Kia EV6 review

The Kia EV6 is an electric car that its maker claims can charge faster than a Tesla, go further than a Hyundai Ioniq 5 and, if you choose the right version, even out-accelerate a Porsche Taycan 4S.

Those claims should be taken seriously, because Kia has a good reputation when it comes to building electric cars. You see, the brand’s first EV, the Kia e-Niro, became the first electric car to win our overall Car of the Year award. Then, in 2022, the EV6 went on to win the same accolade.

Since then, the EV6 has undergone a facelift and has, on paper, become even better. That’s because, on top of some styling tweaks, it has an even bigger battery for a longer range, plus it has different battery chemistry for even faster charging.

The thing is, since the EV6 won our Car of the Year, the competition has come on leaps and bounds. So, is this facelift enough to make sure that the EV6 keeps up with the best electric cars, including the Genesis GV60, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Tesla Model Y? Let’s find out…

In cheaper RWD form, the Kia EV6 has one 225bhp motor that drives the rear wheels, giving performance that’s decent rather than, er, electric. Officially, it’ll get from 0-62mph in 7.7sec – faster than the equivalent Hyundai Ioniq 5 but slower than the Nissan Ariya and downright rapid Tesla Model Y RWD. It will, however, go further than the Model Y on a charge though, with the new 84.0kWh battery increasing the official range to 361 miles (up from 328 miles previously).

The pricier dual-motor (AWD) version has a second electric motor powering the front wheels, increasing power to 320bhp in total, and giving acceleration that’s more of a match for the Model Y Long Range. The extra motor does reduce the range compared to the RWD, but at 339 miles, it’s still more than the Model Y can manage officially (331 miles).

If you’re after all-out performance, there's also an even quicker GT version of the EV6 – to read all about that, see our Kia EV6 GT review.

Kia has intentionally sacrificed some cushioning over bumps to create a car that’s a bit more agile and fun to drive. The EV6's ride is far from bone-shakingly firm though – in fact, some will prefer the more controlled, less floaty sensation to what’s offered by the Ioniq 5.

There are more comfortable electric SUVs out there for those with deeper pockets (the Audi Q8 e-tron, Genesis GV60 and Jaguar I-Pace, for example), while the cheaper Skoda Enyaq offers a slightly more agreeable ride. However, the EV6 is far more comfortable than the rather fractious Model Y and much more settled than the Ariya.

The EV6 isn’t the sort of car you’ll leap out of bed on a Sunday morning to go for a drive in, but the same goes for pretty much every other electric car on the market, with the exception of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N and the Porsche Taycan.

That doesn’t mean the EV6 handles badly, though – far from it. It grips well through corners, especially with the AWD versions, and being slightly lower than most SUVs means it leans less than many rivals, including the normal Ioniq 5, Ariya and Volkswagen ID 4.

In an ideal world, we’d like a better sense of connection with the front wheels from the steering, but it’s accurate enough to allow you to position the car with confidence at all speeds.

As an electric car, the EV6 has an obvious advantage over petrol and diesel alternatives because there’s no engine chugging away under the bonnet.

True, the 20in wheels that come with top-of-the-range GT-Line S trim produce a noticeable amount of road noise, especially at motorway speeds, but on 19s – which are fitted to Air and GT-Line models – the EV6 is quieter than most rivals, including the Model Y and ID 4, but still isn’t as calm as the GV60.

There’s the odd thump from the suspension, but overall the EV6 is roughly on a par with the Ioniq 5 for its ability to shut out unwanted noise and vibration. The Ariya is slightly more hushed in this regard, but if you really value quiet cruising manners, consider the super-hushed Audi Q4 e-tron.

"With a 0-62mph time of 7.2sec, the EV6 is quicker than some hot hatches. I found the sheer responsiveness of the electric motor particularly pleasing, so it’ll never leave you yearning for more performance on public roads." – Stuart Milne, Digital Editor

Is the Kia EV6 an SUV or just a regular hatchback? Well, it has a loftier driving position than the Tesla Model 3 saloon, but you don't exactly tower over other road users as you would in a Range Rover. It’s comfortable, nonetheless, with the EV6’s driver’s seat hugging you securely around your lower back. 

Entry-level Air models come with front seats that offer power adjustable lumbar support for the driver. You’ll have to upgrade to at least GT-Line S trim if you want to adjust other parts of the seat electrically and treat your passenger to lumbar adjustment too.

Adjusting the interior temperature is easy thanks to a mixture of physical dials and a touch-sensitive panel – interestingly, you can also use that panel for infotainment shortcuts, changing the options at the touch of a button. True, we’d prefer fully physical controls, but this solution is much better than having to dive into the touchscreen, like in the Skoda Enyaq and other rivals. 

The EV6's aggressively angled windscreen pillars don't affect your view out at junctions and roundabouts too badly, and the relatively high driving position gives you a good view straight down the road.

The huge rear pillars and rising window line make over-the-shoulder visibility rather less impressive, but all models have front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera to help with parking. GT-Line S models are even easier to park, with a 360-degree bird’s eye view camera.

It’s annoying that the rear window doesn’t have a wiper, though, especially when you want to quickly clear it on damp winter mornings.

All versions of the EV6 come with a curved 12.3in touchscreen positioned high up on the middle of the dashboard. It’s easy to see and relatively intuitive to operate, so it's not too distracting to use while you're driving.

There's sometimes a lengthy pause between pressing an icon and anything happening though – a problem that doesn't afflict the Tesla Model Y. Even so, the EV6 has a much better infotainment system overall than the one in the VW ID 4, plus it has slicker graphics than the display in the Nissan Ariya.

All trims have wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring, while GT-Line models and above get wireless phone-charging. The decent standard six-speaker stereo is replaced with a 14-speaker Meridian system in GT-Line S cars.

