- Billionaires Mark Cuban and Elon Musk are engaged in a heated online battle.
- In a recent chat, Cuban said he prefers the Kia EV6 to the Tesla Model X Plaid.
- He told Business Insider that the car has a longer range and feels “easier to drive.”
The very bitter online feud between Mark Cuban and Elon Musk continues.
Billionaires have been taking shots at each other on social media for weeks after a discussion about diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts devolved into petty accusations — though not only at Mr. Musk. Most of them are words of criticism.
Musk has previously called Cuba a “racist,” “liar,” “marionette” and “intolerable tool.”
On Friday night, Cuban took a more subtle jab at Musk. Now on one of Musk's babies, Tesla, and no less on the thread.
When a user in the thread posted a photo of himself in a Rivian EV competitor and told him to “stick to Elon,” Cuban responded that he owns a Tesla and a Kia.
But he said he preferred the latter.
“In fact, I own a Tesla Plaid and a Kia EV,” he wrote. “I drive Kia almost exclusively.”
Cuban told Business Insider in an email that his Kia EV6 offers a better driving experience than the Model X Plaid.
“Range is longer. Miles remaining are more accurate. Miles are less affected by cold weather. Higher off the ground,” he wrote. “Tesla has more comprehensive software, but Kia is easier to drive.”
That's a pretty bold position, considering Tesla is touting its better-specced 2024 Plaid X model as capable of driving up to 526 miles per charge. The Kia EV6 is said to have a range of up to 310 miles.
However, the impact on EV performance in cold climates is a real issue, and not all electric vehicles are created equal.
According to a study by used EV research firm Recurrent, the 2022 Kia EV6 maintained 93% of its EPA range while operating at 32 degrees Fahrenheit, compared to the Tesla Model X's “observed range at 32 degrees Fahrenheit.” was 48% of the original EPA range.
A Tesla spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment outside of business hours.
Don't get me wrong, these are just one driver's thoughts, but BI preferred the Kia EV6 over the Tesla Model Y in 2022.
Cuban wasn't even 100 percent sure whether his Tesla was a Model S or Model X. This billionaire has quite an extensive car collection. (He asked if he had a Model X in plaid and he replied, “I think so.”)
It's hard to say how Musk feels about the jab. He did not respond to requests for comment. However, Kia seems satisfied.
“Kia agrees!” James Bell, director of corporate communications for Kia America, told BI.
