Kia had a plan just six months ago, one that mapped out several new electric models for the North American market. Now, that plan seems to have hit a wall, stalling before it ever gained momentum.

At the recent Los Angeles Auto Show, Kia America’s vice president of marketing, Russell Wager, shared a candid update. The fate of both the EV4 sedan and Kia’s upcoming pickup truck now hinges on something entirely beyond the company’s reach: tariff stability.

Read: Hyundai And Kia EV Sales Collapse After Tax Credits Vanish Overnight

Speaking to Car and Driver, Wager called out tariffs as the reason that Americans haven’t had access to the EV4 to this point. The car has suffered one delay after another.

What’s the Hold-Up?

When asked about that delay, Wager said “Can you give me the answer of when the tariffs are going to be resolved in Mexico, Canada, and Seoul? If you give me that answer, I’ll be as specific as possible.”

Wager made it clear that the Korean automaker isn’t waiting for tariffs to go away altogether, either. It just wants to see them set at a specific stable figure.

“At that point in time we look at it and say, are we at 25 [percent], are we at 15—and then we can build our business case,” he said. “It was originally designed and engineered when the tariffs were zero percent.”

For now, it’s the uncertainty that keeps cars like the EV4 and Kia’s planned EV pickup out of the USA. Of course, customer demand might not be strong enough anyway after the end of the federal tax EV credits.

Wager admitted that both factors are playing a role. “We’ve got a great portfolio of EVs that are on sale in a lot of other places in the world that we could choose from,” he added. “We just need resolution, and then we also need the consumer market here to want them.”

Get Ready for Price Increases

Between now and whenever Kia decides what to do with the pickup and EV4, it might have to bump prices up.

“Others have raised prices,” Wager said. “I’m not going to name names, and we’ve seen their sales drop. The takeaway is we can’t do it forever. We’ve made it eight months since April so far. If tariffs don’t get resolved or they’re that high, we’ll have to make the business decision. As far as parts tariffs and import tariffs, at some point in time, we can’t absorb it all.”

Hyundai Motor Group has already proven that it can bend a little but part of its biggest draw is being a solid value proposition against rivals. The near future will determine if it can bend enough to keep that reputation without breaking.

Kia has unveiled a new concept at the ongoing Guangzhou Auto Show in China, one that hints at a production model on the horizon. Named the EV5 Weekender, it presents a tougher, outdoors-ready take on the compact electric SUV.

The EV5 is the fourth Kia to wear the Weekender badge, following in the tracks of the EV9, PV5, and Tasman. Each model in the series interprets an outdoor-oriented trim with its own distinct approach.

Review: Here’s Why The Kia EV5 Makes More Sense Than A Model Y

While none of the Weekender concepts have yet transitioned to production, that could change as buyers increasingly look for rugged, lifestyle-oriented versions of these models.

Outdoor Intentions

The concept was developed by the Kia China Style Design Team. From the outside, the main changes are immediately clear. It sits higher on larger wheels wrapped in all-terrain tires, while the lifted suspension gives it noticeably greater ground clearance and a more confident stance.

The SUV wears a matte beige finish accented with lime green details, a color scheme that has become a signature for the Weekender range. It also features a redesigned bodykit with wider fender extensions, new skid plates, chunkier side skirts, a hood insert, and a large roof rack.

Kia even added dedicated mounts on one side of the vehicle for attaching extra equipment, in a similar vein to the Land Rover Defender.

Practical Changes Inside

The interior has been reworked more extensively than expected for a concept based on an existing production SUV. The wide display now stretches in front of the passenger and is paired with a slim digital instrument cluster.

More: New Kia Telluride Drops V6 For Turbo And Hybrid Fours

Other updates include a new steering wheel, a revised center console, reshaped climate vents, and fresh upholstery with modern colors and a 3D texture.

The cabin is filled with practical touches reminiscent of Dacia’s YouClip system, including cup holders and storage compartments mounted along the sides of the cargo area, as well as extra rails on the roof liner for securing gear.

