Electric models play a growing role in Kia’s global strategy, and the company has built a reputation for crafting some of the most compelling EVs in the business. But in the States, that reputation isn’t quite translating to strong sales this year.

Read: Kia Sold Just 37 EV9s In May, But A Gas Sedan Is On Fire

While Kia’s overall numbers are up, its two flagship electric models are moving in the opposite direction. Both the EV6 and EV9 saw steep drops in sales. The absence of the smaller EV5 and EV3 from North American showrooms may be starting to feel like a missed opportunity.

Electric Sales Hit a Wall

The latest sales data reveal that Kia sold 4,938 examples of the EV9 in the United States in the first six months of the year. That’s a massive drop of nearly 49% from the 9,671 sold over the same period in 2024. Things were no better in June, with just 913 new EV9s finding homes across the country, down 52% compared to the 1,905 sold in June 2024.

The EV6’s performance is also on a downward spiral. Year-to-date, sales are down 46%, with 5,875 units sold compared to 10,941 in H1 2024. Things were particularly bad in June. While 2,171 Kia EV6s were sold in June 2024, only 680 were delivered the same month this year, a devastating decline of 69%.

While we suspect some Kia executives may be worried about these numbers, especially given the looming end of the federal tax credits at the end of September, they can at least celebrate a strong start to 2025 across the rest of its range.

Gasoline Models Pick Up the Slack

Despite the dip in EV sales, Kia’s broader lineup has helped the brand start 2025 on a high note. Total U.S. sales reached 416,511 units through June, up 8 percent from 386,460 in the first half of 2024. That momentum slowed slightly in June itself, with 63,849 vehicles sold compared to 65,929 a year ago.

The standout so far has been the K5 sedan. Kia has moved 34,565 K5s this year, up from 12,807 cars sold in the first half of 2024. That’s a nearly threefold increase, giving the once-overlooked midsize sedan some well-deserved attention.

The Carnival minivan also got a sizable boost. Sales are up 57 percent to 33,152 units, from 21,083 at this point last year. The Telluride, one of Kia’s most in-demand models, has climbed 15 percent to 61,502 units from 53,700. And the Sportage continues to hold its title as Kia’s top seller in the United States, with sales growing 9 percent year-over-year, reaching 87,172 units.

KIA US SALES

Not every sales jump in the auto industry follows a straightforward narrative, and Kia’s latest numbers are a good example of that. The company had a solid May, moving 5 percent more vehicles than it did in the same month last year. But that top-line figure doesn’t tell the whole story.

While its flagship electric models took a hit, one unassuming sedan, the K5, surged with a 256 percent increase in monthly sales. Kia’s not alone in this EV slowdown, either.

More: Mercedes’ Electric G Flops So Hard It Could Change What Comes Next

It’s worth noting that the K5 has been out for several years. Its huge jump in sales during May doesn’t seem to be an outlier either. For the year, it’s up 220 percent. Put into raw sales figures, the company had sold just 9,036 through May last year. This year, it’s shifted 28,951 of them. Combined with the K4, Kia has already made over 90,000 sales this year.

Electric Models Lose Steam

No doubt, the brand wishes its flagship electric vehicles were seeing even a modicum of that success. The recently refreshed EV6 is great to drive, but buyers aren’t snatching it up with the same vigor they did last year. Through the first five months of the year, it’s down 40.8 percent. The EV9, Kia’s flagship electric SUV is having an even tougher time as it’s down 48.2 percent in that same period.

That trend doesn’t appear ready to change either. In May alone, the EV6 was down 69.8 percent. The EV9 sold just 37 units across the country and, as such, was down a whopping 98.3 percent during the month. It’ll be interesting to see what Kia does to incentivize buyers to return as the new model year version rolls in to dealerships. These are both impressive cars, but consumers seem apt to favor hybrids now more than ever.

To Kia’s credit, this trend away from EVs and toward combustion cars isn’t one isolated to the brand. Ford announced its May sales figures recently and saw a similar trend. While the Mustang Mach-E continues to do well, the F-150 Lightning and E-Transit are dozens of basis points off where they were last year.

KIA USA SALES

Electric vehicles are evolving so quickly that even the newest models often seem to have a shelf life shorter than your last iPhone. Kia, not one to be left behind, did a little refresh of the EV6 last year, rolling out a facelift and a new GT version. This update borrowed some nifty tech from the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, just to keep things interesting. But hey, if you’re still interested in the outgoing EV6 GT, now might be your moment to snatch one up.

