Electric vehicles (EVs) are slowly becoming mainstream in the Philippine market. As prices continue to rise, these vehicles become more attractive to the car buyer providing you with an alternative source of "zero-emissions" transportation.
It also helps that Executive Order 12 has made these vehicles even more affordable, temporarily putting a hold on their import tariffs. This change has incentivized brands such as Kia to bring in the Kia EV6 GT Line Long Range and Lexus to bring in its own EV, the Lexus RZ 450e.
That said, we will now compare the two EVs to see which one will come out on top and which one you should get if you are in the market.
The Kia EV6 GT Line is the brand's first EV offering in the country. Ayala Corporation's EV charging ecosystem goes hand-in-hand with the company's carbon neutrality advocacy. KIA EV6 PHOTOS BY MIKKO DAVID
Since these vehicles are the future of transportation, it's only natural that they come with radically new and futuristic styling.
While these two EVs take on a crossover form factor, their design language makes them easy to tell apart. The Kia EV6 takes a utilitarian design approach with massive hood arches to give it a more imposing stance. At the rear, it has a unique design with an LED strip that covers its entire width and extends to the quarter panels. It also has recessed door handles, something almost standard with EVs as they aim for aerodynamic efficiency.
The Lexus RZ, on the other hand, takes on a more aggressive look with more angles and cuts rather than curves. The EV-specific "spindle body" sealed front bumper design language has taken over the spindle grille.
The Lexus RZ 450e shares the same platform with the Toyota bZ4X and bZ3 sedan, and the Subaru Solterra. LEXUS RZ 450e PHOTOS FROM LEXUS PHILIPPINES
At the back, it's another angular design paired with creases, but this time with an LED taillight strip that runs across the width of the EV and extends to its quarter panels.
It all boils down to your personal preferences when it comes to styling. The EV6 is sleeker and has a more polarizing design language. The Lexus plays its safe with its looks, keeping it familiar yet modern at the same time.
For this category, it's a draw.
Minimalist yet elegant interiors
The cabins of both vehicles are spacious; this is because their interiors are designed in such a way as to allow for more room inside while maximizing the greenhouse of the car.
Built around the BEV-dedicated Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) platform, the Kia EV6 maximizes the interior space afforded by its 50 mm longer wheelbase versus the Lexus.
The Kia EV6 makes use of recycled and recyclable materials, along with chemical-free dyes and vegan leather for its interior panels in line with the brand's sustainability efforts.
It takes on a simple yet effective dashboard design dominated by massive screens. It screams futuristic in the way it's laid out while ensuring everything is easily within reach and can be used easily from a glance. And it champions sustainability with its interior panels made from recycled plastics.
The Lexus RZ, on the other hand, has a slightly more complicated dashboard design with its many layers. While there are two massive screens inside the vehicle, the way they are laid out echoes more of the classic car cabin. It means there is still a cowl over the digital instrument cluster, and that touchscreen isn’t bezel-less as a part of the dashboard still surrounds it.
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The Lexus RZ 450e does have a neat party trick, however. It can render its panoramic sunroof opaque at a touch of a button. Along with its 10-speaker Mark Levinson audio setup, the cabin should be a premium space hang around in.
Not to be outdone, the Kia EV6 still has its sounds of nature mood tunes from the 14-speaker Meridian-Surround System to play around with. So the Kia would gladly oblige if you want the sounds of rain, sea waves, a lively forest, or a crackling fireplace to listen to.
The Lexus breathes familiarity in its layout as it's something you would find in a typical car; it is built upon the modified ICE e-Toyota New Global Architecture (e-TNGA) platform. On the other hand, the Kia takes on its futuristic theme and runs with it as the digital displays become the dominant component on its dashboard.
It's a choice between the familiar and the futuristic. But this time, we will give the win to the RZ 450e. Electric vehicles are still relatively new technology, and having a dashboard layout that many will feel familiar with, and one that's luxuriously appointed at that, will make it easier to transition into the premium EV lifestyle.
A matter of inches
Now it boils down to the technology that they carry. Both vehicles are on similar ground, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity with wireless charging available.
We can look at their screens to determine a winner as they are on similar ground.
So, is bigger better? Well, the Lexus RZ has two screens available; the first is an 8-inch display for your digital gauge cluster, while the second is a 14-inch infotainment system.
In the case of the Kia EV6, it's go big or go home, as it has a 12.3-inch LCD for its instrument cluster. As for its infotainment system, it, too, gets a 12.3-inch-sized display.
In this game of inches, the EV6 wins by several.
Electrified power
The Kia EV6 makes 229 PS and 350 Nm of torque with its electric motor. It has a battery capacity of 77.4 kWh and can do around 528 kilometers worth of range. It can even send some of this electricity out to power small appliances with its 3.6 kW Vehicle-to-Load feature.
Unlike the Kia, the Lexus RZ has a pair of electric motors located front and aft. They produce a total of 312.7 PS and 435 Nm of torque. It carries a smaller 71.4 kWh hour battery pack that's good for around 470 kilometers with its 20-inch wheels.
Something important to remember is that the actual range of these vehicles will vary depending on road and driving conditions. Just use these figures as rough estimates.
Despite having less power than its Lexus rival, the Kia EV6 wins this category for having a longer range in its standard configuration.
Safety
Regarding their safety features, both vehicles are yet again on similar ground. They come with standard airbags, ABS, electronic stability control, traction control, hill start assist, and ISOFIX anchors.
They also have advanced driver and safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision assist, blind spot detection, lane tracing and lane departure, and 360-degree cameras.
Price and verdict
The Lexus RZ 450e is priced at ₱4,828,000, while the Kia EV6 GT Line is at ₱3,788,000. It represents over a ₱1,000,000 difference between the two vehicles.
The Kia EV6 presents a better value-for-money proposition in this comparison as it has more range and is more affordable. Early adopters of this technology will consider these key things when buying an EV.
However, we can't discount the Lexus as it does come with all-wheel drive, a slightly better cabin in terms of materials, and of course, the luxury brand equity. So, if you have extra cash to spare, the RZ 450e is still a sound purchase, but if you want to save a hefty amount, the EV6 is your best bet.
A car enthusiast at heart, nothing excites Joey more than an open road and a full tank of gas. Ready with the latest information about cars, he constantly studies and researches the latest happenings in the motoring world while caring for a car that's an extension of himself.