What’s Beneath It

Kia hasn’t disclosed the technical specifications of the concept, so it’s unclear whether it differs mechanically from the production EV5 beyond its upgraded suspension setup.

The EV5 rides on the E-GMP architecture and is available in FWD and AWD forms with different battery options depending on the region. A GT variant has been confirmed for production, promising a more potent powertrain and sportier handling.

It wouldn’t be surprising if the production EV5 lineup eventually adds a toned-down version of the Weekender concept for buyers who enjoy camping or off-road trips. Kia has a habit of turning its concepts into real models, and this one looks ready to follow the same path.

Kia introduced the EV9 GT at last year’s Los Angeles Auto Show and promised it would “spark the hearts of driving enthusiasts who … need the practicality of a six-passenger SUV.” The model was scheduled to arrive in the second half of 2025, but it’s still nowhere to be found.

It appears there’s a good reason for this as Kia has quietly delayed the high-performance crossover. While the automaker was tight-lipped on specifics, they told Car & Driver the EV9 GT has been “delayed until further notice” due to “changing market conditions.”

More: 2026 Kia EV9 GT Is A Family Hauler With Fake Gear Shifts That Hits 60 In 4.3 Seconds

That’s not very reassuring and the publication suggested the US launch could be scrubbed entirely. This wouldn’t be the first EV to suffer that fate as Ram recently killed the 1500 REV, while Volkswagen abandoned plans to bring the ID.7 stateside.

The move isn’t terribly surprising as EV9 sales have plummeted following the elimination of the clean vehicle tax credit. Last month, dealers only sold 666 units, which compared to 1,941 sold in October of 2024.

If that wasn’t bad enough, the EV9 GT would have been ridiculously expensive. The company never announced US pricing, but the EV9 GT-Line starts at $71,900. This suggests the GT variant would have cost around $76,000, if not even more.

That’s a lot of money for a Kia, but the crossover has a dual-motor all-wheel drive system that produces an estimated 501 hp (374 kW / 508 PS). That’s 122 hp (91 kW / 124 PS) more than the GT-Line and it enables the model to rocket from 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in 4.3 seconds.

Besides the impressive powertrain, the EV9 GT was slated to have an electronically controlled suspension, beefier front brakes, and virtual gear shift technology. They were set to be joined by an electronic limited slip differential, unique styling, and a North American Charging Standard (NACS) port.

More: Kia Suddenly Pulls Its Tesla Model 3 Rival Right Before US Launch

This marks the second electric Kia bound for the U.S. market to be put on ice in recent weeks. The company also postponed the launch of the EV4 sedan “until further notice,” citing the same market factors.

Kia’s EV sales in the US took a beating last month after the government pulled the $7,500 EV federal tax credit. But the brand isn’t sitting still. In a bid to get more of its battery-powered models into driveways, Kia is rolling out hefty discounts across its full EV range, hoping to rekindle demand in a market that’s proving tougher than expected.

The company revealed that the 2025 Niro EV now comes with $10,000 in customer cash, up from $8,500 previously. That bump translates to a 24 percent discount on the base model, trimming its price to a more approachable $31,045.

Read: New Kia EV9 Gets Surprise Price Cuts And It’s Not The Only Upgrade

The savings don’t stop there. According to Cars Direct, the 2025 EV6 is also being offered with the same $10,000 discount, amounting to as much as 23 percent off. The newer 2026 EV9 joins the deal too, with the same dollar figure equating to an 18 percent price reduction.

Importantly, Kia notes that the deal is “subject to vehicle availability and dealer participation.” Additionally, customers must take delivery of their new vehicle by January 12.

Both the EV6 and EV9 were already eligible for $9,000 off before this round of incentives, so the extra $1,000 isn’t exactly a game changer, but for shoppers, it’s one more reason to consider going electric. Keeping an extra grand in the bank never hurts.

