Compared with their predecessors from a decade ago, today’s EVs go further, charge faster and have far more charging stations to choose from, but some would-be buyers still cite range anxiety as a reason for not going electric. And the results of a new study investigating the real range of EVs currently on sale suggests those fears are entirely justifiable.

The Australian Automobile Association (AAA) picked five EVs from a mix of brands as part of its government-funded four-year test designed to arm the nation’s car buyers with honest data. After subjecting each of the electric cars to a real-world driving route it found one of models delivered 23 percent less range than its maker claims.

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That car, the BYD Atto 3, only achieved 229 miles (369 km) before needing a recharge, representing a 69-mile (111 km) shortfall on the Chinese automaker’s 298-mile (480 km) official figure. Tesla’s Model 3 didn’t tell quite so big a lie, but it also failed to live up to its official range figures by a fairly large margin considering the tests weren’t carried out in the Arctic. The 274 miles (441 km) it achieved was 14 percent lower than Tesla’s 319-mile (513 km) claim.

Inconsistent Accuracy

But the big takeaway from the investigation isn’t that all EV range claims are wildly inaccurate. All five cars delivered fewer miles than advertized, and the BYD was wildly off. But one of the cars very nearly matched its official range, falling just 5 percent short, and it’s this difference across the brands, and cross models within the same brand, that’s the real problem for consumers.

If they knew that every car over-promised by 20 percent, it would be easier to make buying decisions than it is when you’ve no idea which brands to believe. It’s for this reason that these kind of independent tests are so useful for buyers looking at spending tens of thousands of dollars on a new car.

Standout Performer

The AAA’s test champ was the Smart #3, whose 268-mile (432 km) true range was only 14 miles (23 km) out. Kia’s EV6 and the Tesla Model Y also performed relatively well, each returning 8 percent less range than claimed.

AAA

Electric vehicle sales may have surged over the past few years, but 2025 is shaping up to be more complicated for the segment. Despite steady innovation, fresh designs, and continued refinement, demand seems to be cooling.

That trend is particularly evident for Kia, whose EV9 and EV6 models are struggling to keep pace with last year’s numbers, n unexpected turn, considering the recent surge in EV sales as buyers hurry to take advantage of the $7,500 federal tax credit, whether through purchases or leases.

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The automaker just released sales figures for the month of July so let’s focus on those first. During the month, Kia sold 1,737 EV9s and just 1,290 EV6s. Last year in the same month, it sold 1,815 and 1,545 respectively. Sure, that doesn’t look so great for what is an awesome crossover, but the EV9’s number could be an aberration. Except that yearly totals say otherwise.

A Steeper Decline Over Time

This year, Kia has sold 7,165 EV6s. That’s 5,323 less than it had after July of 2024. In other terms, that’s a full 42.6 percent decline in sales. The EV9 is actually fairing ever so slightly better as it’s down 41.8 percent from 11,486 sales through July of 2024 to just 6,675 sales so far this year. Somehow, though, the brand is having a great year overall thanks to gas-burning options.

Gas-Powered Models Carry the Load

The K5 is crushing it in sales with over 40,000 units sold already. The Carnival minivan is up 52.4 percent year over year with 39,080 sales so far in 2025. The Telluride, Sorento, and K4 are also selling well. Finally, the Sportage is crushing it with over 101,000 sales already this year, contributing to Kia being up 8.3 percent for the year in total.

“Kia is steadily progressing toward its highest annual sales record and an all-time high market share, fueled by record-breaking consumer sales growth,” said Eric Watson, vice-president, sales operations, Kia America.

He added, “As our SUV lineup maintains double-digit growth month after month, we recently rolled out a new ad campaign for the 2026 Sportage, which offers the ideal combination of efficiency and capability. As Kia’s longest-running nameplate, our customers have a strong sense of connection to Sportage, and we are fostering similar connections between our customers and other models.”

At this point, the brand might lean more heavily into its gas-burners because it appears that, unless something unexpected happens, the EV side of the business won’t be able to match last year’s performance. 

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