Kia EV6 Review 2024

Kia proved it can make world-beating sensible electric cars with the excellent e-Niro. But can it make a truly desirable Tesla beater? Well, in this review of the Kia EV6 we'll show why it's not only stylish and clever, but it's also pound-for-pound one of the very best EVs on the market.

The Kia EV6 is one third of a trio of closely-related electric cars from Kia, Hyundai and newly-established premium brand Genesis. But whereas Hyundai's Ioniq 5 is dripping in retro charm, the EV6 has gone for a more curvy, modern shape that blends elements of low-slung coupes, hatchbacks and SUVs. 

Whether you prefer the Ioniq 5 or EV6 in design terms is personal choice. Both cars are larger than you might think, with the Kia actually being longer than a Jaguar I-Pace, but while the Hyundai is tuned for comfort the EV6 is meant to look and feel a bit more sporty. 

Along with the aforementioned Jaguar, key electric rivals for the Kia EV6 include the Skoda Enyaq, Volkswagen ID.4, Ford Mustang Mach-e and Nissan Ariya. There's also the Polestar 2 and slightly pricier BMW i4 to consider, too, plus the Tesla Model Y. 

Being designed from the ground-up to be an electric car gives the EV6 the edge over similarly priced EVs like the Mercedes EQA inside. It feels much more airy and open than a petrol or diesel car, while there's loads of legroom in the back. Quality is good, too - it might lack some of the sheen of German premium brands, but it really isn't far off. 

The Kia EV6 also excels with standard equipment and technology, with all versions getting a large infotainment screen and digital dials. Top versions also get an augmented reality head-up display, while there's also clever interactive surround-view cameras, remote parking and vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability - the latter allowing you to power tools, household appliances and even charge another EV via the Kia's battery.

This rival-beating tech doesn't stop under the surface, either. the EV6's 800-volt charging system means it sets the standard for rapid charging speeds - up to 235kW from a suitable charger. That's enough for a 10-80% top-up in just 18 minutes.

That speed is particularly impressive given every version has a 77.4kWh battery, enough for an official range of up to 328 miles from rear-wheel drive models. With a longer range and faster charging speeds than many more expensive electric cars you really find yourself questioning what you're spending more on. 

It's not as if the Kia EV6 is lacking in the driving department, either. Currently there's two versions available: a rear-wheel drive 229PS version and an all-wheel drive 325PS model with dual motors. The latter is certainly quick, but the entry-level car doesn't feel that much slower and offers a longer range on a charge. 

If that's not enough for you, Kia will sell you the EV6 GT later in 2022 with 585PS, which should make it one of the fastest electric cars around. But the existing model still manages to feel pretty sporty to drive. 

While the EV6 doesn't offer the same plush low-speed ride as an Ioniq 5, it's noticeably sharper in the bends and feels more tied-down at higher speeds. It's never uncomfortable, either, and motorway cruising is still pleasant thanks to comfortable seats, clever driving aids and good overall refinement. 

What's more its great around a city, and although visibility out the back isn't great the slightly raised driving position means it gets the main selling point of an electric SUV with few of the drawbacks. 

There's a brilliant blend of both style and substance with the Kia EV6. It doesn't just look like a car from another century, it drives like one too – if that's not enough to get you the behind the wheel of a Kia, which, don't forget, still comes with a seven-year/100,000-mile warranty, we don't know what is.

Looking for a second opinion? Why not read heycar's Kia EV6 review.

Hyundai and Kia have gone down different routes with the tuning of their electric cars, despite being very similar underneath. 

Whereas the Ioniq 5 is tuned primarily for comfort with a soft ride and rather unengaging handling, the EV6 sacrifices some plushness for more satisfying handling. 

Which you prefer depends on your priorities, but we reckon the EV6 might be the best compromise. Although it's firmer and you feel (and hear) more of the road surface, it manages to dampen out sharp potholes and speed bumps really well. Combined with good forward visibility and a fairly decent turning circle it makes for a good town car.

Plus, once you're up to higher speed it feels less loose and floaty than the Hyundai. It's also noticeably better at smoothing out bumps than the disappointingly harsh Tesla Model Y. Road and wind noise aren't intrusive either, so it's a solid choice for ploughing the motorways. 