Kia also has some other very tempting EV deals on offer. For example, the 2025 EV6 and Niro EV are available at 0 percent APR for 72 months when financed and also come with a $2,500 incentive.

Similarly, the 2026 EV9 is available at the same 0 percent financing rate over a 60-month term. Certain EV6s, including the GT, are also available with up to $16,500 in lease cash.

Source: Cars Direct

We all knew that sales of EVs in the US would fall dramatically in October, since there’s no $7,500 federal tax credit available. However, major automakers like Hyundai and Kia may not have anticipated just how dramatically sales would fall due to this policy change.

Starting with Hyundai, it recently confirmed that it sold 70,118 vehicles last month, a 2 percent decline from the 71,802 in October 2024. Importantly, year-to-date sales are up 10 percent to 748,467. But this is where the good news mostly ends.

Read: Hyundai Enjoys Record Sales Thanks To Some Unlikely Models

Sales of the Ioniq 5 plummeted 62 percent to just 1,642 units, down from 4,498 sold last October. Similarly, Hyundai sold 52 percent fewer Ioniq 6s, down from 837 units to 398. The Ioniq 9 wasn’t available last year, but it hasn’t been a big seller this year, shifting 4,494 units year-to-date and just 317 in October.

Other Hyundai models that experienced significant declines included the Kona (-13 percent), Santa Cruz (-29 percent), Sonata (-32 percent), and Elantra (-16 percent). Helping to prop up total sales were the likes of the Palisade (+6 percent), Santa Fe (+22 percent), Tucson (+16 percent), and Venue (+49 percent).

Hyundai USA Sales

Kia’s EV Collapse

Things are similar at Kia. Year-to-date, it sold 705,150 vehicles, a solid increase from the 653,078 units moved over the same period in 2024. Its total sales also rose slightly in October from 68,908 units to 69,002. However, like Hyundai, Kia EVs didn’t share in this success.

Kia sold just 666 examples of the three-row EV9 this October, over 1,941 examples sold the same month last year. Overall sales of the EV9 this year are down from 17,911 to just 13,114. Then there’s the EV6, which saw its number fall from 1,732 to just 508.

Through the first ten months of the year, 11,585 EV6s have been sold compared to the 17,717 last year. Kia also sells the Niro as an EV in the US, but has grouped its sales with those of the gasoline and hybrid versions.

These numbers come just after Kia confirmed that it has postponed the American launch of the EV4 “until further notice” due to changing market conditions.

Kia USA Sales

Electric cars have come a long way in a short time, and few have made as much noise, or driven as well, as the Kia EV6. When it first arrived, it wasn’t just another entry into the EV race; it felt like a genuine shift in direction for Kia. When we first drove it, we called the EV6 the new EV benchmark.

Fast-forward a few years, and this not-quite-hatchback, not-quite-crossover remains one of the brand’s best creations. It’s a car that still makes a strong first impression, though the road ahead now looks tougher than ever.

Despite that unusual profile, the EV6 found steady momentum early on. Sales rose from its first year (18,249 units) to its second (18,879), and again into its third (21,715). Yet 2025 tells a different story, with numbers slipping fast to 11,077 through September.

The shape hasn’t changed, the fundamentals haven’t faltered, and on paper, it remains a strong contender. So what’s behind the slowdown?

QUICK FACTS

*Manufacturer

To find out what might be causing low sales this year, we picked a 2026 EV6 GT-Line AWD up for a week to treat it as our everyday driver. We tested it on the highway, in urban cityscapes, and even on some gravel roads. This is still a good car, and better than it was back in 2022, but is now harder to recommend than ever before. Read on to find out why. 

Shape and Presence

Photos Stephen Rivers for Carscoops

The general shape of the EV6 is unchanged since 2022. We’ve reviewed it in different years and in different markets, and one consistent charm has been its dapper styling. For 2025, the car received new front and rear-end lighting elements. 

