Kia EV6 (2022-2026)

Just like red wine – I've had my EV6 for 9 months now and am liking it the more I drive it. I bought this car since KIA has a local dealer, where Tesla is 400km+ away. Pros: 1. it is very roomy 2. It's lovely and quiet 3. It rides well even on the big wheels 4. It's pretty quick in Sport mode and smooth in eco mode 5. It looks really nice - heaps better than a… Read more

Tesla 6. Easy to get in and out of 7. Appears to be solidly built 8. One pedal driving - this is a must have for an EV. 9. Adaptive cruise and other safety features work well

Cons: 1. Not that inefficient - gets around 15kw/h around town, 18 on a trip. 2. Has an odd outage of ADAS systems on sections of certain roads - happens on 3 seperate sections I have driven and happens at same locations - as if it's some kind of blackspot area. All ststems are disabled for about 10km, then magically start working again. 3. Centre rear seatbelt warning is always on even though know one is sitting in it. 4. Auto tailgate is stupid, especially if auto door unlock is set to 'on' - You walk past the car in garage to put something in the boot which unlocks the car as you walk past and then the boot won't open because the car is unlocked! They should have a kick to open system for it. 5. The car doesn't have any connectivity - no access to Kia connect, no over the air updates. 6. Voice control on steering wheel only works for apple car play or android auto stuff (both connect by cable only!) Can't even use it to call people when phone is connected- even my 2001 merc used to do that. 7. Car has failed to go out of neutral once on a rainy day. After multiple turning on and off I ended up getting out of car and locking and unlocking which seemed to make it work. 8. Air cooled seats only stay on for about 10minutes and just turn off.

Kia EV6 Air – Had my Kia EV6 Air for 2.5 yrs and 40000 kms Great car to drive perfect for Australian roads Value for money just isn’t there with the Chinese cars coming with heaps of standard features for a much lower price. Features are very limited even in high end models. Range is okay if you’re doing around town driving but I do a lot of trips to Perth up… Read more

and back trip in one day. Range is about 420-450kms so up and back to Perth is manageable from Bunbury. Charging half way at BP is good now.

Has excellent 1 pedal braking with adjustable button on steering wheel which is great for regenerative braking. Love this so much

Lane assist is too bad but I turn it off as soon as I start the car button on steering wheel makes this easy.

Charging facilities in WA are getting better but Kia has a great charging system 800v so it’s nice and quick.

Personally I would buy another Kia EV6 beautiful car just price and features need to be better.

Kia servicing is good with knowledge improving Bunbury Kia is really good great service and friendly staff all round fantastic place to deal with.

A fast, comfortable, efficient EV that makes for a great Tesla alternative option – Just like they did with the Hyundai IONIQ 5, Kia have taken the opportunity to step up their build quality and establish a new higher standard with the EV6. I’ve had a lot of people gawk at the asking price for this particular Kia, purely based on their preconceived notions of Kia's build quality. But modern day Kia's are a long way from the… Read more

tinny, hard plastic and gutless cars from the past.

The EV6 is now the flagship example of where Kia is headed. Even while using recycled plastics, there are rich leather materials, soft suede seats, satisfying button engagements, large bright screens and of course, weighty doors.

It’s a better built car than most mid-level European SUVs, and it’ll impress many before they even know who makes this car.

Pricing starts from $72,590 before on roads and incentives, but this is the current top of the range dual motor version which costs $87,990. It’s in line with the incoming Tesla Model Y pricing and dual motor Tesla Model 3 pricing.

It’s relatively affordable compared to other premium electric SUVs, particularly considering cars like the BMW iX3 and the Model Y Performance are priced into the early six figures.

However, it is more expensive than the dual-motor IONIQ 5 and the Volvo XC40 Recharge, both of which are excellent EV crossovers - although the Volvo is a little inefficient by comparison.

The EV6 is covered by Kia’s familiar and impressive 7 year/unlimited kilometre warranty. Plus, it covers parts like the battery pack and motors for 7 years/150,000km.

In addition, you can prepay for your services for either 3 years, 5 years or 7 years, at $594, $1089 or $1584 respectively.

The EV6 is by all means a traditional EV experience. There’s been an obvious focus on a serene driving experience. I feel relaxed when driving around in this EV; the only noise intrusions were some slight wind noise and the RC car-like whirr emanating from the motor under heavy acceleration.

If you miss engine sounds, Kia has engineered some for you. There’s Stylish, Dynamic and Cyber, all designed to simulate engine sounds…from the future. Maybe there’ll be a V8 sound for those who have succumbed to ever-increasing petrol prices.

