The Used EV Under $30,000 For Long-Distance Travel

Shopping for an electric vehicle (EV) can feel taxing with the hefty price tags and the desired models that may seem out of reach. This can be the case for many of the new EVs on the market, with the average price sitting at $55,544. That’s a good bit of cash, and it’s a 12 percent increase compared to the average in 2024. While some people may be set on buying a new model, an easy way to keep it under budget and not break the bank is to take a dive into the used EV market.

Almost every car is prone to depreciation, but a good portion of electric vehicles depreciate faster than the average non-electric car. This can be bad for the owner but beneficial for buyers, and for now, it will be seen as good because it makes some compelling cases for some used EVs that were once expensive but are now seen as steals. Plenty of candidates fit the bill, whether it’s a Tesla “model” or one of Hyundai’s EVs, but one particular model from Kia is the winner today.

In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including the EPA and Kelly Blue Book.

The 2022 Kia EV6 Keeps Costs Low And Ranges High

You Can Get One For As Low As ~$21,000 In The Used Market

The EV6 was Kia’s first electric SUV, debuting in 2022. Surprisingly enough, the EV6 wasn’t the only first electric SUV to debut that same year, with a similar model, the Hyundai Ioniq 5, also carving a path into the electric automotive world for both car brands. Funny enough, while the two electric SUVs look nothing alike, it was Hyundai who lent their electric powertrain setup to Kia, which is now seen on the EV6. If you were to compare the two with their power outputs, you would see they share nearly identical numbers. This has carried on throughout the years, with the later and more performance-focused models, such as the Ioniq 5 N and EV6 GT, sharing similar setups. It isn’t anything new in the car world with sharing notes, with a recent example being the current Toyota Supra utilizing a similar chassis and powertrain given by BMW.

2022 Kia EV6 Performance Specifications

Kia offers multiple setups on the EV6, with the base trim, the Light, being the standard range. It’s the only trim to utilize the 58-kWh battery and its single-electric motor. This configuration produces the least amount of power out of the rest of the trims, delivering 167 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. It’s only offered in rear-wheel drive, whereas the rest of the trims are offered in both rear- or all-wheel drive. The Wind and GT-Line share the same specs, utilizing the larger 77.4-kWh battery, and are available with a single or dual electric motor. It can produce 225 to 320 horsepower and 258 to 446 pound-feet of torque, depending on which setup.

Delivering Up To 310 Miles Of Range

The 2022 Kia EV6 carries over some competitive fuel economies and ranges compared to up-to-date models. For the Standard Range, it provides 136 MPGe in the city, 100 MPGe on the highway, and 117 MPGe combined. For the rear-wheel-drive models with the larger battery, you get 134 MPGe in the city, 101 MPGe on the highway, and a combined fuel economy of 117 MPGe. The all-wheel-drive models are the least efficient, offering 116 MPGe in the city, 94 MPGe on the highway, and 105 MPGe combined. When it comes to the 2022 EV6 range, it depends on the trim and setup, with the ranges sitting at 232 to 310 miles.

2022 Kia EV6 Fuel Economy

All Trims Sit Below A $30,000 Used Price Tag

In the electric vehicle world, money is sometimes range, and the more you spend, the more range you’ll likely get. Great examples of this include expensive models such as the Rivian R1T, Lucid Air, and Mercedes EQS. After all, these three manufacturers are luxury car brands and sit in the top five of the best electric vehicles with the longest ranges. This is the case for new EVs, but many models that offer at least 300 miles and are used typically come discounted.

The 2022 EV6 is just one example, which started at $40,900 for the base model but now has a resale value of $20,959. This is for the Standard Range, and say you want one of the other two trims. It’s not that bad, raising the price by $6,000, with the Wind and GT-Line sitting at $26,121 to $27,337. While this may seem like a hard hit for owners, it’s quite impressive and appealing for outside shoppers with how affordable this sleek electric SUV is.