They are genuine standouts in a market full of somewhat boring-looking light housings. There are updated wheels, lower bodyside moldings, and bumpers that continue in 2026 unchanged. 

One standout is the spoiler that splits in the middle and flares out at each end. It sort of looks like a backward driver’s cap and adds just a bit more personality to an already effervescent automobile.

Overall, this is a mostly cohesive design that turns heads without being too shout-y. The Wolf Gray paint on our test car certainly imbued that ethos. 

Interior

The cabin got an update in 2025 as well, so there’s a new steering wheel that the EV6 shares with other Kias. Our GT-Line trim also benefits from a heated steering wheel, dual 12.3-inch panoramic screen displays, a heads-up display, heated and ventilated front seats, heated outboard rear seats, Meridian speakers, a wireless device charger, and a huge power sunroof. 

Let’s break that list down a bit and discuss real-world experiences. The tech package in this car is great. The infotainment screens are responsive, provide excellent graphics, and have easy-to-navigate menus.

Some of the steering wheel controls can take a bit to learn, but once familiar, they feel like second nature. The heads-up display is bright, configurable, and can even incorporate navigation directions. 

Kia has also updated the seat heating and ventilation buttons on the center console. No longer are they haptic ones that can end up activated accidentally. Instead, they’re genuine hard buttons, which is a step in the right direction. 

Unfortunately, Kia continues to try and push its dual-mode HVAC/Media control system with a haptic button that changes the controls from one to the other.

I’ve griped about it plenty, so I won’t do it again here, but it’s annoying – especially when there’s clearly space to just put a second row of the same controls right under the current one and end the need to switch from one profile to the other and back. 

The seats are some of my favorites in this segment. They combine good lateral bolstering with solid adjustability and support. I especially like the headrest design that has multiple settings both horizontally and vertically.

Forget the type that just pivots on the bottom; these move as one unit forward or back to your desired position. If there’s anything I’d complain about, it’s that as a guy who stands 6’6’’, I could use about one more inch of headroom. 

Photos Stephen Rivers for Carscoops

That goes double for the rear seats, where I have okay legroom but again lack space for my noggin. Of course, the majority of back-seat passengers in the EV6 will likely fit just fine, and they’ll have access to bun warmers in the process. 

The cargo space provides 24.4 cu-ft of space. Sadly, the front trunk is only big enough for a few small accessories like charging adapters or a few tools.

Drive Impressions

As an automotive journalist, you sometimes have lots of access to cars. You’ll get one, sometimes two, every week. So far this year, very few have implored me to drive them as much as the EV6 GT-Line. Despite the fact that I don’t fit perfectly in it, I made up random excuses to go drive this thing. 

Since the first time I tested one, it’s been clear to me that the folks behind the Stinger GT may have had a hand in its creation. It’s no Tesla Model 3 Performance, but it ain’t far off.

Granted, this is the 320-horsepower (238 kW) dual-motor-equipped version of the EV6 that also makes 446 lb-ft (605 Nm) of torque. It’s no slouch, but even the base models aren’t what we’d call slow. 

That said, this is the best of the bunch for 2026 – unless, that is, Kia brings the GT back soon. It feels like it, too, with instantaneous acceleration, tight body control, and verbose steering feedback that makes hitting apexes a breeze. 

The one big complaint I have behind the wheel of the EV6 GT-Line AWD is that the ABS is still a bit too eager to kick in under hard pedal engagement. This was an issue with the more powerful GT, and remains to this day. With that in mind, it’s something drivers should almost never encounter regularly this side of a track day. 

How does such a sharp driver’s car handle everyday fair? The answer is, with aplomb. The EV6 has an Eco setting that dials things down to a comfortable six or so out of ten. The throttle softens up, the steering relaxes, and the whole car feels a touch more willing to float over bumps rather than pound them back into the pavement. 