While the EV6 is hardly as thrilling on a twisty road as a Porsche Taycan or BMW i4, it does a better job than pretty much every electric SUV. There's loads of grip and it doesn't lean very much in the bends, and although the steering isn't brimming with feel (something that's rare these days in any car), it's accurate enough to inspire confidence. 

All-wheel drive models feel a little more planted and grippy, which is necessary given the extra performance and the fact that it's around 100kg heavier than the RWD car, at 2.1 tonnes. 

At the moment there are two choices of power outputs for the Kia EV6. That'll change by the end of 2022 when the 585PS EV6 GT arrives. 

Most people will find the 229PS model delivers plenty of performance for their needs, however. A 0-62mph time of 7.3 seconds might sound a bit wet next to what Tesla is putting out, but because you get instant electric motor response it feels more nippy than most petrol or diesel cars. Plus, it has the same 114mph max speed as the faster version. 

Speaking of which, the dual-motor AWD model delivers 325PS but, more importantly, not far off double the torque (350Nm plays 605Nm) of the rear-wheel drive model. With the 0-62mph time down to 5.2 seconds it feels genuinely quick, and makes you question the need for a GT model for anything other than bragging rights. 

Both versions have a very quiet electric motor and strong, progressive brakes. Handily you can alter the regenerative braking from strong right down to nothing at all via 'gearshift' paddles behind the wheel. In the zero regen mode it's quite incredible how easily the EV6 coasts along without losing speed. 

Euro NCAP has given the Kia EV6 a full five-star rating for crash safety, with a strong 90% adult occupant score. The pedestrian protection score could be better, but it does well on the safety assist front. 

Speaking of which, all models come with automatic emergency braking that detects cyclists and pedestrians, lane keeping assist (that's easily switched off via a wheel-mounted button), a driver alertness function and intelligent speed assist. 

Mid-spec models also bring rear cross-traffic alert, blind spot monitoring and safe exit assist (which stops you opening the door into oncoming traffic. You'll need the GT-Line S model if you want proper 'Highway Assist' self-driving functions, parking collision avoidance and blind spot cameras. 

Electric cars aren't usually great for towing, but both Kia EV6 versions have a reasonable 1,600kg braked trailer weight limit. 

Will this electric class-leader fit in your garage? Well, the Kia EV6 dimensions make it 4695mm long, 1890mm wide and 1545mm tall. That makes it 60mm longer but with a 60mm lower roof height than the Hyundai Ioniq 5. 

Passenger space is still excellent, however. Yes, that lower roof means there isn't acres of head space like in the Ioniq 5, but unless you're well over six foot you won't find your head brushing the roof. It ultimate headroom does matter then avoid the GT-Line S model with its space-robbing sunroof. 

Legroom is nothing short of exceptional, both in the front and rear. Up front the wide cabin, big windscreen and lack of a bulky central tunnel means it feels positively airy, with lots of leg space. The rear is almost limo-like, as even if there's two six-footers up front two equally-sized adults can stretch out behind with loads of kneeroom to spare. 

What's more, the rear backrests recline for extra relaxation, while the cabin width and lack of a lump in the floor means the middle seat is pretty useable as well. We can't even complain about storage: both the door bins and the glovebox are large, there's a huge storage area between the two footwells, another deep cubby below the centre armrest and plenty of cupholders. 

The only black mark with the Kia EV6 is the boot space. At 490 litres with the seats up it's enough for most family needs, but lags behind cars such as the Skoda Enyaq and is even beaten by the Ford Mustang Mach-e. Still, the load space is long, there's plenty of little practical touches and you can fold the seats via levers in the boot itself. 

You also get a little 52-litre 'froot' (front boot) where the engine is on most cars if you opt for the rear-wheel drive EV6. It's not really useful for anything other than your charging cables, but at least it's there unlike some EVs. 

Rear visibility is a little hampered by that sloping roofline, larger pillars and a narrow back window. However, there's plenty of parking aids across the range to assist, while top models get both remote smart parking (that lets you move the car forwards and backwards in and out of a space via the key from outside) and a blind spot monitoring system that displays a camera feed in the digital dials. 

