2022 Volkswagen Atlas vs 2022 Kia EV6

The 2022 Kia EV6 had a sporty and svelte design, reminiscent of a Ford Mustang Mach-E. It appeared lower and wider, with a highback tail featuring a lip spoiler that doubled as a lightbar. The wheels were pushed to the furthest corners of the chassis, giving the car a hip-like appearance similar to the wide fenders of a Porsche 911. The headlights squinted in anger, tracing a V-shaped pattern that mirrored the black trim below on the bumper. The wedgy profile looked sharp with an angled roofline and twin ducts in the rear spoiler, while the matte silver paint added a smooth and silken finish.

The interior of the EV6 featured dual 12-inch screens on a linear dash, a floating center console, and black and white seats covered in faux suede and leather. Ambient lighting flowed around the dash and circled the rear passengers. The hockey-puck shifter and digital controls added a futuristic touch, making the EV6 enjoyable to drive. The design was car-first, computer-second, which contributed to its overall appeal.

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas carried over with minor modifications from the previous year. The lineup was simplified to SE, SE with Technology, SEL, SEL R-Line, SEL R-Line Black, and SEL Premium R-Line trim levels. The SEL Premium R-Line trim featured 21-inch wheels with a machined finish, giving the SUV an upscale look. The Atlas had a big and boxy design, but the wheel choices often failed to match its bold styling.

The interior of the Atlas displayed simplicity with a premium flair, but many materials were crafted to a low cost point. The amount of hard, shiny, and slippery plastic was unacceptable for an SUV costing almost $54,000. Storage areas needed linings to prevent unwanted noise, vibration, and harshness. Low-gloss coatings on hard surfaces would have improved the perceived quality.

The 2022 Kia EV6 GT-Line e-AWD, with its two electric motors, produced 320 horsepower and 446 pound-feet of torque. It had a 77-kilowatt-hour battery mounted low in the chassis, allowing the 4600-pound car to accelerate to 60 mph in a claimed 4.6 seconds. The top-power GT trim, arriving in fall 2022, promised 576 hp and a 0-60 time of less than 3.5 seconds. The base EV6 Light had a smaller battery (58 kWh) and a single motor (167 hp and 258 lb-ft), which was not recommended. The single-motor Wind and GT-Line models were more acceptable, with 225 hp and the larger battery.

The dual-motor GT-Line provided a thrilling driving experience, with quick and effective torque distribution. The EV6 handled well on various surfaces and conditions, outperforming Kia’s Stinger. The regenerative braking system offered more than eight settings, allowing for one-pedal driving in the maximum I-Pedal setting. However, the driving range was disappointing in cold weather, with the EV6 delivering only 65 percent of its 274-mile EPA estimate. Charging times varied, with the EV6 accepting up to 240 kW but often limited by available charging infrastructure.

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas SE, SE with Technology, and SEL had a standard turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The turbo four’s maximum towing capacity was 2,000 pounds, with an EPA fuel economy rating of 22-23 mpg in combined driving. The 3.6-liter V6 engine, standard for higher trims, produced 276 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque, with a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds. However, the V6’s acceleration was leisurely, and its fuel economy was 19-20 mpg in combined driving.

The Atlas offered Eco, Normal, Sport, and Individual driving modes, with additional Active Control calibrations for the 4Motion AWD system. The V6 engine lacked power, efficiency, and refinement, leading to dissatisfaction. The Atlas had impressive grip with its 21-inch wheels but transmitted surface bumps and road noise to the cabin. The ride quality felt softer and more compliant than previous models, but the suspension tuning resulted in added body float on undulating pavement.

The 2022 Kia EV6 reinvented core functions, such as door handles that popped out when the key was near, paddle shifters, and a twisting rotary shifter. The climate controls and stereo shortcuts were combined in a thin touchscreen, which could be frustrating when driving. The EV6 offered generous legroom and headroom, with reclining rear seats and optional heated cushions. However, the cargo space was limited, with 24 cubic feet behind the seats and 50 cubic feet when folded. The towing capacity was 2,300 pounds, and the onboard power generator could run 120-volt equipment or charge another EV.

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas no longer offered cloth seats, with V-Tex leatherette seating standard. Higher trims added features like tri-zone automatic climate control, ambient cabin lighting, a panoramic sunroof, and genuine leather upholstery. The Atlas excelled in interior space, comfortably seating seven people, including adults in the third row. The step-in height was low, making it easy to enter and exit. The cargo space was exceptional, with 20.6 cubic feet behind the third row, 55.5 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 96.8 cubic feet with the second row folded.

The 2022 Kia EV6 infotainment system was simple and quick, with connectivity options except for wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. The instrument panel showed vehicles in surrounding lanes and live feeds of blind spots. The 360-degree surround-view cameras were sharp and clear, and the head-up display used augmented reality. The tech features were impressive and not overwhelming, with higher trims offering a 14-speaker Meridian stereo and a remote parking system. However, Kia Connect features were disabled for Massachusetts residents due to compliance issues.

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas included the Volkswagen Digital Cockpit instrument cluster as standard, with an 8-inch display expanding to 10.25 inches on higher trims. The Atlas SE had a 6.5-inch touchscreen, while other trims featured the MIB3 infotainment system with an 8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and Car-Net connected services. The user experience had some drawbacks, such as slow loading times and a complicated tuning process. The navigation system had hit-and-miss performance, and the Car-Net Hotspot plan was required for natural voice recognition capability.

The 2022 Kia EV6 had no published test results from U.S. agencies, but it came equipped with impressive tech, including HDA, lane-keeping, cyclist and pedestrian detection, front and rear cross-traffic alert, a driver attention monitor, rear parking sensors, safe exit warning, and rear occupant alert. Higher trims added features like automatic rear braking, 360 cameras, evasive steering assist, and adaptive cruise with machine learning.

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas offered a comprehensive list of safety features, including automatic post-collision braking, Front Assist, Side Assist, and Rear Traffic Alert. Higher trims added adaptive cruise control, parking sensors, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, Travel Assist, Emergency Assist, and brighter LED headlights. The Atlas had decent crash-test ratings but did not earn a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS. The Lane Assist technology had some issues with old construction markings and exit ramps, and disabling the function while driving was challenging.