Speaking of poor road conditions, they rarely upset the EV6. It’s composed and calm over everything aside from an actual dirt or gravel road. Even there, the weight balance and excellent motor tuning make it playful, predictable, and fun. The cabin is well insulated, too. Wind noise just isn’t an issue here. All in all, it’s a great car to drive. 

Charging And Efficiency

Including the week that we piloted the EV6, it had been over 900 miles since the last trip odometer reset. In that time, it managed exactly 3 miles per kWh.

That will no doubt change based on how one drives, but it’s a solid score. In our one testing foray with the car, it went from 19 percent to 97 percent on a 125 kW charger in 49 minutes.

Seeing as we charged at a public station, it cost us $28.55 to do so. Kia now uses the North American Charging Standard plug type, which makes it compatible with Tesla Superchargers.

In Eco mode, the EV6 predicted we had 283 miles of available range when full. We never found out because I couldn’t bear to keep it in Eco for that long. Sorry, not sorry. 

Competition

When the EV6 first arrived on the scene, it undercut the competition by tens of thousands of dollars. That’s not an exaggeration. The base price for a Model Y at the time was $58,990. The Ford Mustang Mach-E was $42,895. The EV6 was $40,900.

Several years on, it’s only increased its MSRP by $2,000 if we don’t count destination and delivery. That’s impressive, but the competition is far stiffer. 

The Model Y now starts at just $39,990, and even the next trim up costs only $44,990. A top-of-the-range Performance starts at $57,490. Our Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD has an MSRP of $60,740 with delivery.

That would make perfect sense if it were beat-for-beat on par with the Tesla, but sadly for the Korean automaker, that just isn’t the case. Tesla offers more range, similar performance, a simpler buying experience, more towing capacity, and more cargo space. 

Add to that competition the also excellent, and similarly equipped, Hyundai Ioniq 5. It’s a tough market, and it’s possible that the EV6 hasn’t improved enough, or dropped its price enough, to remain seriously competitive.

On top of that, we have the problem of the used market, which sees similarly equipped low-mileage EV6s go for roughly 60 percent of their original MSRP with regularity. 

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, this is still a good car. One could even call it great. It’s certainly a blast to drive. I think it’s more attractive than most in its segment, too. It’s practical in that it’s a hatch with decent boot space and reasonable seating for five.

While it doesn’t have as much range as some of its competition, it’s more than enough for most drivers. What really makes it hard to recommend it, then, is its price. Drop that by somewhere between five and ten percent, and it would feel far easier to justify. 

The Kia EV4 made its debut at the New York International Auto Show back in April, touted as Kia’s straightest shot yet at the Tesla Model 3. It seemed poised to stir up the affordable EV segment, but that momentum has stalled before it even reached the showroom.

According to the Korean automaker, the EV4’s American launch has been postponed “until further notice,” a decision that leaves would-be buyers of reasonably priced EVs with one less option in an already tightening field.

Read: Kia’s First Electric Sedan Is Here To Beat The Model 3 At Its Own Game

Kia had engineered both sedan and hatchback versions of the EV4 for different markets. The United States was due to receive only the sedan, while Europe and several other regions would get both body styles.

What seemed like a straightforward rollout has since collided with market realities. The American car landscape looks markedly different from when the EV4 was unveiled in April, and even more so from when Kia first mapped out its export plans.

“Kia’s full range of vehicles offers meaningful value and inspiring performance to customers,” a Kia spokesman told InsideEVs. “However, as market conditions for EVs have changed, the release of the upcoming EV4 electric sedan will be delayed until further notice.”

What Could Have Been

The EV4 sedan had been set to land in local dealerships in the first quarter of 2026. Kia never got to the point of announcing local prices for it, but with the $7,500 federal EV tax credit now a thing of the past, the math likely stopped adding up.

Without that incentive, the EV4 would have faced a steep uphill battle against more established competitors.

As in other regions, the American-spec EV4, built on Kia’s E-GMP platform, would have come with a 58.3 kWh battery and a 201 hp motor powering the front wheels. That setup promises about 235 miles of range, or roughly 378 kilometers.

