Kia EV6 review

Is the Kia EV6 a good car?

Now, more than ever, the Kia EV6 confirms that you can kick your petrol or diesel habit and go for an electric car. With a larger battery size, the latest EV6 has more than 300 miles of range, while ultra-rapid charging speeds make pit stops on long trips a breeze. There’s plenty of standard equipment, and even though the EV6 is a few years old, its updated styling is still radical enough to turn heads.

However, while it charges faster than most of its competition, there are more efficient rivals, like the Polestar 2, which can go further between charges. There are also more comfortable and practical alternatives such as the Skoda Enyaq to consider, which offers a more compliant low-speed ride along with a much larger boot.

How much does the Kia EV6 cost?

Pricing for the latest Kia EV6 starts from around £45,500 for the entry-level Air, before rising to a little over £48,500 for the well-specified GT-Line trim. Those wanting four-wheel drive will need to stump up around £52,000, while the top-of-the-range GT-Line S with four-wheel drive and a heat pump costs over £58,000. A high-performance GT version is also available for over £62,500.

Kia has been an important player on the electric car scene for some time, largely thanks to the massive success of the original Kia e-Niro. The South Korean brand plans to establish itself as an all-electric car company by 2040, and launch nine new pure-electric cars in the UK by 2027. 

The Kia EV6 is a key part of that plan, and it uses a bespoke electric-car architecture called Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), which currently serves as the underpinnings for the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Hyundai Ioniq 6, Genesis GV60, and the Kia EV9.

The EV6 sits above the Kia EV3, the Kia Niro EV (the e-Niro’s sharper-looking successor) and the quirky Kia Soul EV in the firm’s electric car line-up, but below the seven-seater EV9. While the Niro and Soul EV are cheaper, they don’t use the E-GMP platform and don’t charge as fast as the EV6. Nor do they go as far on a charge.

Every non-GT version of the EV6 in the UK uses an 84kWh battery, but buyers are given a choice of rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The less expensive rear-wheel-drive models feature a single 225bhp electric motor, while all-wheel-drive versions get an electric motor on each axle, which, combined, puts out 320bhp. The EV6 has a maximum range of 361 miles in rear-drive form, with all-wheel-drive versions delivering 324 miles of range.

Then there’s the Kia EV6 GT model, which also gets a dual-motor set-up but turns the dial up to 11, producing 577bhp and 740Nm in total. With a 0-62mph time of just 3.5 seconds, this is the version you want if you fancy embarrassing some supercars while on the school run. 

The core line-up consists of the Air, GT-Line and GT-Line S trim levels. There’s also the performance-focused GT, but this is technically a standalone model. Throughout the range, Kia has been generous when it comes to kit, and even the entry-level Air specification comes with 19-inch alloys, LED headlights, artificial leather upholstery, heated front seats and steering wheels, twin 12.3-inch curved displays, integrated sat-nav, front and rear parking sensors with a reversing camera, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity. 

Mid-range GT-Line adds a healthy dose of extra tech for a fairly minimal extra cost over the Air. These additions include adaptive headlights, blind spot detection, safe exit assist, heated rear seats and fully-electric front relaxation seats, plus wireless phone charging. Go for the top-of-the-range GT-Line S and you’ll receive an electric tailgate, larger 20-inch alloy wheels, a 360-degree camera system, a customisable head-up display and a 14-speaker Meridian sound system.

Although the Kia EV6 sits on the same E-GMP electric car platform as the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Genesis GV60, the Kia has a sportier feel. There’s MacPherson strut front suspension and a multi-link rear end, which helps to keep things nicely controlled. The EV6 has a slightly stiffer set-up than the boxier, retro-inspired Ioniq 5, and it isn’t as tall as the more luxurious GV60, so it benefits from a lower centre of gravity.

What is the Kia EV6 like to drive?

In town

At low speeds in urban areas, imperfections in the road are transmitted through the stiff chassis – especially in GT-Line S trim with larger 20-inch alloy wheels. It’s far from unpleasant, but can’t quite match the Skoda Enyaq for comfort.

