and weird), so price cuts are becoming necessary to stay relevant.
Kia is currently incentivizing the facelifted, Tesla plug-equipped 2025 EV6 by $3,000 with Customer Cash across all trims in addition to the $7,500 federal EV credit, which it now receives for purchasing because it’s built in the United States.
With the discounts together and the requisite destination fees, the EV6 starts at $33,875 in the Light configuration and caps off at $49,875 with the top-tier GT-Line AWD model. (The performance-focused Kia EV6 GT will only get a $7,500 tax credit when leased, as it is still built in South Korea.)
The larger three-row EV9 is seeing a $4,000 Customer Cash discount for 2026 models, as well as the EV tax credit; it too is now built in the U.S. These discounts shave the 2026 EV9’s effective starting price down to $44,895, including destination fees. Current Kia owners, and anyone who can show they were shopping for a competitive vehicle, can secure another $1,000 off.
For those who would rather not purchase outright, the 2026 EV9 Wind AWD has a $459 monthly lease special that’s good for 24 months—though it requires buyers to cough up a steep $4,999 upfront.
But are Kia’s electric SUVs worthwhile options with the recent discounts?
The Kia EV6: Now Effectively Starting At $33,875
The Kia EV6 launched into the US market for the 2022 model year. It has proven to be a great all-around option with excellent charging capabilities and impressive efficiency. It comes in many different trim levels: Light RWD, Light Long Range, Wind, GT-Line, and GT AWD. The Light Long Range, Wind, and GT-Line are available with both rear- and all-wheel-drive motor setups.
Photo by: InsideEVs
The Wind models tend to be the best buys, offering a great array of features and impressive efficiency thanks to the comparatively smaller wheels. Performance-focused buyers will want the GT, as it offers up to 601 horsepower (and 641 hp in Launch Mode.)
All models can charge from 10 to 80% in just 18 minutes, which is a class-leading figure. For comparison, a Ford Mustang Mach-E takes between 32 and 36 minutes (standard versus long range) to ascertain the same percentage.
The entire Hyundai Motor Group E-GMP lineup is full of fast-charging beasts. Plus, they come standard with a Tesla-style NACS port and native Supercharger access. Your results may vary, however, when using a Tesla Supercharger due to voltage differences.
Photo by: InsideEVs
One thing to consider is that the EV6 has a somewhat stingy options list. If you’d like all-wheel drive, a glass roof, ventilated seats, and a better-sounding audio system, you’ll need to buy the GT-Line model. For comparison, a Model Y All-Wheel-Drive with the same feature set costs $50,630 without any incentives or $43,130 with the EV credit alone.
The Kia EV9: The Most Affordable Electric Three-Row
With Kia and the Feds’ incentives, the 2026 EV9 Light RWD can be had at a very reasonable price for a three-row midsize SUV of any powertrain. And the EV9 has a solid array of standard features.
The base EV9 features a power liftgate, tri-zone climate control, and ventilated front seats. On the safety front, it offers a suite of autonomous driving features like adaptive cruise control, lane centering, and automatic lane changes.
Kia EV9 Nightfall Edition
Photo by: Kia
Power, however, is lacking in the Light RWD, as it makes just 215 horsepower despite weighing over 5,093 pounds. The Light Long Range RWD is even worse. It makes 201 horsepower and weighs in at 5,324 pounds. For reference, the Light Long Range RWD has a lower power-to-weight ratio than the original Ford Focus EV. That said, all the all-wheel drive versions are better suited for acceleration with 379 horsepower via dual motors.
For those seeking more features, there’s the Land AWD, which runs $58,895 with the discounts (and destination fees included). It comes equipped with ambient lighting, dual sunroofs, second-row ventilated seats, and a 14-speaker Meridian audio system. The Land and GT-Line trims also feature headlights with LED patterns that progress into the front bumper and optional matte paint options.
2024 Breakthrough Nominee: The Kia EV9
Photo by: Patrick George
Thanks to its 800V battery system and thermal management system, the EV9 has a stellar charging curve. It can charge from 10 to 80% in just 24 minutes. Moreover, the Light Long Range version can secure a standard efficiency rating just above 3.0 miles per kilowatt-hour, which is quite impressive for such a large three-row SUV.
Should I Consider A Discounted Kia EV?
The Kia EV6 and EV9 are not without downsides. For instance, the Light models are simply underpowered. The EV6 makes 167 horsepower and the 5,324-pound EV9 produces 201 horsepower. Buyers who crave performance must upgrade to all-wheel-drive models. Another issue comes in the form of an arguably antiquated infotainment system. The navigation is difficult to use, but necessary if you’d like the battery to precondition itself on the way to a DC fast charger.
2025 Kia EV6 GT-Line European Spec Photos, Runaway Red
Photo by: InsideEVs
But buyers who are willing to overlook the few drawbacks should very much consider the EV6 and EV9. I’d especially recommend the EV9 solely on the basis of its decent residual values. While EVs tend to depreciate more than the average internal combustion engine-powered vehicles, the EV9 is holding on relatively strong. Most EV9 Lights are still hovering around the $40,000 mark used. However, things change for the costlier variants.
That said, the higher trim level options are naturally seeing bigger price drops. For instance, the EV9 GT-Lines are already in the low-to-mid-$50,000 range. Considering a new 2026 GT-Line can be as low as $60,895, perhaps opting for a certified used EV9 for around $55,000 would make more financial sense. However, it’s vital to note that the interest rate on used cars is typically much higher.
Nevertheless, Kia has brought some incredible electric crossovers to the world. And considering these recent discounts, now might be the time to consider one of its offerings.