Above it sit the Wind and GT-Line models, both equipped with an 81.4 kWh pack capable of up to 330 miles (531 km) on a charge. These figures placed the EV4 squarely in Tesla’s neighborhood, at least, that was the plan before the pause.

Diesel car sales are way down, but the stinky stuff is still the fuel of choice for many van operators due to a diesel engine’s durability, efficiency and long range. Maybe not for long though.

Kia’s new PV5 Cargo electric van has just set a Guinness World Record after traveling 430.84 miles (693.38 km) on a single charge.

Related: This PV5 Is VW’s Idea Of A VW ID. Buzz

That would be a solid, though hardly newsworthy feat in a car, but it’s more impressive in a brick-shaped van (albeit a slippery one) whose official range is only 258 miles (415 km). And it borders on a miracle when you learn that it was achieved while carrying the PV5’s maximum payload of 1,740 lbs, or 790 kg.

The record wasn’t a lab test or a hypermiling stunt. This was a real-world endurance run, conducted north of Frankfurt, Germany, under the same urban and extra-urban conditions any delivery van might face on a long working day – or two.

Behind the wheel of the PV5 were commercial vehicle journalist George Barrow, and Christian Nigemeier, a senior engineer at Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Centre.

Over the course of the 22.5-hour challenge, the duo completed 12 loops of a 36.2-mile (58.2 km) route, complete with traffic lights, roundabouts, and an elevation gain of 1,210 ft (370 m).

The record-breaking PV5 was in stock form, but fitted with a 71.2 kWh battery, the larger of the two available power packs.

A smaller 51.5 kWh battery is also available for businesses who don’t cover a ton of miles in a day or want to get anywhere in a hurry – it’s only rated for 184 miles (296 km) and takes 16.2 seconds to reach 62mph versus 12.4 seconds for the 71.2 kWh version.

The PV5 is the first member of Kia’s Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) family, built on the brand’s new E-GMP.S architecture, the commercial vehicle version of the platform used in passenger cars like the EV6 and EV9.

Like combustion commercials it’s designed for modular flexibility and can be ordered as a panel van, chassis cab or minivan.

Kia

Update: For American EV shoppers already feeling left out after Kia’s decision to delay the EV4’s US launch “indefinitely” over what it calls “changing market conditions,” a polite way of saying “no more federal tax credits,” this one might sting a little more.

More: Kia Suddenly Pulls Its Tesla Model 3 Rival Right Before US Launch

The EV4 GT hatchback, recently teased and pictured below, isn’t the only body style of the performance variant on the way. As new spy photos confirm, Kia is also developing an EV4 GT Fastback, which means yes, that one will slip through American fingers too.

SB-Medien

This sedan variant promises a roomier rear section than the hatch thanks to its more conventional silhouette, though the styling at the back is anything but conventional.

Despite the heavy camouflage, telltale signs point to this being the GT model. The chunky tires and the same tall alloy wheels from the GT hatchback are visible, and behind them, we see the neon green brake calipers. Inside, the bright green seatbelts and the matching ring around the steering wheel rim are additional giveaways.

Everything else applied to the EV4 GT Hatch carries over here as well, including the dual-motor powertrain rated at around 400 horsepower and the performance-tuned chassis.

There’s no official debut date yet, though the EV4 GT Fastback is likely to appear either alongside the hatch next year or shortly after. (by John Halas)

Original story on the EV4 GT Hatch continues below.

SB-Medien

Kia has quietly unveiled the EV4 GT, ahead of its market launch in 2026. The performance version of the electric hatchback was shown with a special camouflage wrap that does little to hide its exterior design.

The GT is expected to pack a dual-motor all-wheel-drive setup and a round of targeted chassis upgrades. Together, these are designed to place the EV4 GT squarely in the path of both electric rivals such as the VW ID.3 GTX and long-standing combustion favorites like the Golf R.

