Kia EV6 Review

Since its release, the EV6 has wasted no time in becoming one of the most celebrated new entrants to the world of electrified motoring, being offered here in Australia in a three-variant line-up. 

If you’re in the market for a battery electric vehicle, how does Kia’s first-ever EV stand up against its rivals, and what - if any - sacrifices are you going to be making switching over from a petrol or plug-in hybrid vehicle to the Kia EV6? Let’s find out. 

Starting Price: $67,990

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Kia EV6 GT-LINE AWD (WITH SUNROOF) Specifications

For more details and other variants, check Kia EV6 car page.

How Much Does It Cost?

The Kia EV6 is being introduced to Australia in a three variant lineup, with the entry-level EV6 Air rear-wheel drive priced at $67,990. Moving to the mid-range EV6 GT-Line rear-wheel drive brings the price to $74,990, while the range-topping EV6 GT-Line all-wheel drive flagship is priced at $82,990. 

Keep in mind that these prices are subject to change, and do not include on-road costs. 

How Much Can OnlineAuto Save You? 

Using OnlineAuto’s car buying service, you could save by sourcing one of our car specialists to help you find the best value model for you. 

What Features Does the Kia EV6 Have?

The Kia EV6 Air comes riding on a set of 19-inch alloy wheels, and receives LED head and tail lights, a cloth/leatherette interior with LED interior lighting, adaptive cruise control, reversing camera with front and rear-mounted parking sensors, smart key with push-button start, wireless smartphone charging, solar glass and an acoustic windscreen, as well as a pair of 12.3-inch displays for the driver and infotainment system; the latter of which features Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and satellite navigation. 

The EV6 GT-Line adds 20-inch alloys, a panoramic sunroof, leatherette and suede upholstery, head-up display, 3D surround-view camera, powered boot lift, heated and ventilated front seats, heated steering wheel, upgraded Meridian sound system and remote parking system. 

All three variants gain a heap of active safety technologies that we’ll cover later in this review. 

Range Features: 

• 19-inch alloys 

• LED head & tail lights 

• Cloth/leatherette upholstery 

• Adaptive cruise control 

• Reversing camera with front & rear sensors 

• 12.3-inch digital driver’s display 

• 12.3-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto 

• Solar glass

• Wireless smartphone charging

• 20-inch alloys (GT-Line) 

• Panoramic sunroof (GT-Line) 

• Leatherette/suede upholstery (GT-Line) 

• Head-up display (GT-Line) 

• 3D surround-view camera (GT-Line) 

• Powered boot lift (GT-Line) 

• Heated & ventilated front seats (GT-Line) 

• Meridian sound system (GT-Line) 

• Remote Parking System (GT-Line) 

Kia EV6 Colours 

The Kia EV6 range is available in a choice of seven colours, including Snow White Pearl, Yacht Blue, Runway Red, Steel Grey, Aurora Black, Glacier and Moonscape; some of these colour finishes are subject to an extra fee. 

Is it Comfortable to Drive? 

Sitting behind the wheel of the EV6 is an exciting and extremely promising sign of what’s to come from one of the world’s leading manufacturers. 

In spite of its competitors having a considerable head start, the EV6’s platform is highly versatile and offers something for everyone. It can get up and moving when pushed, while offering a heap of dynamic cornering abilities at speed, while remaining comfortable, quiet, and supportive on more mundane trips around town. 

The EV6 RWD range is powered by an electric motor producing 168kW of power and 350Nm of torque, while the GT-Line AWD receives a second electric motor bringing power outputs to 239kW with 605Nm of torque available. 

Acceleration in the base model is instantaneous and spirited, while the range-topping AWD with its dual motor configuration is extremely fast, rivaling the acceleration of six-figure supercars. 

Around town, the EV6 is absolutely sublime, eliminating noise from the outside world inside the whisper-quiet cabin while the suspension works away at ironing out bumps. The user-friendly nature extends to the lightweight steering rack that makes it easy to navigate tight quarters and car parks, making for a great daily driver. 

Leave the city and press the throttle in some corners and you’ll be staggered at just how competent the chassis and suspension are for performance driving, with the EV6 disguising its weight through corners and offering a hugely exciting driving experience thanks to its impressive grip levels and instant acceleration. 

On your way home, the EV6 settles down and becomes an extremely smooth and comfortable grand tourer, making for a great companion for long-distance road trips; so long as there’s a charger on your route. 