Surprisingly, Meridian has joined Kia in engineering a 14-speaker surround sound system for this car. It’s intoxicating to immerse yourself in surround sound audio from inside a near silent car.

Sharing a similar experience with the IONIQ 5, the regenerative braking system in the EV6 is truly next gen.

It’s the most important part of the braking system, as it allows you to slow down to a stop by simply lifting off the accelerator. And using the paddle shifters on the wheel, you can adjust how much regenerative braking you want.

Interestingly, you can adjust the physical braking experience from either Normal or Sport too.

Until the rapid GT arrives, with more power and a 0-100km/h time of just 3.5 seconds, this is the fastest EV6 you can buy. Dual motors produce 239kW and 605Nm, allowing this Kia to hit 100km/h in a brisk 5.2 seconds!

When I say that these numbers are a little irrelevant, I mean it. During my time with the EV6, I had a petrol-powered Hyundai i30 Sedan N, which can hit 100km/h in the same time.

Side by side, that EV6 would launch sooner, and would feel like it had hit its top speed a lot sooner, simply due to that wall of torque being available from 0 rpms.

A heavy large hatchback like this has a few benefits, despite weighing over 2 tonnes. Firstly, a lower centre of gravity is achieved with a battery pack lining the floor of the EV6. Secondly, the EV6 has been blessed with locally tuned suspension and sits 55mm lower than the IONIQ 5.

Combining these features allows for precise cornering and a rich-feeling ride, similar what you'd get with a heavy luxury car. The EV6 is planted on the road, and is unfazed by potholes and rough roads.

Put the car into Sport, and steering will tighten up along with acceleration response times. Although, it’s still a slightly numb steering feel. As a sporty driver, engagement feel probably wasn’t at the top of the development list for a family-oriented EV like this.

he 77.4kWh battery pack found in the EV6 is the larger of the two international battery options. We only get this one battery pack option, allowing the dual-motor EV6 to have a quoted range of 484km (WLTP).

I didn’t take this particular EV6 on a road trip, but I will be taking the EV6 Air (RWD), which has over 500km of range, for a road trip.

Averaging between 17kWh per 100km and seeing figures as high as 20kWh per 100km, the EV6 is one of the most efficient EVs you can buy. This is seemingly irrelevant now; watch as these figures become the defining factor as to which EV you should buy in the future.

An 800V battery architecture has been adopted for the EV6’s battery pack, allowing for quicker charging times and greater efficiency when driving. This is the very same technology employed by Audi’s RS e-tron and Porsche’s Taycan.

Charging from 10% to 80% can be completed in as little as 18 minutes from a fast charger, however that’s in optimal weather and with optimal voltage. Most fast chargers in Sydney spit out 50kW, instead of the more desirable 350kW chargers.

Missing that crucial pre-conditioning technology that Tesla possesses, I’ve found Hyundai/Kia’s battery packs need a little bit more time to fast charge as they don’t warm batteries prior to charging.

For some, the light filled, minimalist interior of the IONIQ 5 will be the biggest attraction, while others will flock to the ‘human-centric’ design of the Kia’s interior.

It’s also visually impressive, with customisable accent lighting splashed around the cabin and a monolithic floating centre console being stand out features. On top of that, there’s also a dual IMAX-sized 12.3 inch infotainment and drivers screen.

To cap it all off, the GT-Line offers a large heads up display with augmented reality. This makes it feel like you’re in Iron Man’s car of choice, while floating 3D graphics point you in the right direction when navigating.

With 520L of boot space with seats up and 1300L with the seats down, the EV6 is a practical car, despite it being built with batteries underneath the floor.

There are some issues with vertical space, thanks to the aggressively styled rear hatch. Yet, you’re still going to be able to load this car up with around 3 suitcases.

You can fold the rear seats in a 60:40 split to make room for a fourth suitcase. I would have loved to have seen a 40:20:40 split to make the most of the boot space for four passengers.

However, you can electronically slide the rear seats as a bench to make a little more room in the back.

The EV6 is a brilliant car by all accounts. It’s fast, it’s luxurious, it’s spacious, and you can see why buyers are lining up to get their hands on one.

I really missed this car after I handed it back, as it made life just that much easier. It was such a pleasure to drive, with the added benefit of feeling like a calm sanctuary on wheels.

Don't want a Tesla? This is a fantastic alternative but it could do with a slight range bump for those interested in travelling further with their EV6.

*Disclaimer - I work for ProductReview as their independent car and motorbike expert. I borrow new cars and motorbikes from manufacturers and owners to review. I am not paid or incentivised by these brands to post reviews. I write and create content to provide insight and information about any new or used vehicle I can get my hands on.

