KIA EV6 AWD Long Range vs Tesla Model Y Juniper RWD: which is truly faster?

Off the line, the EV6 AWD Long Range hits 100 km/h in 5.16 s versus 6.04 s for the Model Y Juniper RWD. At this point, the EV6 AWD Long Range leads by 0.88 s and sits roughly 15 m ahead.

At 200 metres, the EV6 AWD Long Range is doing 135 km/h against 135 km/h for the Model Y Juniper RWD. The gap is 0.66 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the EV6 AWD Long Range crosses the line in 13.61 s versus 14.24 s. The 0.63 s gap represents roughly 29 m of track - two to three car lengths.

Past 400 metres, the gap narrows. The EV6 AWD Long Range maxes out at 185 km/h while the Model Y Juniper RWD keeps accelerating towards 209 km/h. At 600 metres, the gap has dropped to 0.59 s.

At 1,000 metres, the EV6 AWD Long Range finishes in 25.54 s versus 25.58 s, with just 0.04 s to spare. The Model Y Juniper RWD fails to fully close the launch gap.

The EV6 AWD Long Range features all-wheel drive (AWD) against the Model Y Juniper RWD’s RWD. At low speeds (0-30, 0-50, 0-80 km/h), AWD doubles the driven contact area: all four wheels transmit torque to the road, virtually eliminating wheelspin at launch. This traction advantage is decisive in the range where the motor delivers peak torque, before power and aerodynamics take over.

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the EV6 AWD Long Range is capped at 185 km/h, the Model Y Juniper RWD at 209 km/h. This isn’t a physical engine limit - it’s a manufacturer choice, usually for tyre safety or homologation reasons. Neither car reaches its true aerodynamic top speed.

With two electric powertrains, the difference comes down to power-to-weight ratio (6.72 kg/hp vs 6.20 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Automatic).

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 8.90 seconds. The 0.88 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.