The steering in the EV6, although not as light as its Ioniq 5 or GV60 siblings, is pleasingly direct and allows you to accurately place the car when navigating your way through a tight village or along a busy city street. It’s also backed up by good brake pedal feel, with the regenerative braking system blending with the regular mechanical brakes well. It’s particularly adept when the former is left in its auto setting.

Kia’s excellent regenerative braking system offers several levels of braking strength, and can be adjusted on the fly with paddles behind the steering wheel. There’s a one-pedal driving mode called i-Pedal, which is especially good for stop-start traffic because it’s strong enough to bring the car to a smooth stop and hold it in place until the traffic ahead clears, and you can accelerate away.
However, you are very conscious of just how long the EV6 is when driving in tight urban streets. At close to 4.7 metres long, it’s nearly the same length as Kia’s seven-seat SUV, the Kia Sorento.

On A- and B-roads

Unlike some family EVs, the Kia EV6 is a lot of fun to drive on twisty roads. In fact, it’s among the most enjoyable electric cars we’ve driven.  

Leave the drive mode in Normal and the EV6 is alert to your commands, which is good because Sport mode can be too frenetic for everyday use. Given the EV6 weighs up to 2,165kg in dual-motor guise (the single-motor version is 2,090kg – around 120kg heavier than before), the sharper throttle and steering responses are a bit too intense in this sportiest setting, and it all becomes a little unbalanced and overexcitable, particularly when travelling on twisty B-roads. In contrast, Eco driving mode can make the EV6 quite slow to get going again after stopping.

The ride of the EV6 smooths out once up to speed, and is comfortable enough to isolate you from the worst shocks when hitting a pothole. The lighter rear-wheel-drive version is perhaps a touch more compliant than the four-wheel-drive model, but you’d have to drive the two back-to-back to really notice the difference. In either variant, there’s not much body roll in corners, and body movements over lumps in the road at speed are well controlled.

The 577bhp GT model comes with electronically controlled suspension and a limited-slip differential, and feels more agile than the regular EV6.

On the motorway

At motorway speeds, the ride in the EV6 settles down and it becomes a rather serene cruiser, with little whine from the electric motor. Road noise is well suppressed at higher speeds, with just a little wind noise coming at higher speeds from around the windscreen pillars and large door mirrors.

The autonomous driving technology fitted to the high-end GT-Line S models helps to take some of the strain out of long trips. Along with an easy-to-use adaptive cruise control system that doesn’t brake harshly when it detects traffic ahead, you get lane centring support along with an automatic lane-change function. Indicate which lane you want to move into, and provided everything is clear, it’ll smoothly change lanes for you.

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0-62mph acceleration and top speed 

The entry-level 225bhp rear-drive Kia EV6 covers the 0-62mph dash in 7.7 seconds, which is fast enough for a family car. The dual-motor set-up in the four-wheel-drive version has 320bhp, cutting the same acceleration time to just 5.3 seconds. If you need the extra traction of four-wheel drive, it might be worthwhile, but our preferred rear-wheel-drive car still has enough poke in reserve for motorway overtakes that you’ll question the expense of the faster model. Both versions still top out at a maximum speed of 114mph.

If you’re in a hurry, the 577bhp EV6 GT will launch from 0-62mph in a mere 3.5 seconds, then go on to a top speed of 162mph. Flooring the accelerator pins you to your seat while the numbers on the speedo climb at an alarming rate.

Electric range, battery life and charge time

Bar the high-performance GT, all versions of the Kia EV6 use an 84kWh capacity battery pack, with the RWD single-motor versions offering the longest range in the line-up – up to 361 miles from a single charge. The AWD system in dual-motor models cuts the maximum range to 339 miles in GT-Line variants (324 miles for the GT-Line S version). The four-wheel-drive, 577bhp Kia EV6 GT is powered by the same 77.4kWh battery as the outgoing model, and offers a maximum range of 263 miles.