2022 Kia EV6 Prices

Kia Offers Three Trims On The 2022 EV6

As seen above, Kia offers the 2022 EV6 in three trims: Light, Wind, and GT-Line. The Light will be the entry-level trim, which started to show with its smaller battery, less power, and lower range. It’s the best trim to get someone into with staying within a low budget. The second trim is the Wind, which builds off of the Light, offering more power, a larger battery, and some added features. Lastly, as you could expect, the GT-Line boasts a more sporty design with upgraded comfort, tech, and safety.

The Electric SUV That Doesn’t Lack Standard Features

Whether it’s technology or convenient features, there’s a whole lot of them on the 2022 Kia EV6. Starting at comfort and convenience, the EV6 utilizes recycled plastic throughout the interior. Depending on the trims, the EV6 can be equipped with 100 percent vegan leather on the seats and surfaces. Kia marks the front seating as “slim seats” with thin frames to maximize rear seat space and knee room. If you’re worried about cargo, the EV6 delivering a max cargo capacity of 50.2 cubic feet shouldn’t be a concern. There are plenty of other areas to explore on the EV6 that are not tech-related, but the real goodies that shouldn’t go unmissed are ultimately the technology.

When it comes to the standard and available technology features, the EV6 is equipped with a panoramic dual integrated 12.3-inch center cluster and infotainment screen. Some more visuals include the augmented reality head-up display, which displays driving information, and Kia’s advanced driver assistance system. For music, you can jam out with the 14-speaker Meridian Premium Audio System with Intelli Q technology. The assortment of driving aids comes in handy, optimizing safety and convenience with examples including forward collision-avoidance assist reverse, rear occupant alert, driver attention warning, blind-spot avoidance assist, Highway Driving Assist II, and many more. Much like the standard features, it would take a whole day to unpack all the technology seen on the 2022 EV6.

How The EV6 Stacks Up Against Other Affordable Used EVs That Deliver Long Ranges

As stated earlier, the 2022 Kia EV6 isn’t the only used EV worth pursuing if you’re looking for affordable options and added ranges. In fact, it doesn’t just come down to three or seven models; rather, a large portion of used EVs offer both factors. Some name brands in the electric automotive industry are the first models that should come to mind, such as Tesla, Ford, and Hyundai, but it’s worth noting that there are plenty of other options when shopping for used EVs.

2022 Tesla Model 3 And Model Y

Tesla is a staple within the EV world, with some mainstream models, such as the Model Y and Model 3, making milestones throughout the years and setting the bar high for other car brands. For the 2022 Tesla Model 3, you get a combined fuel economy of 113 to 132 MPGe and an overall driving range of 272 to 358 miles. Its larger sibling, the Tesla Model Y, offers 111 to 129 MPGe and a 244 to 330-mile driving range. Both models sit towards the $30,000 range for their used prices, with the 2022 Model 3 averaging a $24,882 to $31,337 used price and the 2022 Model Y costing around $29,183 to $29,773.

2022 Tesla Model 3 And Model Y Fuel Economy

2022 Ford Mustang Mach E

Ford may not come to mind regarding EV engineering, but the American car brand has been producing some impressive models, with the F-150 Lightning and Mustang Mach E being great examples. When it comes to the 2022 Mustang Mach E, this electric SUV provides a combined fuel economy of 82 to 103 MPGe. Depending on the trim, the Mach-E can deliver a 300-mile plus driving range, with 224 to 314 miles overall. For its used price, its average is $25,814 to $29,779.

2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E Fuel Economy

2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5

It wouldn’t be a comparison if you didn’t throw in the electric SUV that shares many of the same mechanical components as that of the Kia EV6. The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 offers a combined fuel economy of 98 to 114 MPGe. This Korean electric SUV barely makes it over 300 miles, with its overall driving range being 256 to 303 miles. Lastly, the 2022 Ioniq 5 can be picked up for around $22,340 to $26,289 for its average used price.

2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 Fuel Economy