Nissan Ariya vs Kia EV6: which mid-size family electric SUV should you lease?

The electric car market has, for lack of a better word, absolutely exploded over the last five or so years. 

Where once you struggled to find an EV to suit your needs, your lifestyle and your budget – Renault Zoe and Nissan Leaf dominated the more affordable end of the market, while Tesla has been kicking about the more premium end for some time – you’re now inundated with choice.

And what choices those are.

Whether you’re after something small and sweet to bomb around town in or you need a family workhorse to cart around your partner, children and all of their luggage, there’s an electric car lease for you. In fact, there’s almost too much choice now, with more than one car out there ticking all the right boxes.

Nearly every manufacturer has dabbled in the electric car game, with many launching their own contender into the increasingly crowded midsize electric SUV ring.

While a lovely place to be in, it can make that all-important choice a little trickier.

But if you’re after an electric family car lease, we’ve pitted two of the best electric cars on the market up against each other, to see which one comes out on top.

Kia EV6

Overview

The Nissan Leaf was arguably the original family EV. Launched in 2010, and now on its second generation, the Leaf really cemented Nissan’s place at the forefront of mass electric production and innovation, with an affordable and reliable number that proved the demand for electric family-size cars.

But then, while the rest of the world soldiered on and started launching EV after EV, Nissan just didn’t. The Leaf remained the brand’s only dedicated EV for some time, though it proved to be a best-seller. And really, if it isn’t broken – why fix it?

That is, until now.

The eagerly anticipated Nissan Ariya launched to much fanfare in 2022, and has already proven just why Nissan are the go-to family car brand for so many. 

It looks good, it drives good, its packed to the rafters with good technology – really, it’s taken everything that Nissan have learned in their ten plus years with the Leaf and made it all even better.

But the Nissan Ariya doesn’t stand alone in the midsize SUV world.

In fact, it is shoulder to shoulder with rivals from every manufacturer you could think of – including the Kia EV6.

We like the EV6.

Kia have very much gone down a divisive styling route with many of their all-electric cars (if you’ve seen the Kia EV9 in all its boxy glory, you’ll know they’re not shy about a trying something different), which we really enjoy.

But the EV6 isn’t just good for its looks.

Kia have packed some of the best tech on the market, a whacking great battery, the ability to very rapidly charge with an ultra-rapid charger and some comfortable seats into the car.

Creating a very compelling EV indeed.

Nissan Ariya

Looks

The Nissan Ariya is unmistakably an SUV, yet doesn’t sport the traditional chunky SUV styling a la the popular Volvo XC range (other SUVs are available). 

Instead, it’s stylish and futuristic, with the exterior design emphasising the sleek minimalistic look Nissan have gone for. It takes inspiration from some Japanese design philosophies, with the front grille featuring an ancient Japanese Kumiko woodworking pattern, and the singular ‘horizon line’ crease that runs around the car.

The rear sports a single piece ‘light blade’ for that futuristic feel, and the whole thing is offered in several colourways, including a delightful copper which really highlights the Ariya’s beauty.

Many subtle details go into the Ariya’s design, and it really is a car that has to be seen to be believed. Swish, sleek, and stunning, it’s one of the best-looking cars to hit our roads in recent years.

And it doesn’t just look like another Tesla.

(Not that that’s a bad thing – we love the distinctive Tesla look, but it is nice to see something a little different zipping around.)

The Kia EV6 is not as obviously an SUV as the Ariya, but it’s certainly no saloon either. The chunkier styling details and sleek lines create a striking package, with a sporty and slightly aggressive air that gives away how fun the EV6 is to drive without you even needing to set a single toe into the car.

Its proportions are more muscular than the sleek Ariya, and it’s an excellent option if you’re after a slightly sportier electric car but without compromising on the practicality of an SUV.

With a distinctive high tail and integrated lighting stretching across the vehicle's width, you’ll be able to recognise the EV6 from a mile off.