You won't exactly be blown away by the EV6's interior, but remember this isn't an eye-wateringly expensive Audi Q8 e-tron or BMW iX – it's a (relatively) affordable electric car.

With that in mind, it looks suitably upmarket inside, especially after the recent facelift, with plenty of gloss-black and rubberised surfaces, and everything feels well screwed together. All the "leather", on all trim levels, is vegan rather than the real thing. For that, you’ll need to opt for the Genesis GV60 and specify pricey quilted Nappa leather.

Overall, the EV6 beats the closely related Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Model Y for interior quality, and is roughly on a par with the Audi Q4 e-tron.

"I found the EV6’s standard audio system decent enough, but it’s a shame you can’t upgrade to the superb 14-speaker Meridian set-up that comes with top-spec GT-Line S trim." – Neil Winn, Deputy Reviews Editor

It can be hard to judge from photos, but the Kia EV6 is a really big car, so it’s hardly surprising that there’s lots of space in the front.

You’d have to be incredibly tall to have any problem with leg room, and the wide interior adds to the sense of spaciousness. There's enough head room for six-footers, too, although the sunroof fitted to GT-Line S models does lower the height of the ceiling slightly, so it's best avoided if you're tall.

You won't struggle for places to put odds and ends. That’s thanks to a huge open storage area under the "floating" centre console, a lidded cubby under the central armrest and a large glovebox. The door pockets are a good size too.

Rear leg room in the EV6 is probably best described as "limo-like". Even if there’s a tall person sitting in front of you, you’ll have loads of space ahead of your knees.

Head room isn’t quite as exceptional but it is far more accommodating than the Genesis GV60. You’d need to be more than six feet tall to have any complaints in the back of an EV6.

The Ford Mustang Mach-E and the Nissan Ariya offer a couple of centimetres extra in this area. Still, the flat floor and wide interior mean it's not too much of a squeeze for three adults sitting across the rear bench.

The EV6's rear seatbacks can be reclined for a more relaxed seating position or folded down in a conventional 60/40 split when you need to carry more clobber than can be squeezed in the main boot.

A ski hatch in the middle rear seatback allows you to carry long, thin items (skis, for example) and still have two rear passengers on board.

Considering the size of the EV6, its 490-litre boot isn’t all that remarkable. Even so, we managed to fit seven carry-on suitcases below the parcel shelf – the same number as we got into the Audi Q4 e-tron and the Mustang Mach-E, but one less than in the Ariya.

Access is good because of the large hatchback opening, and the load bay is a useful square shape, with some extra space under the floor for the charging cables. You’ll be able to fit slightly more luggage in a Tesla Model Y or VW ID 4 though.

The EV6 also has a "frunk" (front boot), and in RWD models, it's large enough for a soft overnight bag or a couple of small bags of shopping. AWD models have less storage space here – hardly enough for a few groceries.

"The EV6 has a nifty trick: when you’re parked up, you can press a button to transform the front seats into business class-style beds. I found this feature particularly useful when waiting for the car to charge." – Will Nightingale, Reviews Editor

As a cash purchase, the Kia EV6 will cost you around the same as the entry-level Nissan Ariya and less than the Genesis GV60 and Tesla Model Y. It’ll cost you more than the entry-level Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Skoda Enyaq, but remember that it gets loads more equipment than those rivals, so it’ll likely end up costing you the same. 

It’s worth noting the EV6 is predicted to lose its value slightly faster than its rivals, and that can have an effect on the amount you’ll pay if you’re buying on PCP finance. Make sure you check out our latest Kia EV6 deals to get the best price. 

All versions of the EV6 have a maximum charging speed of up to 240kW, meaning that it should be able to charge from 10-80% in just 18 mins. Super-fast public chargers can be quite hard to find, though, and you’re more likely to be charging at 50-100kW. At the lower end of this range, a 10-80% charge will take around 70 minutes.

Even entry-level EV6 Air models are pretty well equipped, with 19in alloys, climate control, rain-sensing wipers, heated door mirrors, adaptive cruise control, a heated steering wheel and heated front seats (with adjustable lumbar support for the driver) offered as standard. In fact, unless you want all-wheel drive, it’s the one we’d go for. 

Stepping up to GT-Line trim adds slightly sportier looks, an electrically adjustable driver’s seat with relaxation function, privacy glass and the wireless phone-charging that we mentioned earlier. It also gives you access to the all-wheel drive version. 

Range-topping GT-Line S models get larger 20in alloys, exterior door handles that automatically pop out for you to grab, a head-up display, ventilated front seats and heated outer rear seats. It’s very well equipped, but also quite pricey.

Kia finished eighth out of the 32 brands in the 2023 What Car? Reliability Survey. That was just above Tesla (10th) and way above Volkswagen (22nd) but just below Hyundai (seventh).

The EV6 comes with a seven-year (100,000-mile) warranty that covers most components, including the drive battery. The Ioniq 5 gets eight years’ cover on the battery but only five years on the rest of the car.

The EV6 achieved a five-star rating for safety when it was appraised by Euro NCAP, not least because it comes with plenty of active safety kit to help you avoid accidents in the first place.

All models have automatic emergency braking (AEB) that can recognise pedestrians and cyclists as well as cars, along with lane-keeping assistance, speed-limit assist and a system that monitors the attentiveness of the driver.

If you go for GT-Line trim, you’ll add blind-spot collision avoidance to the equipment list, while going for top-spec GT-Line S adds even more safety aids, including a blind-spot camera that shows the rear view on the digital driver’s display.

"I’ve driven the EV6 on several long motorway journeys and found the super-fast 240kW charging very useful for quick top-ups. If you can find a charger that’s powerful enough, you'll be able to boost the battery from 10-80% in just 18 minutes." – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer

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