2022 Volvo XC60 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. The headlights squinted in a V-shaped pattern, and the black trim below mimicked air intakes, although they were sealed. The EV6's profile was sharp and smooth, especially in matte silver paint. The interior boasted dual 12-inch screens, a floating center console, and seats covered in faux suede and leather, creating a futuristic yet car-first aesthetic.

In contrast, the 2022 Volvo XC60 featured subtle styling changes, including a new front fascia with "air blades" and a rear bumper that hid the tailpipes. The front grille was reworked to move sensors behind the heated Volvo logo. The interior remained largely unchanged, with a clean design, a portrait-oriented touchscreen, and minimal clutter. The B6 R-Design test car had aluminum mesh speaker grilles and textured seats, adding some flair. The XC60 Inscription trim level offered Nappa leather upholstery and a leather-wrapped steering wheel, maintaining a subdued yet luxurious feel.

The 2022 Kia EV6 GT-Line e-AWD, with its 320 horsepower and 446 pound-feet of torque, delivered impressive performance. It could accelerate to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds and handled corners like a getaway car. 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 and a 167 hp motor, which was less impressive. The single-motor Wind and GT-Line models offered a more acceptable 225 hp. The dual-motor GT-Line provided a thrilling driving experience with quick torque delivery and excellent handling, even in challenging conditions.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 introduced new B5 and B6 mild-hybrid powertrains, replacing the previous T5 and T6 engines. The B5 produced 258 hp and 247 lb-ft of torque, while the B6 offered 295 hp and 310 lb-ft. Both used an eight-speed automatic transmission, with the B5 available in FWD or AWD and the B6 in AWD only. The B6 could accelerate to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds. The XC60 emphasized a calm, relaxed driving experience with a quiet cabin and comfortable ride, enhanced by optional air suspension. The XC60 Recharge plug-in hybrid offered 400 hp and 472 lb-ft, with a 0-60 time of 5 seconds, while the Polestar Engineered version increased output to 415 hp and 494 lb-ft, achieving 0-60 in 4.9 seconds.

The 2022 Kia EV6 reinvented core functions with features like pop-out door handles, paddle shifters, and a twisting rotary shifter. The climate controls and stereo shared a thin touchscreen, which could be frustrating while driving. The interior offered generous legroom and headroom, with reclining rear seats and optional heated cushions. However, the cargo space was limited to 24 cubic feet behind the seats and 50 cubic feet when folded. The RWD models had a small front trunk, while the AWD models did not. The EV6 had a towing capacity of 2,300 pounds and an onboard power generator for 120-volt equipment.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 maintained competitive passenger space, with above-average front-seat headroom but limited rear-seat headroom. Legroom was average for the segment. The mild-hybrid models offered 21.6 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 49.8 cubic feet when folded. The plug-in hybrid models had slightly less cargo capacity. The XC60 provided a commanding driving position with good forward and rear visibility, aided by large exterior mirrors.

The 2022 Kia EV6's infotainment system was user-friendly, with dual 12-inch screens, but lacked wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The instrument panel displayed surrounding vehicles and blind-spot feeds. The Highway Driving Assist (HDA) system had two versions, with HDA 2 offering automatic lane changes. The 360-degree cameras were sharp, and the head-up display used augmented reality. Higher trims featured 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 Volvo XC60 received a tech overhaul with a 9-inch touchscreen running Android Automotive, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Bluetooth, and a built-in WiFi hotspot. The system included Google Assistant, Google Maps, and access to third-party apps via the Google Play Store. Over-the-air updates were also enabled. The digital instrument cluster could display a map or a "Calm" setting to minimize distractions. The new layout used sideways swiping to access menus, which was user-friendly.

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

The 2022 Volvo XC60 had not been rated by IIHS or NHTSA for the 2022 model year, but the 2021 model received high ratings. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, automatic post-collision braking, driver-attention monitor, traffic-sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. New features for 2022 included Ready to Drive Notification and Emergency Stop Assist. The optional Pilot Assist system combined adaptive cruise control and automated lane centering.