Buyers can add a heat pump to the EV6 to help reduce the negative effects of cold weather in winter on battery range. At temperatures reaching minus 7 degrees centigrade, Kia states that it should be able to preserve the range to around 80 per cent of what’s possible at 25 degrees by scavenging heat from the coolant system to warm the interior. While it isn’t unusual in this class to offer such an energy saving device as an option, it is a shame that the EV6 only reserves this for the top-spec GT-Line S trim. Rivals offer it throughout their respective ranges.

During testing in slightly cooler 10-15 degree weather and with a higher mix of motorway driving, we saw efficiency of 3.3 miles per kWh from a four-wheel-drive, GT-Line S version with an optional heat pump. That’s a little shy of the 3.5 miles per kWh that Kia claims it’ll achieve, but this figure should improve on a journey with more opportunities to utilise regenerative braking. The lighter rear-wheel-drive Air and GT-Line models have a better efficiency rating of 3.9 miles per kWh, and in our testing of the previous EV6, these have been the most efficient versions in the range.

Unfortunately, rivals have quickly been playing catch-up to the EV6 both in terms of overall range and efficiency. The 85 version of the Skoda Enyaq is on par with the EV6 for range, while the Long Range Single Motor Polestar 2 is significantly better, and manages over 400 miles to a charge, averaging 4.2 miles per kWh.

However, few can match the speedy rapid charge times of the EV6. Like its Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Genesis GV60 siblings, the EV6 uses an 800V charging system, so if you can plug into a 350kW ultra-rapid charger, a 10 to 80 per cent top-up takes just 18 minutes. When utilising a 7.4kW home wallbox, it’ll take just under 13 hours to fully replenish the 84kWh battery in the EV6.

Tax

Until 2025, all electric cars, regardless of list price, are exempt from road tax (VED) in the UK and the London Congestion Charge, which could save EV6 drivers a considerable sum. Company-car drivers will also enjoy the 2 per cent Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) rate (until 2025) that the EV6 currently attracts.

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Insurance

Insurance group ratings for the revised EV6 haven’t been released yet, but given that it is no more powerful than its predecessor, we doubt there will be much movement from the existing ones. These start in group 34 for the rear-wheel-drive version, and go up to 40 for the four-wheel-drive version.

Depreciation 

The EV6 is predicted to hold on to around 47 to 48 per cent of its list price over a typical three-year/36,000-mile ownership period. This is, on average, a little better than the Hyundai Ioniq 5, which ranges from 43 to 48 per cent over the same period. On the other hand, the Renault Scenic holds on to its value slightly better, maintaining between 53 to 54 per cent over the same three-year stretch.

To get an accurate valuation for a specific model, check out our free car valuation tool

When designing the ​​Kia EV6, the team behind it were challenged to produce a zero-emissions family car with a practical range, ultra-fast charging ability, a stylish exterior design, and a spacious, tech-filled cabin. Has it succeeded? Well, the answer can only be a resounding yes. The EV6’s charging ability is up there with the class leaders, and its sleek, purposeful look should appeal to modern EV buyers.

All EV6s are well-equipped. The entry-level Air model is more than ready for family life with standard kit that includes climate control, heated front seats and steering wheel, dual-screen setup, integrated sat-nav, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, numerous USB ports for connecting devices, front and rear parking sensors, and a reversing camera. 

For an extra £3,000, GT-Line trim brings sportier exterior and interior styling, and adds blind spot monitoring with a safe exit assist system, electric front seats, wireless phone charging, and adaptive headlights. 

The top-spec GT-Line S version offers niceties such as bigger 20-inch alloys, a tilt/slide sunroof, a head-up display, a 360-degree camera system, an upgraded 14-speaker Meridian audio system and a more advanced suite of driver assistance technology.

What is the Kia EV6 like inside?

As with its predecessor, onboard technology remains a standout feature, with ​​the dash dominated by two 12.3-inch curved displays: one digital instrument panel behind the steering wheel and a central touchscreen for all the infotainment. The top-of-the range GT-Line S adds a head-up display that projects useful information, such as speed limit warnings and sat-nav directions, within your line of sight on the windscreen. It also lets you know of vehicles approaching in your blind spot. 