More: Kia’s 2027 Telluride Finally Shows Its Face Ahead Of LA Reveal

The company used the unveiling of its new GT Wrap as the pretext for a series of teasers. The livery blends glossy black with matte gray and streaks of neon green, described by Kia as a look meant to “evoke energy and speed.”

The same fragmented design theme will carry across all electric GT prototypes during the later development stages.

Sharper Exterior Details

Beneath the custom camouflage, the EV4 GT stays close in shape to the existing GT-Line trim, with only subtle differences. Up front, the performance flagship gains vertical slits in the lower bumper intake, lending a more assertive look.

From the side, diamond-cut alloy wheels hide neon-painted brake calipers, while the rear adopts a GT-specific diffuser with a central vertical LED light cluster. The setup recalls the facelifted EV6 GT crossover, suggesting a family resemblance.

Kia hasn’t released interior photos yet, though early glimpses reveal sportier bucket seats accented in neon.

What Drives It?

The real transformation will happen beneath the surface. Sources point to a dual-motor AWD powertrain producing roughly 400 horsepower, paired with simulated manual shifts and an artificial rev limiter to give drivers more engagement.

The energy source is expected to be the familiar 81.4 kWh battery pack from the long-range FWD variant.

More: There’s A Simple Way To Fix The Kia EV6’s Most Annoying Sound Issue

True to Kia’s GT philosophy, the EV4 GT will receive dedicated chassis tuning, including a stiffer suspension and a quicker steering ratio for more precise handling and livelier responses on winding roads.

Rivals of the Korean model will include the VW ID.3 GTX, Cupra Born VZ, and MG 4 X Power. It will indirectly compete with ICE-powered hot hatches like the VW Golf R and Toyota GR Corolla. Hyundai is also working on its own zero-emission hot hatch, the Ioniq 3 N.

Kia has also confirmed that every future GT model will be fully electric, marking the current K5 GT as the final performance model in the lineup to feature an internal combustion engine.

Do you own a Kia EV6 with the optional Meridian sound system? If so, you might have noticed that the subwoofer isn’t delivering the deep, satisfying bass you’d expect. It turns out your EV’s subwoofer could be wired out of phase, limiting its punch.

Fortunately, one Reddit user uncovered a straightforward fix that anyone can perform with a few basic tools.

Read: Kia’s EV Sales Collapse As Shocking Drop Hits Key Models

The Redditor who discovered how to rectify the wonky subwoofer says he used to be a member of the Hyundai Tiburon forums. Roughly 20 years ago, members of those forums discovered that the stock subwoofer’s sound could be improved by reversing the positive and negative terminals.

Applying the same principle to the Meridian setup in his EV6, he found that the results were immediate, with stronger bass and a more balanced overall sound.

A Simple, DIY Adjustment

To carry out the fix, EV6 owners first need to open up the trunk where the subwoofer is stored. They then need to remove a piece of rear trim to gain access to a plug running into the sub.

Once they do so, it’s just a matter of using a small screwdriver to release the four wires, which are typically arranged red, black, red, black from top to bottom, and then reconnecting them in reverse order, black, red, black, red.

Shortly after the Reddit post gained traction, YouTuber Technically Jeff posted a clip of him performing the same fix, and he found it made a huge difference. Dozens of EV6 owners have jumped into the comments section to confirm that the fix transforms the subwoofer’s performance, making the listening experience much richer.

Meridian Sound Subwoofer fix
byu/nex703 inKiaEV6

Why It Happens

According to two audio specialists who spoke with The Drive, the problem likely stems from the EV’s active sound cancellation system. They explained that the subwoofer’s low frequencies are being partially canceled out by opposing frequencies from other speakers positioned throughout the cabin.

It’s not yet clear if the same issue is present on other Kia, Genesis, and/or Hyundai models with Meridian sound systems, but if you own one, it may be wise to take a look at the subwoofer to see if it, too, has been wired incorrectly.