To sum up, the biggest compliment you can give the EV6 is that it doesn’t feel like a first generation, rather, it feels to be the end result of a heap of incremental changes and an astounding amount of attention to detail on both its everyday and sporting driving dynamics- providing something for all types of buyers.  

Is the Kia EV6 Practical and Spacious? 

The EV6 rides on a specialised electric car platform developed by Kia and Hyundai that has resulted in a stylish, spacious and immensely practical interior design that makes it a perfect option for those looking to ditch the traditional SUV bodyshape. 

Up front, the driver and front passenger are positioned low down in the car but gain a heap of visibility out over the low-riding dashboard and large windscreen, making it user-friendly to drive for small drivers. 

There’s two screens paired into one seamless, curved surface for the driver’s display and infotainment system, while the traditional gear lever has been replaced with a small rotary dial. 

One of the best features in the front of the cabin is the unique central tunnel that, in the absence of a normal transmission, has allowed Kia to free up space between the driver and front passenger that can now be used as a storage area. 

The central tunnel also houses a large folding armrest with a heap of storage inside, as well as a covered storage area in front of the gear dial that translates to a heap of storage and practicality in the front of the cabin. 

Things get even better when you step into the rear of the EV6’s cabin, which offers more space and comfort than you’ll find in a significantly larger SUV, making it a great option for growing families. 

In the rear, there’s acres of legroom and absolutely no issues when it comes to headroom for tall passengers. One issue is the need to accommodate the large battery pack under the floor translates to a slightly higher floor than you might be used to, however, the added legroom makes it easy to accommodate this new packaging design. 

For parents, there’s a pair of ISOFIX anchors on each of the outer seats, while three top tether points can accommodate a trio of baby seats if needed. Thanks to the large cabin, installing child seats in the rear of the EV6 is a simple task. 

Finally, the EV6’s boot is rated at 490L, which is somewhat smaller than you’ll find in a medium-sized SUV, but remains more than enough for the majority of buyers. 

Is it Safe? 

The Kia EV6 is yet to be awarded an official ANCAP safety score due to its recent introduction to the Australian market, although it’s a safe bet that it will be awarded the maximum five-star rating when ANCAP does test the platform. 

As standard, the EV6 comes packed with safety equipment, including autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alerts, a reversing camera with front and rear parking sensors, multi-collision braking, lane keep assistance and lane follow assistance, speed limit assists and a heap of airbags throughout the cabin. 

How Long Can the Kia EV6 Travel on a Single Charge?

The Kia EV6’s electric motor is powered by a 77.4kWh lithium-ion battery pack that translates to a claimed 528km range figure in the EV6 Air. 

Opting for the mid-range GT-Line RWD can travel around 504km on a single charge, while the GT-Line AWD has a driving range standing at 484km on a single charge. 

Our Verdict: Is the Kia EV6 Worth it?

If you’re interested in the world of battery electric vehicles but have been sitting on the fence so far, the release of the Kia EV6 could be the perfect time to jump into an EV of your own. 

The EV6 strikes an interesting blend of sleek looks, generous equipment lists and a powerful electric motor system with energy supplied by a large lithium-ion battery pack that translates to some impressive range figures, and makes the prospect of driving an EV every day a real-world possibility. 

As a complete package, the EV6 is a wonderful electric vehicle that meets the majority of needs for Australian buyers while providing a rock-solid platform for Kia to improve upon with future generations that will gain even bigger range figures. 

As a result, we encourage you to check out the EV6 and put your name on the waitlist before it gets any longer. On that note, if you’re in the market for a new car, you can get a free quote and see how much OnlineAuto can save you on your next car, or call us on 1300 719 925

Five Specs You Need to Know

1. Seven-year/unlimited KM warranty 
2. Seven-year/150,00km warranty for battery, electric motors & charger
3. 77.4kWh battery pack translates to 528km driving range
4. 10-80% charge takes 18-minutes with a 350kW DC fast-charger 
5. Single motor in base and mid-spec variant; AWD flagship receives dual-motor powertrain  

Pros 

• Smooth, comfortable and sophisticated ride quality 
• User-friendly nature around town
• Accurate range figures translate to real-world, all-electric drivability 
• Sleek looks inside & out 
• Impressive acceleration in base model increases to sports car-like in AWD flagship 

Cons

• Long waitlists 
• Yet to receive official ANCAP safety rating 
• Few 350kW DC fast-chargers here in Australia  
• Range figure suffers in dual-motor AWD flagship 

OnlineAuto Rating: 9/10

Kia EV6 Competition