Below the central display is Kia’s touch-sensitive control panel that you can toggle between climate controls and media settings. It’s easy to use, responds very quickly to inputs and makes the cabin look modern without forcing you to dig through numerous sub-menus to change the fan speed. That said, you still have to take your eyes off the road to use the panel, and resting your hand on the ledge of the centre console could result in you activating the heated steering wheel or heated/cooled seats by mistake.

Those features are operated via touch-sensitive controls rather than the buttons of before, and while that might give it a cleaner overall look, they don’t provide feedback, so you’ll have to look away from the road in order to confirm you’ve switched them. You could do it by touch in earlier EV6s.

What is the interior quality like?

The interior feels smart and up-to-date, with cabin materials of sufficient quality for a £45k-plus family car. There’s also a further nod to sustainability by offering artificial leather upholstery as standard. The updated EV6 has replaced the piano black trim used extensively before with a matt-textured finish, which not only looks classier, but is less susceptible to scratches – a real boon to anyone who regularly wears rings or often puts their keys down on surfaces.

Taking a leaf out of Volkswagen’s book, the front door pockets are flocked in order to prevent items from rattling as you drive down the road.

Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment

The twin, gently curved 12.3-inch screens in the EV6 look fantastic, work well and offer clear graphics. Kia’s infotainment system is easy to use, the wireless smartphone links for both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and works seamlessly, while the touchscreen display is responsive. It’s all laid out well, and the menus make sense, plus we like the use of black backgrounds, because it reduces eye strain at night. Meanwhile, the driver’s display provides all the information you need.

The standard audio included with Air and GT-Line trims is provided by a six-speaker set-up, while GT-Line S and above come with a 14-speaker Meridian premium audio system. Only the entry-level Air trim misses out on a wireless phone charging pad.

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​The Kia EV6 shares the same E-GMP architecture as the Hyundai Ioniq 5, but it offers a sportier edge to its design and driving setup. 

There are practical touches that help to make family life a little easier; there are plenty of useful cubbies, including a deep recess underneath the floating centre console. Other kit, such as auto headlights and wipers, is standard.

There’s a Vehicle to Load function (V2L) which is a neat idea that allows the EV6 to power or charge devices via a three-pin plug. We think that’s an especially neat idea if you are on a camping trip away from mains electricity because it allows you to keep your phone topped up, or even power items, such as a laptop. A V2L dock is located under the rear seat, while an adaptor can also be used to connect to the main external charging port.

Dimensions and size

As with the Hyundai Ioniq 5, the EV6 is a surprisingly big car in the metal. At 4,680mm long, 1,550mm tall and 1,880mm wide, the EV6 is 31mm longer than a Skoda Enyaq, although the width is virtually identical. It’s also 66mm lower than the Enyaq, which helps give the Kia its sporty, dynamic look. The 2,900mm wheelbase is actually longer than the Audi A8, meaning there’s plenty of room inside.

How practical is the Kia EV6?

Seats & space in the front

Both a six-foot driver and front passenger should have no issue getting comfortable in the front of an EV6. While the Ioniq 5 chooses to emphasise the amount of space it offers, the EV6 separates the driver and front passenger with a centre console, but it’s not so wide that you’ll be clanging your knee into it all the time or tall enough to make you feel entombed within the cabin. You won’t sit as low as you do in some electric saloons, like a Tesla Model 3, for instance, but the driving position seems more enclosed because of its steeply raked windscreen and high centre console, giving the EV6 a sportier feel than the Ioniq 5.

GT-Line cars and above include Kia’s Premium Relaxation Seats, which can recline when the vehicle is charging to provide the driver with a more comfortable position to take a nap if they feel tired.

Seats & space in the back

Swing open the rear doors and you can marvel at the acres of legroom on offer, thanks partly to the EV6’s enormous wheelbase. The completely flat floor also helps in this department, and if you need to carry three adults across the back, they wouldn’t be forced to play footsie for the entire journey. 