Nissan Ariya

Interior

Both the Nissan Ariya and the Kia EV6, thanks to their lengthy wheelbases, offer plenty of space inside for passengers, luggage, pets, and Ikea trips.

If you’re after the loftier driving position that the traditional SUV brings, the Nissan Ariya is the pick for you.

It offers a commanding view of the road, with an airy interior and a flat floor that makes sitting up front feel even more spacious than it is. Though don’t go stashing anything at your feet if you happen to be a passenger in an Ariya – with no barrier, one sharp turn will have your bits barrelling across to the driver’s side and muddling in with the pedals.

You’ll be comfy in the chaos though.

The quality of the Ariya is excellent, with a wood-effect trim that combines with the luxe-feeling upholstery to create a cabin that you’ll want to spend time in. Five-hour journey up the M5? An absolute doddle. 

Especially if you can combine that with a stop at posh Gloucester Services to recharge and show your brand-new Nissan Ariya lease off.

The ambient lighting (inspired by traditional Japanese lanterns in keeping with Nissan’s attempt to stick to the brand’s roots), and additional features like ProPILOT Assist, e-Pedal and Zero Gravity Seats help to create a safe and comfortable environment.

Nissan describe the interior of the Ariya as a ‘sleek café lounge on a starship’, and we’d have to agree.

Kia EV6

The interior of the Kia EV6 is also extremely spacious, with five six-footers having absolutely no issues squashing in for even the longest of journeys.

You don’t sit quite as high as you do in the Ariya, with the seating only a little above what it would be in a hatchback. But if you like that lower to the ground, sportier feel, then the EV6 is the car for you.

It feels more like sitting in a cockpit than the Ariya’s lounge, so really it does depend on what feel to your car you prefer, because both are extremely well done and comfortable.

The EV6 feels sturdy inside, with plenty of high-end finishes on the touchpoints and soft materials that give it a premium feel when you clamber inside and buckle yourself in. Kia have combined various materials, including suede, synthetic ‘vegan’ leather and recycled fabrics (the dash plastics are made with recycled PET bottles) in their bid to create a more sustainable car without compromising on experience, and it’s worked.

Very well, in fact.

Ergonomic and spacious, you’ll have no issues undertaking short commutes and long drives in the EV6 – even if your children are having a tiff in the backseats. 

Kia EV6

Practicality

As you’d expect from two SUVs, both the Nissan Ariya and Kia EV6 score top marks when it comes to practicality.

The Kia EV6 is spacious, and even those over six foot will find they have space for themselves and their extremities in the back, without encroaching too much on each other’s personal space. 

It can feel a little more claustrophobic than the Ariya because the roofline curves down at the outer edges (which does reduce rear visibility and makes access a little trickier), but it’s nothing major and not really anything that will majorly impact your EV6 experience.

EV6perience? We’ll workshop that one.

However, the Kia EV6 cabin is extremely practical, and it makes for an excellent family car with plenty of space to stash away emergency snacks, toys and clothes, as well as all those little odds and ends that end up in the EV without you really knowing where they came from.

There’s a whole bunch of useful cubbies, space under the floating centre console, deep door bins and USB-C charging ports built into the sides of both front seats to lessen arguments about who is charging what on longer journeys.

The boot clocks in at a very good 490L, with an additional 20L frunk under the bonnet which won’t store a lot, but will keep your muddy charging cables out of the way and prevent dirtying your stuff. There’s even a ski hatch so you can load longer items through the rear passengers without having to always fold the seats down – though they do fold in a 60:40 split if you need.

Nissan Ariya

Leaning more towards the Ariya? Never fear – it is just as practical as the EV6.

In fact, though the boot is ostensibly ‘smaller’ if you go on volume alone (the Ariya has a 466L boot), the boxier shape of the Ariya’s boot with its extra width and depth actually makes it an extremely usable space. You’ll have no issues playing luggage Jenga, and trips to the tip will be an absolute breeze.