Best electric SUVs

Kia has rapidly improved the feeling of quality in its cars in the last few years, to the point where they feel more upmarket than many mainstream rivals. The EV6 is no different. 

There's some nice textures and soft-touch finishes in most places, none of the switchgear feels cheap and the only aspect we did find to complain about was the slightly wobbly centre armrest. It's certainly posher inside than a Volkswagen ID.4, and wouldn't feel overly inferior even next to posher German rivals. 

Regardless of which Kia EV6 you go for you get the same infotainment setup, comprising of a 12.3-inch central touchscreen display and a 12.3-inch digital dial display mounted alongside each other in a smart-looking bezel.

The screen itself is pretty intuitive despite there being quite a lot of menus, and the response seems good, even if there is occasionally some lag. It's easier to operate than VW's system, though the digital dials aren't quite as clever. 

We're glad that Kia has stuck with proper physical steering wheel controls rather than fiddly haptic touch buttons, although there is a panel of haptic buttons can be switched between shortcuts for the infotainment screen and climate controls. You can opt to lock either mode in as the default setting and the response is decent, but overall traditional climate knobs and switches are easier to use. 

Top models get a fancy 360-degree around view camera that gives you an external view of the whole car that can be moved around, much like Land Rover's latest system. It's very clever, as is the augmented reality head-up display on GT-Line S trim that displays directional navigation arrows for you to follow on the windscreen. It's not as distracting as it sounds...

As of 2022 the base price for a Kia EV6 RWD Air is just under £41,000, rising to just under £52,000 for the top-spec AWD GT-Line S. 

At first glance that might make it seem a little pricer than some rivals, including the Ioniq 5. But because the EV6 only comes with one large battery size and even the cheapest version has a range of well over 300 miles, it actually seems pretty good value. 

That's not considering the space, performance, clever technology and stylish design. Take all that into account and we reckon it's one of the best value EVs around, even if there are cheaper options. 

When talking about petrol or diesel cars the main running cost metric is miles per gallon. With electric cars you need to look at miles per kWh. The EV6 comes of rather well here too, with RWD models capable of more than 4 mi/kWh without much effort. 

That means you get more out of each unit of electricity you stick into the Kia, which is important given rising energy costs and rapid charging that is now over 50p per kWh in most instances. Really, like every EV, the EV6 makes the most financial sense if you have the facility to charge it up overnight at home. 

All versions of the Kia EV6 have a 77kWh battery, which is slightly bigger than the largest option in the Ioniq 5. Opting for a rear-wheel drive model means a WLTP range of up to 328 miles, which drops to 314 miles with the more powerful all-wheel drive model. 

Charging rates are class-leading. Kia reckons you can take the battery from 10-80% in just 17 minutes via a 350kW charger, although there's not many of those around. We charged the EV6 using a BP Pulse charger that promised 150kW but actually delivered peak speeds of 172kW - an extremely impressive figure.

Many rapid chargers are still 50kW, however, which means you'd be looking at about an hour to add 60% charge. With a 7kW home wallbox you can fully charge the EV6 overnight in around 11 hours, but that becomes a massive 34 hours if you're using a regular three-pin socket. 

There are three trim levels in the EV6 range. The entry-level Kia EV6 Air comes equipped with 19-inch grey alloy wheels, LED headlights, vegan leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, nav-based smart cruise control with stop and go tech, sat-nav with dual 12.3-inch screens, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, rear parking sensors, a reversing camera and a suite of driver assist features. 

Stepping up to the Kia EV6 GT-Line brings you 19-inch black alloy wheels, GT-Line exterior styling, privacy glass, a solar windscreen, adaptive LED headlights, suede upholstery with white vegan leather bolsters, electric front 'premium relaxation' seats, alloy pedals, a wireless phone charger and front parking sensors.

The top-spec Kia EV6 GT-Line S also adds 20-inch alloy wheels, automatic flush door handles, a sunroof, rear heated seats, ventilated front seats, a smart electric tailgater, a 14-speaker Meridian sound system, an augmented reality head up display, remote smart park assist, a 360-degree around view monitor and camera-based blind spot monitor. It also adds some extra driver assist features including highway driving assist 2 for semi-autonomous driving.