According to Cars Direct, a new dealer bulletin from Kia has let slip that the 2024 EV6 GT models come with a pretty sweet incentive, specifically a $20,000 lease cash rebate. But there’s a catch: you’ll need to commit to a 24-month lease to get that offer. If you’re the kind of person who wants a slightly longer commitment, you can opt for the 36-month lease, which will knock your rebate down to $18,500.

Read: Massive Depreciation Makes Kia’s EV6 GT A Steal

Before you get too excited, here’s the downer. The 2024 EV6 GT isn’t eligible for the $7,500 federal EV tax credit, and neither is the facelifted model – at least for now.

The new rebates make the 2024 EV6 GT a seriously tempting option. Originally priced at $61,600, you can likely find models in Kia’s inventory going for under $60,000 not factoring in the lease discount. However, interested shoppers had better make a decision quickly, as the incentive will only remain valid until June 2.

Something to keep in mind though is that Kia made some very important changes to the 2025 EV6 GT. For example, its battery pack has grown in size from 77 kWh to 84 kWh, and its twin electric motors allow it to deliver 641 hp and 568 lb-ft (770 Nm). It also has the same Virtual Gear Shift feature as the Ioniq 5 N and produces similar ICE-inspired sounds.

Kia is also offering some tempting lease deals on the refreshed and slightly faster 2025 EV6 GT, including $12,500 in lease cash for 24-month leases and $10,000 off 36-month leases. If you’re leaning towards the new model, these incentives could make it even more appealing, though, of course, it all depends on the money factor (interest) and the residual value (the car’s estimated worth at the end of the lease term).

Still, make no mistake, the original pre-facelift EV6 GT is pretty impressive. It can hit 62 mph (100 km/h) in just 3.5 seconds, all while offering more interior space than some of its competitors. One downside, however, is its relatively low estimated driving range of just 218 miles (which holds up in real-world conditions), so that’s definitely something to keep in mind.

We’re seeing used electric vehicle prices take a nosedive, and even the mighty Kia EV6 GT isn’t immune. In fact, someone just snagged one at auction for less than half of its original MSRP of $64,360. So, would you drop $31,000 on a two-year-old EV with 21,000 miles on the clock? Let’s break down the upsides and downsides, and why this could actually be a fantastic deal for the buyer.

The Downsides of the Kia EV6 GT

Let’s actually start off by talking about the not-so-glamorous side of owning something like the Kia EV6 GT AWD. None is as big as the lack of range available in this thing. At best, you’re looking at around 206 miles (331 km) on a full charge, and that’s according to the EPA estimates.

In my testing, I found that you might hit that number – if you’re not constantly pushing it to the limit. My drive ended up around 175 miles, so don’t expect much more if you’re, you know, enjoying the throttle. It’s not great, especially for longer road trips. But on the flip side, it’s more than enough for day-to-day driving.

Review: Kia EV6 Facelift Is Better Than Ever, But We’d Wait For The EV5

That said, the suspension can be a little rough in GT mode, but running it in ‘normal’ mode seems like the solution. Finally, the climate controls are a bit finicky. I think most folks will get over that given time, but having tried them in several Kia products, I still don’t like them.

The Fun Side: Why the EV6 GT is a Steal

With that Debbie Downer section out of the way, let’s get into why this is such a great car to drive. Sure, 576 horsepower (429 kW) sounds like the obvious answer, and it’s certainly part of it, but it’s more than just outright speed. The EV6 GT handles exceptionally well. Sure, it’s outshone slightly by its cousin, the Ioniq 5 N, which we’ve also reviewed, but that in and of itself is a compliment in that they’re very similar.

Photos Cars&Bids

In our testing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the EV6 GT performed admirably on the drag strip and the road course. The only bit that wasn’t superb was the way ABS engaged during trail braking. That’s something software updates might have solved in the meantime, though. Ultimately, this is a four-door superhot hatch, and we haven’t even gotten to the X factor.

Read: 2025 Kia EV6 Proves Facelifts Aren’t Cheap

Speed is great and getting a big discount thanks to depreciation is too, but it’s the things that make this car so livable that make it such a steal at $31,000. First and foremost, it’s comfortable, it’s spacious, and it has enough space in the back to haul five people and an afternoon’s worth of gear. On top of that, if one needs even more space, it can tow almost 4,000 pounds! That’s ridiculous for such a small car that can drive as sharply and as fast as this one does.

All of this having been said, there’s no question that there are some unknowns out there. How will EVs like this one hold up years from now? Will replacement batteries and motors ever be economical to replace? These are some of the big questions the new owner of this Cars&Bids find might have to consider down the road. Til then, they get to enjoy one of the most well-rounded cars in the segment for less than half of its MSRP. 

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