Maintaining your own car has long been a badge of pride for some and a financial necessity for many others. Swapping fluids, filters, or brake pads is part of the standard weekend maintenance ritual for countless drivers.

But for one Hyundai Ioniq 5 N owner, that sense of self-reliance recently hit a wall, or more precisely, a brake caliper. He discovered that replacing the rear pads on his EV wasn’t as simple as it used to be. Now, Hyundai has responded.

More: Apparently You Need Hyundai’s Permission To Change Your Own Brakes

It might seem odd that someone has already burned through their rear pads, especially on an EV, but it happened because the owner drove this car the way Hyundai wants owners to: hard and on the track.

When he tried to replace these pads, he learned that he needed to retract the electronic parking brake. That’s where this easy DIY job took a scary turn.

When Maintenance Gets Complicated

One way to retract the brake is to use Hyundai’s Global Dynamic System (GDS). That software and the hardware that goes with it can cost almost $6,000, as we’ve seen online. Don’t worry, though, there’s another option called the J2534 Diagnostic Tool, which Hyundai supports, as seen in an official document discovered by TheDrive.

According to the owner, Redditor u/SoultronicPear, the software costs $60 a week (or less on average for longer time periods) and requires the use of a J2534 adapter that can be found for around $2,000.

Hyundai currently approves only three options for this tool: the CarDAQ Plus 3, Bosch’s MTS 6531 and DG Technologies’ d-briDGe PRO, adding that, “under no circumstances do we recommend the use of a
non-approved J2534 device”. So be warned.

Credentials Required

More importantly, beyond that, using the tool requires special National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF) authentication and a constant internet connection.

But here’s the kicker. Only certified repair shops or repair businesses are supposed to get access to that software. NASTF told the owner that “NASTF credentials are for use by qualified technicians, mechanics or locksmiths working in businesses providing repair or replacement services.”

Hyundai Speaks Up

Before publishing our first coverage of this issue, we reached out to Hyundai for comment. After the story went live, the automaker responded with the following statement to Carscoops:

“Hyundai is committed to supporting both our dealer network and independent repair facilities with safe, secure, and accessible service solutions. For vehicles equipped with electronic parking brakes, including the Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 5 N, the official repair procedure requires placing the rear calipers in service mode using either our Global Diagnostic System (GDS) or the J2534 application.

This ensures proper functionality and customer safety. Hyundai recently expanded access through an update to our J2534 application, enabling aftermarket users to perform functions previously restricted by the GDS secure gateway.

While authentication through NASTF is required for sensitive operations, this step helps maintain security and accountability. Our official dealer tool (GDS) is also available for purchase by anyone. Hyundai is actively exploring ways to make routine maintenance easier for all customers while upholding safety standards.

We appreciate the interest in DIY repairs and will continue working toward solutions that balance convenience with security.”

Seeking more detail, we pushed Hyundai to clarify whether a skilled owner could realistically do the job at home. The company followed up with this explanation:

“DIYers can replace brake pads on the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 5 N, but it requires specific steps and tools. Because these vehicles use electronic parking brakes, the rear calipers must be placed in service mode using either Hyundai’s Global Diagnostic System (GDS) or the J2534 application with a compatible pass-through device.

Both tools are publicly available, though GDS is more expensive and J2534 requires NASTF authentication for secure functions. Without these tools, the job cannot be done safely, as manual retraction could damage components.

Hyundai is not restricting DIY repairs, in fact, recent updates have expanded access, and we continue to explore ways to make routine maintenance easier while maintaining safety and security.”

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So, yes, it can be done. But unless you already own the specialized tools or have deep pockets, the process can cost about as much as a tired old hatchback from the classifieds.

For now, at least until a cheaper workaround surfaces (we’re looking into it, so stay tuned), the Ioniq 5 N’s rear brakes may remain one of those maintenance jobs probably best left to the professionals.

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. 

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.