The EV6’s sleek, sporty profile and lower roofline affect headroom only slightly. Taller passengers might find it a little tight in the back, but anyone under six feet shouldn’t have anything to complain about. Parents with children who need child seats can utilise the two ISOFIX points on the outer positions of the second row. 

There are USB-C charging ports are built into the sides of both front seats, so there should be no squabbling between those in the rear about who gets to charge their devices.

Boot space

The EV6’s 490-litre boot provides a useful amount of space, while a variable-height floor allows you to decide whether to maximise space or create a flat loading lip. Examples equipped with the Meridian audio system have a slightly reduced boot capacity of 10 litres. The rear seats include a ski hatch for loading longer items, along with a 60:40 split-folding rear seat that lays down almost flat, expanding luggage capacity to 1,300 litres. 

Rear-drive cars benefit from a 52-litre storage compartment under the bonnet, while this space is reduced to 20 litres in all-wheel-drive versions. Either way, the EV6’s ‘frunk’ is good for keeping your charging cables out of sight and in an area away from your luggage. Rivals like the Renault Scenic and Volkswagen ID.4 provide underfloor stowage, which might be an issue if you have stuff in the boot that needs to be removed in order to access the cables.

Towing

The maximum braked trailer towing weight for the EV6 has been increased from a decent 1,600kg to 1,800kg, which is far more impressive than the disappointing 1,200kg of the VW ID.4 GTX or the 1,400kg of the four-wheel-drive 85x Skoda Enyaq. 

The EV6 should be more than capable of pulling a decent-sized trailer or a small- to medium-sized caravan. However, we'd always advise double-checking your trailer’s weight before hitting the road.

The Kia EV6 didn’t feature in our most recent 2024 Driver Power owner satisfaction survey, although it did do well in our 2023 survey, securing seventh place with glowing praise for its powertrain, ride, handling and smoothness, as well as the number of safety systems, child-friendly features and rear legroom. Kia finished third out of 32 in our best car manufacturer rankings, receiving high scores across the board.

Euro NCAP awarded the EV6 a five-star safety rating in May 2022, with the all-electric family car achieving a 90 per cent rating for adult protection and 86 per cent for child passenger protection.

Along with smart cruise control and a rear view camera, Kia’s family EV includes a host of active safety systems: Forward Collision Avoidance Assist uses a front radar to monitor for possible hazards, such as pedestrians, cyclists or other cars, before providing a warning and then automatically applying the brakes to help avoid or mitigate a potential collision. There are also systems designed to help keep you in your lane and tech that will sound a warning if it detects any loss of attention or driver fatigue.

Top-of-the-range GT-Line S trim has a more advanced highway driving assist system that helps to centre the car within your lane, and even change lanes for you, provided the blind spot system has determined the coast is clear.

Warranty

The Kia EV6 has a seven-year/100,000-mile warranty — one of the longest and best factory warranties in the business, especially when compared to the three years of coverage you get with a Volkswagen ID.4 or Skoda Enyaq, while the Tesla Model Y and Hyundai Ioniq 5 get four-year and five-year warranties, respectively. The EV6 also comes with one year of roadside assistance.

Servicing

The EV6 only needs to be serviced once every two years or 20,000 miles, whichever comes first. Both the Skoda Enyaq and Volkswagen ID.4 can also go two years between garage visits, but you can cover an unlimited mileage during that time.  

Kia offers interest-free instalment plans for servicing costs. You pay 25 per cent up front, with zero per cent interest on the remaining balance for 3 months.

Kia EV6 alternatives

The Kia EV6 is more of a sporty family EV crossover than a traditional SUV, but it still stands against plenty of capable competitors. Not only does it have its own Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Genesis GV60 siblings to contend with, but there are also the likes of the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Nissan Ariya, Renault Scenic E-Tech, Skoda Enyaq, Toyota bZ4X, and Volkswagen ID.4.

This competition is already strong, but Kia also has upmarket ambitions for its EV6, which brings additional rivals like the Audi Q4 e-tron, Polestar 2 and Tesla Model Y into the mix.