A great EV without fancy creature comfort features – It’s the car everyone who’s buying an EV6 will look at and wonder, “Should I just get the cheapest EV6?”. The sole reason I wanted to review this model was to see if it was worth spending less on an already expensive EV, or spend a little more to get a few crucial features. The EV6 is a well built car throughout, although some might think this… Read more

EV6 is just a little sparse.

That’s because it’s using cheaper materials throughout the cabin to cut costs.

I wasn’t overly impressed with these cheaper materials being used at such a high price point, especially after recent price increases.

The base Kia EV6 is priced from $72,590 before on-road costs and incentives.

There are plenty of great features included for that price, like the 528km WLTP electric range.

However, the lack of simple features like an automatic boot, some safety features and manual door handles without keyless entry and exit were some very annoying omissions for the price.

The EV6 is covered by Kia’s familiar and impressive 7 year/unlimited kilometre warranty. Plus, it covers parts like the battery pack and motors for 7 years/150,000km.

In addition, you can prepay your services for either 3 years, 5 years or 7 years, at $594, $1089 or $1584 respectively.

The EV6 is a wonderfully quiet EV. There are minimal intrusions from road noise entering the cabin.

There were some squeaks and rattles on our test car, but they weren’t excessively distracting.

I will say there was a noticeable difference between the GT-Line’s audio system and this car's system. I noticed audio not sounding as crisp, deep or clear, but for the most part, it performed as expected.

Regenerative brakes are the name of the game with the EV6. You have 4 regenerative braking modes which are controlled via the paddles on the steering wheel.

I usually used the i-Pedal mode, allowing me to rarely engage the physical brakes and simply rely on the motors to slow me down.

For a heavy and relatively large car, you can stop a lot quicker than you might think.

This is the rear-wheel drive (RWD) version of the EV6, so it’s going to be a little slower than the all-wheel drive alternatives in the range.

A single electric motor sits on the rear axle producing 168kW (228hp) and 350Nm of power, resulting in a 0-100km/h time of around 7.3 seconds.

That’s not a whole lot of power on paper, but that instant torque makes the EV6 feel like a rapid car when taking off from a set of traffic lights.

There aren't any gears to shift through here, since the EV6 uses a single-gear gearbox. However, changing between park, reverse, neutral and drive was a pleasant experience using the rotary shift dial.

With smaller wheels and tyres, the base EV6 feels a little lofty through corners and a little less dynamic than its exterior suggests.

That low centre of gravity surely does help with gluing the EV6 to the ground, however it can’t escape a little bit of lean and waft when cornering hard.

Around town, this is a fantastically comfortable car. Kia have dialled in that locally tuned suspension to offer a refined ride over a variety of surfaces.

Thanks to packing a large 77.4kWh and only sending power to the rear wheels, this base EV6 claims a range of 504km (WLTP).

Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to push that range to the limit. Instead I saw consumption figures hovering around the 18-20kWh/100km range - a little above Kia’s claimed 17.2kWh/100km.

Expect that figure to cross into the 20kWh range if you’re consistently traveling at speeds above 100km/h.

But you’ll be well within that claimed range if you’re usually traveling at speeds below that.

The base EV6 still has a gorgeous interior design. It’s a great place to be, just with a few less creature comfort features.

Cloth seats and hard plastics are the theme here, but at least you still get two large 12.3 inch displays and a digital display for your climate and media controls.

That floating centre console is a great piece of design, and it’s really easy to get comfortable in here.

Although, I found the round steering wheel design and materials again distracted me from what was otherwise a forward-looking bit of interior design.

With 490L of boot space, the EV6 is on par with small wagons and SUVs when it comes to practicality. You can fold the seats in a 60/40 split to achieve 1270L of space if you need it.

Adults will find all seats comfortable, especially in the back, especially since the entire rear floor is flat due to the absence of a transmission and exhaust tunnel.

It’s hard to argue that the EV6 is a bad EV option. There’s plenty of range, excellent battery tech and enough features to keep most buyers happy.

Although, when compared to slightly cheaper alternatives like a Tesla Model 3 and Polestar 2, it’s a little frustrating that the base EV6 feels a little too basic for the price.

If you want the most range for the least amount of cash, it’s hard to look past the EV6 Air. But, if you’re looking for the best overall electric car, unfortunately the lack of features at this price point would push me to suggest a slightly more affordable option. It’s either that, or spend more and get the GT-Line trim of the RWD platform.

*Disclaimer - I work for ProductReview as their independent car and motorbike expert. I borrow new cars and motorbikes from manufacturers and owners to review. I am not paid or incentivised by these brands to post reviews. I write and create content to provide insight and information about any new or used vehicle I can get my hands on.