Nissan know what they’re doing when it comes to creating a family workhorse, and it shows in every inch of the Ariya’s design.

The cabin is spacious, with plenty of leg and headroom for both front and rear passengers (even if those in the back are fully grown adults), and the flat floor across the board means plenty of space to wiggle your toes and get in and out of the car.

And, because the Ariya is generally boxier than the EV6, taking more of its design cues from the SUV shape, there is a smidge more space in the back than there is in the EV6, without the encroaching roofline stealing a little of the headroom.

But, much like in the EV6, there are plenty of cubbies and trays to stash all your important bits, along with charging points and cupholders and armrests and all the little creature comforts that make the Ariya a very nice place to be on even the longest, Lands End to John O’Groats type journeys.

Kia EV6

Technology

The Ariya and the EV6 are both crammed to the absolute rafters with some of the newest and greatest automotive tech.

It’s really one of the best things about leasing – you’ll always have access to the latest technologies, especially if you switch your car every three years. Particularly when it comes to electric leasing, where the innovations just don’t seem to stop hitting us year after year.

But as the technology stands right now, the Kia EV6 and Nissan Ariya are at the top of their game. 

Both feature dual 12.3in screens – one a digital instrument panel, one a touchscreen infotainment system – that dominate their respective dashboards, and neither dash is overly cluttered with buttons and knobs to make it feel more like you’re in the cockpit of a fighter jet over a very nice family EV.

Handily though, the Nissan Ariya hasn’t hidden absolutely everything in the multimedia screen, so you don’t need to go swiping to find the controls you’re looking for. The dual screens sit on top of a veneer that carries the climate controls, though Nissan have opted for switches that light up through this veneer, that give a very satisfying little haptic click when they’re pressed.

Visually, it’s very nice, and it does feel a little bit more magical than your run of the mill button.

There’s also a nice head-up display that augments the driver screen and projects all the important info onto the windscreen in front of you, though this only comes as standard on the higher specs (you can add it as an option to the lower specs though, if it’s something you’re interested in).

And – unusually compared to many rivals – Nissan offer the Ariya as standard with an energy-efficient heat pump, which heats the cabin more efficiently and helps to preserve the range of your car.

Kia does only offer the top-spec EV6 GT with this heat pump as standard, though it is an option on the lower spec models.

However, the rest of the tech in the EV6 is very good.

It has the same dual screen set up as the Ariya, with crisp graphics and intuitive menus that make finding the info you need easy as pie. As standard, the EV6 comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, WiFi hotspot, wireless phone charging, automatic climate control and front heated seats. 

The EV6 also has a heads-up display, along with the Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) technology which allows you to power other devices with a three-pin plug. While you could use your car just to power your laptop on the go, if you’re parked up and fancy getting a little work done (or playing The Sims), it’s also handy if you’ve gone off camping and need to blow up an airbed or power an electric cooker.

Nissan Ariya

Range

Though the phrase ‘range anxiety’ is oft bandied around, it’s worth bearing in mind that if you’re mostly pootling around town, running errands and commuting to work, and you have access to an at-home or work charger, then range really won’t be much of a deal breaker for you.

Better to go for a car that meets your needs in every other way (including budget – more range often means more money), than just the car with the longest range.

Range caveats aside, it’s time to get technical.

The Ariya lineup starts with a front-wheel drive 217bhp powertrain with a 63kWh battery, capable of a WLTP-comb-claimed range of 250 miles.

If you need something a bit juicier, there’s also a front-wheel drive 242bhp number with a bigger 87kWh battery and a claimed range of up to 329 miles on a single charge. You can also get this bigger battery with all-wheel drive and the Ariya’s torque vectored system called e-4ORCE with a slightly smaller 319-mile range but a nicer driving experience.

The Kia EV6 keeps things a little simpler.

