Kia EV6 CV AWD GT-Line (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.

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.