Every EV6 variant is powered by the same 77.4kWh battery pack, but there are rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive options available to you.

If you are after more range, it’s the RWD single-motor versions with a claimed 328-mile range that you’ll want to look for. Though the AWD dual-motor doesn’t lag too far behind, with a claimed range of 314 miles.

Bear in mind though, that the larger 20in wheels on the GT-Line S drop the claimed range down again to 300 miles, and the performance-focused top-of-the-range Kia EV6 GT has a 263-mile max range.

However, the Kia EV6 does employ some clever technology to make the most out of this battery. It’s equipped with an 800-volt charging system, so if you can plug into a 350kW ultra-rapid charger, you’ll be able to top up to 80% in under 20 minutes, which really isn’t even enough time to go and use the facilities.

Kia EV6

Specifications

Both the standard Nissan Ariya and Kia EV6 come with a good amount of tech as standard, but it is, as ever, in those middle trims where the little gems lie if you’ve got a bit of extra cash.

Nissan keeps things pretty simple with the Ariya, with three core specifications to choose from (though there are, of course, different options you can add to keep things interesting on the lower trims, like the panoramic sunroof in the Sky pack or the Tech pack with its 10-speaker Bose sound system and digital rear-view mirror).

The base spec Engage model gets LEDs, 19in wheels, automatic windscreen wipers, fabric upholstery, adaptive cruise control, dual-zone climate control and a heat pump.

Upgrade to the Advance trim, and you’ll get wireless phone charging, 360-degree camera system, electric tailgate, heated front seats/steering wheel/windscreen and rear privacy glass. The top-spec Evolve trim adds even more luxuries like ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, panoramic glass sunroof, head-up display and an upgraded Bose stereo system. 

There’s also the Evolve+ trim, which comes with 20in wheels and blue leather upholstery.

Nissan Ariya

Kia have also kept it simple with the EV6 – there are four core specs, and the range-topping Kia EV6 GT, though this is technically a standalone car.

Base Air models get all the cool bits, including 800V charging system, LED headlights, vegan leather upholstery, heated front seats and steering wheel, air con, parking sensors and all of the normal driver assistance and safety systems.

Step up to the Horizon trim and you’ll benefit from adaptive LED headlights, front parking sensors, heated rear seats, wireless phone charger, safe exit assist system, power-operated tailgate and electronically adjusted driver’s seat.

The GT-Line gets a little sportier, adding black suede with white bolsters, electric seats with folding ‘relaxation’ option, Vehicle to Load, sportier styling tweaks, body-colour side sills and alloy pedals. GT-Line S adds even more little luxuries, with 20in wheels, body-coloured exterior door handles, augmented reality head-up display, Meridian 14-speaker stereo, panoramic sunroof and remote parking assistance system.

And finally, the big Kia EV6 GT gets bucket seats, electronically controlled suspension, 21in wheels, limited slip differential for sportier driving, and the heat pump.

Kia EV6

Verdict

There is no denying that the Nissan Ariya and the Kia EV6 both make compelling options for your next electric car lease, offering a lot of value for their respective prices.

Is it a cop out to say that really, in our eye, they’re both winners?

Because they really are. Both have their pros, neither really have any cons, and ultimately, it’s going to come down to personal preference around styling, range, and whether or not you like to sit a little higher in your car.

But if you are willing to be swayed by price and you want to get your car order in before the end of June, we currently have a delightful Nissan Ariya lease deal, with over £158 including VAT knocked off the monthly price. The deal won’t stick around for long, so if you’re ready to get behind the wheel, get in touch with our lovely leasing experts.

Ready to get your Nissan Ariya or Kia EV6 leasing journey on the road?

Beth Twigg

Beth Twigg

Beth is our Content and Paid Media Specialist, tasked with creating great articles to keep you both entertained and informed. She has two years previous experience, but has been writing and scribbling for much longer.